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Ancient Mothers

By N.S. Gill, About.com

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Penelope and Telemachus

Penelope and Telemachus

Penelope and Telemachus

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Penelope kept the suitors at bay until her son, Telemachus, was fully grown.

When Odysseus left for the Trojan War, his son was a baby. The war lasted a decade and Odysseus' return lasted another decade. Meanwhile area men were trying to sin over Odysseus' wife, Penelope. She didn't want to marry any of them and when she was pressed to choose said she would do so after she had finished weaving the shroud of her father-in-law. Each day she wove and each night she undid her day's work. In this way, she would have kept the suitors at bay (albeit eating her out of house and home), but one of her serving women told one of the suitors about Penelope's ruse.

Read Wily Penelope

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