Odyssey Study Guide Contents
In the 15th book of the Odyssey, Athena goes to Telemachus to urge him to leave. She tells him that he must protect his inheritance from the ravages of the suitors.
The next morning Telemachus wants to take off immediately, but his companion, Pisistratus, tells him to ask permission of his host. So Telemachus asks Menelaus for permission to leave. Menelaus says moderation is best and a host should be neither overly fond of nor rude to his guest. He asks Telemachus to wait until he can load him up with suitable gifts. He also says they'll feed him first and if he wants a tour of the Peloponnese, they will happily provide him with one. At each stop he can expect a valuable gift. Telemachus says he wants to return to protect his property.
Menelaus goes to their treasure room with his wife and son Megapenthes. Megapenthes brings back a silver mixing bowl made by Hephaestus out of silver, Menelaus, a double cup, and Helen, a dress she had made and embroidered to be worn by Telemachus' bride. After the gifts are stowed in the chariot, they dine. First they are handed a basin to wash and then given bread, meat, and wine. When they have eaten enough, Telemachus and Pisistratus yoke the horses and Menelaus brings a goblet for a drink offering before they depart. He asks them to tell Nestor how well he treated them. They assure him they will. An eagle with a goose in its talons comes on the scene and is read by Helen as an omen for good: that Odysseus will take care of the suitors. Telemachus says that if she's right, he will make vows to Helen as if she were a god. Then the two young men set off and ride all day until dusk when they reach Pherae, where Diocles lives. They spend the night hospitably and leave at dawn, soon reaching Pylos.
Telemachus asks Pisistratus not to make him go to Nestor's palace because he's anxious to get home. Psistratus helps him load the ship and tells him to hurry off because if Nestor learns he is there, he will insist that Telemachus be his guest. He knows Nestor will be angry. As Telemachus is getting ready and making an offering to Athena, an exiled seer from Argos, Theoclymenus, approaches and asks to be allowed to join him. Telemachus agrees and says he will treat him hospitably. They set sail and Athena adds favoring winds.
Soon Telemachus begins to worry about the suitors' ambush. At this juncture, the story switches to Odysseus and Eumaeus, the swineherd.
Odysseus is testing Eumaeus. He tells him he wants to go to town to start begging and wants to give Penelope his news of her husband and find out if any of the suitors will give him food. He says he would make a great servant for them.
Eumaeus says he will be destroyed if he goes to the suitors, who would disdain a man like him for a servant. Eumaeus says the Odysseus-beggar should stay with him until Telemachus comes home and then Telemachus will first give him a shirt and cloak and then send him wherever he wants to go.
Odysseus thanks Eumaeus and says since he's staying he would like to learn more about Odysseus' parents.
Eumaeus says that Odysseus' father, Laertes, is still alive, but wants to die out of despair about his son and the death of his wife. She had been grieving for a long time. When Eumaeus was young she had raised him and her daughter Ctimenes together. When Ctimenes grew up she was married off and Eumaeus was given a good shirt, cloak, and sandals, and sent to the country.
Odysseus asks how Eumaeus came to be in Ithaca.
Eumaeus says that since the nights are at their longest, there is plenty of time for talk and too much sleep is just as bad as too little, so he will tell him the long story. His father, Ctesius, was king of Syra and Ortygia. There Phoenician traders came and seduced one of his father's servants, Eumaeus' nurse, a Phoenician woman who had been seized in her homeland of Sidon, by Taphian pirates, and sold to Ctesius. The Phoenicians offer to take her home. She agrees and takes the young Eumaeus with her to be sold. He was brought to Ithaca and sold to Laertes.
Odysseus responds that the gods have given him both good and bad since he had a good master. then they sleep.
Meanwhile, Telemachus lands. The crew eats and drinks, then Telemachus tells them to take the ship to town while he goes to look after one of his herdsmen. The next day he will join them in town and reward them. Theoclymenus asks what is to become of him. He tells him to go to a good man, one of the suitors, Eurymachus the son of Polybus. Another bird comes and Theoclymenus tells him it is an omen that Telemachus will remain powerful. Telemachus says that if he's right, he will show him good will and give him lots of gifts.
Telemachus then asks Piraeus, son of Clytius, to take the seer home with him temporarily until he can come for him. Piraeus assures Telemachus that Theoclymenus will not want for hospitality at his home.
Telemachus puts on his sandals and grabs his spear as he heads for Eumaeus' home.
Quiz on Odyssey Book XV
Book XIV Summary|Book XVI
Read a Public Domain translation of Odyssey Book XV.
