Ancient - Greek verse - epic - tragedy/historical/mythology

I have looked at the Iliad in detail, and now I will look at the other Greek ancient epic by Homer - the Odyssey. 

The Odyssey is mainly written as a sequel to the Iliad. It is also written in dactylic hexameter and was written in about the 8th century BC. All ancient and modern editions and translations divide the Odyssey into 24 books. Many scholars believe this division was not devised until the Roman writers of the 3rd century BC translated Homer's edition. Ancient scholars divided t he 24 books into segments, which they gave some names.

The first 4 books are known as the 'Telemachy'. The story begins 'in medias res' (in the middle of events), and starts ten years after the end of the Trojan war (the subject of the Iliad), which itself lasted ten years. Book 1 starts with the narrator invoking the Muse, asking for inspiration as he begins to prepare to tell the story of Odysseus, the Greek King of Ithaca, who fought in Troy. Odysseus has still not returned from Torjan War, and so has been gone from his home of Ithaca for twenty years. Odysseus' son Telemachus, was is twenty years old and was a baby when his father left for war, is sharing his father's absent palace on Ithaca with his mother Penelope, Odysseus' wife and the Queen of Ithaca. A hundred and eight boisterous young men, 'the suitors', are all attempting to persuade Penelope to marry them, in the absence of her long-gone husband, to claim his kingdom. They are all living at Odysseus' hospitality and eating up his wealth. Telemachus is powerless to stop the suitors, and has resigned himself to the likelihood that his father is dead.

Odysseus' protecteress, the goddess Athena, the goddess of wisdom and courage, discusses his fate with Zeus, the god of thunder and King of the gods. Poseidon, Zeus' brother and the god of the sea, is Odysseus' enemy, and he is absent from Mount Olympus, the mountain where the gods reside. Athena disguises herself as a Greek chieftain named Mentes, Odysseus' old friend, and visits Telemachus on Ithaca. She tells him she believes Odysseus is still alive, and urges him to search for news of his father and banish the suitors from Ithaca. Telemachus suspects the Mentes is a goddess in disguise.

Telemachus offers Athena/Mentes hospitality and they both observe the suitors dining rowdily while the bard Phemius performs a narrative poem for them. Penelope objects to Phemius' theme about Troy, because it reminds her of her missing husband. Telemachus rebuts her objections, telling her Odysseus is not the only Greek hero not to return from Troy, and that if she doesn't like the music of the men's quarters, she should retire to her own chambers. Telemachus then tells the suitors they will be banished from Ithaca the next day. Two defiant suitors, named Antinous and Eurymachus, rebuke him.

In book 2 Telemachus calls an assembly to try to remove the suitors from Ithaca. Antinous blames Penelope for the suitors' continued interest; she told them that she would take one of them as her husband as soon as she finished weaving a burial shroud for Laertes, Odysseus' elderly father. But each night, she undoes the knitting she has completed during the day, so that the shroud will never be finished. A soothsayer named Helitherses then predicts that the suitors will face a massacre from Odysseus when he soon returns, but they rebuff him.

That night Athena disguises herself as Telemachus and finds a ship and crew for the true Telemachus. The next day Athena disguises herself as a Greek chieftain called Mentor, another one of Odysseus' friends, to tell Telemachus to leave Ithaca with him.

In book 3 Telemachus and Athena/Mentor travel to the Greek mainland. They stay at the household of Nestor, one of the Greek warriors at Troy, who is back living in Pylos. They witness a religious ceremony to Poseidon, the god of the sea. Telemachus asks Nestor about his father, but Nestor does not know where Odysseus is. Nestor says after the sack of Troy the brothers Agamemnon and Menelaus had an argument. Menelaus wanted to leave Troy immediately, but Agamemnon wanted to stay, making sacrifices on the shores of Troy. Nestor left with Menelaus back to the Greek mainland, but Odysseus stayed with Agamemnon.

Nestor then says he doesn't know what happened to Odysseus after this, but that he knows that Agamemnon returned to Mycenae soon after to Greece and found that Aegisthus, a coward who remained behind when the Greeks sailed to Troy, had seduced and married his wife, Clytemnestra, whilst he was fighting at Troy. Clytemnestra and Aegisthus had then killed Agamemnon. Orestes, Agaememnon's son, had been in exile in Athens, but he soon returned to Mycenae and killed both Aegisthus and Clytemnestra. Nestor hopes Telemachus will avenge his father, or help him, in the way that Orestes avenged Agamemnon. Telemachus departs the next day with Nestor's son Peisistratus, for Sparta. Athena reveals herself as a goddess and remains behind to protect Telemachus' ship and crew.

