By Ben Moore
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Athena arrives at the palace of
Odysseus, while Odysseus is
still away, which leaves
Telemakhos to deal with the
suitors. The suitors have been
consuming the palace's
livestock while waiting for
Penelope, Odysseus’s wife, to
choose one of them as a
husband
Athena gives Telemakhos
advice to leave the palace to
Pylos and Sparta to search for
news of his father.
“He [Telemakhos] led the way, and Pallas Athena followed/into the
lofty hall.”(I.5.155-156)
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After Athena leaves, Penelope
is found upset because of a
song that the bard is playing
about the heroes returning
from Troy. This reminds her of
Odysseus who has still not
returned.
The next day Telemakhos has
a meeting with the suitors, to
demand that they leave the
palace. Lacking authority,
Telemakhos is rebuked by the
suitors who refuse to leave.
“But if your [the suitors] hearts are capable of
shame, / leave my great hall…” (2. 23. 147-148)
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Telemakhos leaves the
palace on his quest, telling
only his nurse Eurykleia of
his intentions, while Athena,
disguised as an old friend
of Odysseus, gathers up a
crew to sail with him.
The crew sails to Pylos
where they find King
Nestor, making a huge
sacrifice of black bulls to
Poseidon.
On the shore / black bulls were being offered by the people / to the bluemaned god…” (3. 35.7-9)
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Athena gives Telemakhos
courage to ask Nestor about his
father, who reveals he knows
nothing about his whereabouts.
He tells Telemakhos about the
ending of he Trojan war, and what
transpired there.
He sends Telemakhos on towards
King Menelaus in Sparta, with a
plea that the palace will return to
normal, and his son to accompany
him on the journey.
It is here that Athena reveals her
divine status, when she
transforms from her disguise as a
crew member into an eagle.
“Not the least shyness, now, Telemakhos.”
(3.35.16-17)
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Upon arriving at Sparta, King
Menelaus and his wife Helen
recognize that Telemakhos is the son
of Odysseus, through his
resemblance.
The group tells stories with each
other, remembering the greatness of
Odysseus, until Menelaus tells him
news of his father.
On a separate journey, Menelaus
discovered that Odysseus was still
alive, but imprisoned on the island of
Ogygia by Kalypso
Odysseus
is here.
Telemakhos goes back to Sparta to his
ship with gifts from Menelaus, so he
can return to Ithaca with news.
“Never, anywhere, have I seen so great a likeness / in a man or woman- but it
is truly strange! / This boy must be the son of Odysseus.” (4.57.152-154)
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The suitors find out about
Telemakhos journey and
immediately plan among
themselves how to kill
Telemakhos when he
returns.
Athena sends a vision to
Penelope, when she finds
out about the suitors
plans, to calm her down
from the thought of
losing Telemakhos in
addition to Odysseus.
“What devilment will he be up to next time?- / Zeus blast the life
out of him before he’s grown. / Just give me a fast ship and twenty
men.” (4.72.714-716)