Homer’s Odyssey

Endgames and The Greek Element

Books XXIII-XXIV

This art is NOT Greek, yet it appears to tell a similar story.Did theOdyssey Have EarlierOrigins?

Book XXIII• Eurykleia tells Penelope that Odysseus

has returned• Eurykleia laughs• Penelope doesn’t buy it

– “Dear nurse, the gods have made you mad!”

• Eurykleia describes the slaughter, and laughs

• Tells Penelope the sight of the corpses would warm her heart

Book XXIII• Penelope doesn’t

know what to do• “It is hard to

comprehend the counsels of the gods that are forever.”

• Off to see the suitors…and Telemakhos

Odysseus and Penelope• Telemakhos shows

his manhood by upbraiding his mom

• Penelope Polytropa• “We have signs

which we two alone know, signs hidden from others.”

Penelope’s Test

• After Od. cleans up, and a big party thrown, Penelope tests her husband

• Tells Odysseus that the wedding bed will be made up for him IN THE HALLWAY

• Odysseus is outraged• “You make my stern heart know

that I am yours.”

The Tree Bed• Odysseus had carved

the bed from a huge olive tree

• Inlaid with gold, silver, ivory

• Covered with a bright purple ox-hide

• One of the few examples of material wealth in Odysseus’ house

REUNION• They have a good

cry• Ship-land

metaphor to express Odysseus’ joy at seeing Penelope

• All is not joy yet, as “we have not yet come to the end of our trials”

“When the two had their fill of the joy of love, they took delight in tales speaking to each other.”

First recorded instance of pillow talk

And Now For Something Completely Different…

• Agamemnon and Achilles in the Underworld• Tangent, but important• Brings back the theme of fidelity (Penelope

contrasted with Klytemnestra)• Plural authorship?

Book XXIV• Odysseus goes to

meet his father– With a bevy of armed

guards, including Telemakhos

• Laertes not very kingly– Reverses the meeting

of Odysseus and Telemakhos

• Again, Odysseus can’t resist another tricky exchange

• Bad moon rising….

The Families of the Suitors Plot Revenge

• Rumor flies over Ithaka • Eupeithes, Antinoos’ father, want

revenge• Dolius not among them

– Father of Melanthius and Melantho

• Dolius not among them• Athene helps again…with Laertes

Athena’s Intervention• “Now halt – stop

this bitter sparring; end your slaughter Ithakans and seek peace.”

• Naturally, everyone just stops, even Odysseus (eventually)

What does it all mean?!?!Themes revisited:• Chastity and fidelity of Penelope• Cunning of Odysseus and Penelope• The gods take an active role in human

affairs

• The evolution of Telemakhos is complete• Revenge taken and honor restored

• BUT….

The Problem of Book 24

• Was it a later addition?– Achilles and Agamemnon– Entrance of suitors into Underworld

conflicts with Book 11 (Elpenor needs burial)

– No fight with Dolius– Odysseus doesn’t carry out Teirisias’

instructions to sacrifice to Poseidon