In book 4 Telemachus and Peisistratus reach Sparta, where they find Menelaus and Helen, who are now reconciled. Both happily greet Peisistratus and Telemachus, who they recognise as Odysseus' son. As they feast, they recount with melancholy the events of the Trojan War. Helen is deeply mournful of her involvement in the beginning of the war, but speaks highly of Odysseus and his cunning. Menelaus says the Trojan horse was Odysseus' idea; where the Greek army infiltrated the gates of Troy by hiding in a wooden horse that the Trojans brought into their city. Menelaus tells of his and Helen's return from Troy; they ended up sailing too far south and became stranded on the island of Pharos, off Egypt, for three years. There they captured Proteus, the divine Old Man of th Sea. he told them the way back to Sparta, and also informed them of the fate of Agamemnon, and also Ajax, who killed himself shortly after the end of the war. Proteus then tells the story of Odysseus - he is still alive but has not returned to Ithaca, and is stranded on the island of Calypso, a nymph. Menelaus believes he remains there still. Buoyed by the news that his father is still alive, Telemachus and Peisistratus decide to return to Pylos, and then will afterwards set sail for Ithaca.

Meanwhile, in Ithaca, the suitors learn of Telemachus' voyage and prepare to ambush him on his return. Penelope learns of this and becomes distraught, thinking she may lose her son as well as her husband. However, Athena sends a phantom in the form of Penelope's sister, Iphthime, to reassure her that Telemachus will be protected by Athena.

With books 5-8, the scene shifts to tell the current story of Odysseus. In book 5 all the gods except Poseidon gather on Mount Olympus, their home, to discuss Odysseus' fate: He is in captivity on the island of Ogygia, which is ruled by the beautiful nymph Calypso. He has been kept there for the last seven years. Over the years Calypso has fallen deeply in love with him and wants to marry him but Odysseus has constantly spurned her advances and is adamant he will stay with his wife Penelope. Calypso has enchanted Odysseus several times, singing as she strolls to and fro across her weaving loom. They have slept together many times after Odysseus has heard her singing, but he remains against the idea of marrying her.

Athena urges Zeus to intervene on his behalf. Hermes, the messenger, is sent to help . Hermes is Odysseus' great-grandfather on his mother's side. Hermes travels to Ogygia and manages to persuade Calypso to release Odysseus, for it is not his destiny to live with her forever. Calypso is angry: gods often have affairs with mortal women, but the gods hate it when goddesses have affairs with mortal men. However, eventually she concedes. Odysseus builds a raft and Calypso gives him food, drink and clothing and reluctantly lets him go. She advices him to sail east, and to navigate using the stars.

On the eighteenth day of his journey he sees the shadowy mountains of the island of Sheria, the land of the Phaeacians, a Greek tribe. However, Poseidon sees Odysseus' raft and finds out about his escape from Ogygia. Poseidon produces a storm that torments Odysseus, but he is given a veil by the sea nymph Ino which allows him to survive the storm and after three days of struggle he is washed ashore on Sheria.

In book 6 Athena disguises herself as a sea-captain's daughter and instructs Nausicaa, the princess of Sherie, in a dream to go to the seashore the next day and wash her clothes. The next morning, Nausicaa and her maids go to the seashore and, after washing the clothes, they play a ball game on the beach with loud laughter. Odysseus, who has fallen asleep, naked and exhausted, nearby, is awakened by the laughter. He covers his nakedness with leaves and goes to ask for help. The maids are frightened by his unkept appearance and flee, but Nausicaa is encouraged by Athena to talk to him. She admits that the Phaeacians are an untrusting people, but Nausicaa provides clothes, food and drink to Odysseus and directs him to the palace of her parents, King Alcinous and Queen Arete.

In book 7 Odysseus makes his way to the palace of Alcinous, the king of the Phaeacians. Odysseus is stopped by a young girl who is Athena in disguise. She offers to guide him to the king's house and shrouds him in a protective mist that keeps the Phaecians, a kind but untrusting people, from harassing him. She also advises him to direct his plea to return to Ithaca to Arete, the wise queen.

Odysseus enters Alcinous' palace and finds the residents holding a festival for Poseidon. He is struck by the splendour of the palace and festivities. As soon as he sees Queen Arete he throws himself at her feet, and the mist about him dissipates. Alcinous and Arete do not ask him his name, but agree to help him when he explains he has been shipwrecked. That night Arete notices the clothes he is wearing are the ones she made for her daughter Nausicaa. Odysseus says their daughter found him on the beach and gave him clothes to wear, before telling him to find them at their palace. Odysseus didn't return with Nausicaa because he was worried about tarnishing her honour. Alcinous is so impressed with Odysseus that he offers him Nausicaa's hand in marriage. Odysseus politely refuses, saying he is already married.

In book 8 Alcinous calls an assembly of the Phaeacians. They agree to provide Odysseus with a ship so he can sail home to Ithaca. Alcinous then holds a feast in honour of Odysseus. At the feast Odysseus hears a blind singer named Demodocus perform a narrative poem about Odysseus and Achilles in the Trojan War. Odysseus is overcome with grief when he remembers his lost friend Achilles.

Alcinous notices Odysseus' grief and ends the feast so that the games can begin. There are pentathlon games of boxing, wrestling, racing and throwing of the discus. Odysseus is asked to participate, but he is still grieving over Achilles and refuses. A young athlete named Broadsea then goads him, and Odysseus agrees to participate in his pride. He easily wins the throwing of the discus, and challenges the athletes to any other form of competition. The discussion becomes heated and Alcinous diffuses the situation by throwing another feast.

At this feast there is much singing and danging and Demodocus performs another narrative poem, this time an amusing tale of a love affair between Ares, god of war, and Aphrodite, goddess of love. Alcinous and the other Phaeacian athletes then give Odysseus gifts to take with him on his journey home. Later on, Odysseus asks Demodocus to return to the Trojan War theme and tell of the Trojan Horse, where the Greek army got into Troy by hiding in a wooden horse. Odysseus is overcome with emotion as he hears this story because he it was initially his idea. Alcinous then hears a prophecy from a seer who tells him that Odysseus is more than he appears, and that if they help him they could be in trouble. Alcinous asks at last for Odysseus to reveal who he is, where he is from, and where he is going.

Books 9-12 are referred to as 'Apologoi', and are a single narrative from Odysseus, telling his story about his ten-year return journey from Troy. Book 9 is often called 'Cyclopeia'. Odysseus reveals to the Phaeacians that he is Odysseus, the king of Ithaca and hero from the Trojan war. He says that immediately after the sacking of Troy, he and his twelve ships from Ithaca left the beaches of Troy and carried out a pirate raid on the city of Ismaros in the land of the Cicones, a tribe that had fought for the Trojans in the war. Odysseus' men attack the Cicones, kill the men and divide the women and treasures among themselves and begin to feast. Odysseus didn't want them to remain and tried to get them to leave immediately, but they ignored him. The next day, many Cicones reinforcements arrived and attacked Odysseus' men in great numbers. Odysseus managed to flee back to his ship with some of his men, but six men from every ship were killed.

Odysseus continued to sail west to Ithaca, but as they were passing the southernmost tip of mainland Greece they were driven off course by storms sent by Zeus, who was angered over their attack on Ismaros, and they ended up disembarking on the island of the Lotus-eaters, a tribe living on an island off northern Africa. The Lotus-eaters live off the lotuses, which are narcotics that cause them to live in peaceful lethargy. The Lotus-eaters give two of Odysseus' men the lotus to eat, which causes them to forget where they are and where they are going. Odysseus takes some of the lotuses but doesn't eat them.

Odysseus leaves with his men, forcing them back to the ship and locking them up, but the forgetful men lead the way and cause them to go too far west during the night and end up on the island of Cyclopes (modern day Sicily). Polyphemus lives on this island, and is the son of Poseidon. Polyphemus is a cyclops, or a one-eyed giant, and many other cyclops live on the island with him. Odysseus and his men enter a cave filled with provisions, unknowingly entering Polyphemus' home. Odysseus' men advise him to snatch some food and hurry off, but he remains behind. When the cyclops returns he makes a show of hospitality at first, but then blocks the entrance to the cave with a great stone and eats two of Odysseus' men, whilst imprisoning the others. Odysseus wants to kill Polyphemus then, but knows that only the giant is strong enough to move the rock in front of the door to his cave. He formulates a plan.

The next morning Polyphemus eats two more men, and then leaves the cave to graze his sheep. The cyclops returns in the evening and kills two more men, and Odysseus offers Polyphemus some strong and undiluted wine made with the lotuses he took from the Lotus-eaters. The cyclops asks Odysseus for his name, promising him the ancient rights and customs of hospitality if he answers. Odysseus tells him he is 'no-one'. Polyphemus, angered at the refusal, tells him he will eat this 'nobody' last of all. Polyphemus then falls asleep, drunk from the wine. Odysseus had hardened a wooden stake from the fire and then drives it into Polyphemus' eye as he sleeps. Polyphemus is blinded, and calls out for help from his fellow giants in the surrounding caves, calling out that 'nobody' has hurt him. The giants hear this and mistakenly think he is being afflicted by divine power and so recommend he prays.

The next morning the blind cyclops lets the sheep out to graze, feeling their backs to ensure that the men are not escaping. However, Odysseus and his men have tied themselves to the undersides of the sheep so they can escape. By the time Polyphemus realises the men have escaped and has run down to the beach of his island, Odysseus and his men are already sailing away with all his sheep. As he sails off, Odysseus, in a moment of foolish pride (hubris), boastfully reveals his real name to the cyclops. Polyphemus throws huge rocks at Odysseus' departing ships, which they just manage to avoid, and then prays to his father, Poseidon, for revenge against Odysseus. Poseidon curses Odysseus, and tells him he will wander the sea for the next ten years, during which he will lose all of his men and will only return home through the aid of others.

In book 10 Odysseus explains that he and his men then landed on the floating island of Aeolia, east of Ithaca, where Aeolus, the master of the winds, lived. Aeolus gave them hospitality for a month and provided them with a west wind to take them back to Ithaca. He gave Odysseus a bag containing all the winds except for the west wind, which he was only to open when he was safely back on Ithaca. This would ensure that Odysseus could only sail westward. Odysseus and his men thanked him and left after a month. They sailed westward and came within sight of Ithaca. However, Odysseus' men then opened the bag, believing it contained gold, whilst Odysseus was sleeping. All of the winds flew out and the resulting storm drove the Ithacan ships back the way they had come to Aeolia. Aeolus refused them any further help, believing their unsuccessful voyage to mean that the gods did not favour them.

Odysseus and his men re-embarked, now without any favourable winds. The reached the island of Lamos. Odysseus kept his own ship outside the harbour of Telepylos, a city in Lamos, moored to a rock. He climbed a high rock but could only see smoke rising from the ground, and nothing else. He sent three scouts to investigate the island and its inhabitants. The men followed a road and eventually met a young woman fetching water, who says she is the daughter of Antiphates, the king of Lamos. The woman directs them to Antiphates house, but when they get there they encounter a giant woman, the wife of Antiphates, who calls her husband. Antiphates, himself a giant, snatches up one of the men and kills him, drinking his blood. The other two men, called Eurylochus and Polites, flee. Antiphates raises an outcry and the two men are pursued by thousands of Laestrygonians, a giant cannibal tribe that inhabit Lamos.

The two men return to Odysseus' ship outside the harbour and Odysseus' ship manages to escape. However, eleven of the twelve ships are bombarded with rocks that the Laestrygonians throw from the ciffs, smashing them and killing the men onboard. The men that manage to escape from the bombardment are speared like fish from by the Laestrygonians and eaten. Odysseus escapes from Lamos with only his ship, and fifty-two men. 

Odysseus and his men next sail to the island of Aeaea. The beautiful sorceress Circe lives on this island, where she lives in a mansion in the middle of a dense wood, surrounded by docile lions and wolves who she has tamed with her magic, and works on a huge loom. Circe invites Odysseus' crew to a great feast. Odysseus and a few of his men remain on their ships, but most of the men answer Circe's call and she lavishes them with a pottage of fine cheese and wine. Eurylochus, suspecting treachery, escapes and returns to Odysseus at the ships without eating anything. However, the rest of the men gorge themselves. The food and drink turns out to be enchanted with a magical potion, and it turns all of them into pigs.

Odysseus, Eurylochus and the small amount of men at the ships set out to find Circe's mansion and rescue the men. However, they are intercepted by Hermes, who has been sent by Athena. Hermes tells Odysseus to use moly, a holy herb, to protect himself from Circe's potion and magic. Odysseus takes the herb and manages to resist Circe. Surprised by his resistance, Circe falls in love with Odysseus and agrees to change his men back into human form in return for Odysseus staying on Aeaea with her and becoming her love. Odysseus agrees and Circe has his men returned. Odysseus and his men remain on Circe's island for one year afterwards, feasting and drinking wine, and Odysseus becomes Circe's lover.

After a year, Circe agrees to let them move on. She tells Odysseus to go to the Underworld, to speak with the spirit of Tiresias, the blind prophet, who will tell them which route to use to get back to Ithaca.

In book 11 Odysseus leave Aeaea to travel to the Underworld and this book is called the 'Nekyia'. Guided by Circe's instructions they reach a harbour at the western edge of the world, where they kill a ram as a sacrifice to Hades, the brother of Zeus and Poseidon and the god of the Underworld. Odysseus alone then descends into the Underworld. The first spirit he sees is Elpenor, the youngest man on Odysseus' ship, who had gotten drunk the night before they left Aeaea and fallen from Circe's roof, breaking his neck. This had gone unnoticed by Odysseus and the others. Elpenor begs Odysseus to return to Aeaea and bury his body, and Odysseus says he will.

Odysseus then sees the prophet Tiresias, who reveals that Poseidon is punishing them for blinding his son Polyphemus, the cyclops. He tells Odysseus his fate - he will eventually return home, reclaim his wife and palace from the many suitors, and one day make another sea trip to a distant land to appease Poseidon. Tiresias warns Odysseus not to touch the flocks of Helios when he reaches the land of Thrinacia, otherwise he will suffer much hardship and lose all his men before he returns home. After Tiresias Odysseus sees his own mother, Anticleia, who tells him she died of grief waiting for him to return. She tells him about Ithaca, and how Penelope is being bombarded with many suitors who are living in his palace at his expense.

Tiresias departs and Odysseus then sees many other spirits. He tries to cut his tale short and asks his Phaeacian hosts if he can go to bed, but the King and Queen ask him to tell them about all the spirits he saw; including any Greek heroes from Troy. Odysseus says after his mother he saw Agamemnon, the Greek High King of Mycenae who led the Greek armies at Troy. He says he was murdered by his wife and her lover when he returned home after the sack of Troy. Next Odysseus meets Achilles, who greeted him as a friend and asks about his son, Neoptolemus. Odysseus was delighted to see Achilles, and told him how renowned he is throughout the world for his exploits at Troy. Achilles replies by saying he would rather be alive and a servant for the lowliest man on earth than be dead and a renowned king in the Underworld. Odysseus then sees Ajax, a Greek king from Troy. Immediately after the sack, Ajax lost a contest with Odysseus over the arms of Achilles and then killed himself. Odysseus tries to speak with Ajax, but he ignores him. Odysseus then sees the hero Heracles, King Minos, the hunter Orion, Sisyphus; who struggles eternally to push a boulder over a hill only to have it roll back down when it reaches the top, and Tantalus; who sits in a pool of water overhung by bunches of grapes who is eternally thirsty and hungry but can never reach the water or the food. Odysseus is then mobbed by many souls wishing to know about their living relative. He becomes frightened, and returns back to the land of the living and his ship.

In book 12 Odysseus and his men return to Aeaea to bury Elpenor's body. Circe suggests two alternative routes for Odysseus and his men to return to Ithaca: to pass Planctae, a group of rocks known as the 'Wandering Rocks', which are notoriously treacherous, or to pass between the dangerous Scylla, a six-headed monster who lives on a rock, and the whirlpool Charybdis (this pass is the modern-day Strait of Messina). Circe tells them they will pass the Sirens' island, but must not listen to their song and must plug their ears and carry on sailing. Otherwise, the Sirens will lure them to their island where their ship will be destroyed on the rocks. Odysseus then spends one last night with Circe.

Odysseus' men sail the next day and pass the island of the Sirens. Odysseus' men plug their ears with beeswax according to Circe's advice and tie Odysseus to the ship's mast. Odysseus alone hears the Sirens' music and it is so seductive that he begs his men to untie him, but they do not.

Odysseus and his men pass through the strait between Scylla and Charybdis. Odysseus manages to hold his course tight through the cliffs of Scylla's lair and the whirlpool, but Scylla swoops down and eats six of his men.

The company next come across the island of Thrinacia, the island of Helios, a sun god. Remembering Tiresias' warning, Odysseus doesn't want to land on the island, but his right-hand man Eurylochus persuades him to let his exhausted crew rest there. Odysseus relents, but says they must not eat any animals from the island, according to Tiresias' warning. Zeus is angry at Odysseus for ignoring Tiresias, and causes a storm to keep them beached for a month. When the crew's provisions run out, Eurylochus persuades the crew to disobey Odysseus and slaughter the cattle of Helios for food. When Helios finds out, he asks Zeus to punish Odysseus and his men. Zeus eases the storm, and Odysseus and his men set sail from Thrinacia. Shortly afterwards, Zeus causes another storm, even deadlier, which destroys the ship and kills every member of Odysseus' crew except for Odysseus himself.

The storm sweeps Odysseus to the whirlpool of Charybdis, which he narrowly avoids. Afloat on the broken timbers of his ship, he eventually reaches Ogygia, the island of Calypso. Odysseus ends his story here, saying that he stayed on Ogygia for seven years, held captive by Calypso, before escaping her island and ending up on Sherie, where he is currently.

In book 13 Odysseus looks forward to leaving Sheria. Alcinous loads his gifts aboard his ship, and Odysseus sleeps the whole voyage back to Ithaca whilst the Phaeacian crew sail him back to Ithaca. Odysseus is still asleep when he arrives at his home, and is carried onto the island.

When Poseidon sees Odysseus on Ithaca he becomes enraged at the Phaeacians for assisting his nemesis. He complains to Zeus, who allows him to punish the Phaeacians. Just as their ship returns to Sheria, it is turned into stone and sinks to the bottom of the sea. The Phaeacians resolve from then on not to accomodate wayward travellers.

In Ithaca, Odysseus wakes to find a country he doesn't recognise. Athena has shrouded the island in mist to conceal its true form when she plans his next move. At first Odysseus curses the Phaeacians, whom he thinks have duped him and left him in some unknown land. But then Athena, disguised as a shepherd, meets him and tells him he is in Ithaca. Athena tells him it is time for him to use his wits to punish Penelope's suitors. She tells him to hide in the hut of the swineherd Eumaeus. She informs him that his son Telemachus has gone in search of news of him, and gives him the appearance of an old vagabond so no-one will recognise him.

In book 14 Odysseus finds Eumaeus outside his hut. Although Eumaeus doesn't recognise the vagabond as Odysseus, he helps him. In his hut, Odysseus is well-fed and Eumaeus heaps praise on the memory of Odysseus, whom he fears lost for good, and pours scorn upon the cruel suitors. Odysseus makes up a story that he is from Crete and fought with Odysseus at Troy before making it home safely. However, a later trip to Egypt went awry and he was reduced to poverty. It was there that he heard that Odysseus is still alive.

In book 15 Athena travels to Sparta, where she finds Telemachus and Peisistratus, who are about to return to Pylos, and then Ithaca. She tells Telemachus he must hurry home to Ithaca before one of the suitors succeeds in marrying his mother. She also warns him that the suitors plan to ambush him when he returns. She instructs him to head for the hut of the swineherd Eumaeus when he returns to his home, who will convey the news of his safe return to Penelope. Peisistratus stays in Pylos and Telemachus sets sail for Ithaca. Suddenly, Theoclymenus, a descendent of a famous prophet who is fleeing prosecuction for a manslaughter he committed in Argos, approaches Telemachus and is allowed to come onboard.

Back in the hut of Eumaeus, Odysseus tests the limits of his hospitality by offering to leave in the morning, hoping Eumaeus will offer to let him stay longer. Eumaeus explains that he first came to Ithaca as the son of a King, but he was tolen from his house by Phoenician pirates with the help of a maid in his father's employment. The pirates took him all over the seas until Laertes, Odysseus' father, brought him to Ithaca. Laertes' wife then had Eumaeus brough up alongside their daughter, Odysseus' younger sister.

In book 16 Telemachus reaches Ithaca on the next morning. He disembarks and entrusts Theoclymenus to a loyal crewman. When Telemachus reaches Eumaeus' hut, he finds him talking to a stranger (Odysseus in disguise). Eumaeus suggests Odysseus-in-disguise goes to the palace with Telemachus, but Telemachus is afraid of what the suitors might do to them. Eumaeus therefore goes alone to tell Penelope that her son has returned.

Athena then appears and calls Odysseus outside. When he returns, the old-man disguise is gone and he stands in the glory of his heroic warrior-king status from Troy and all of his travels. Telemachus is stunned, but then father and son weep and embrace. Odysseus tells him how he was brought here by the Phaeacians and then begins plotting the overthrow of the suitors. He plans to enter the palace disguised as a beggar and then Telemachus will hide the palace's surplus arms so the suitors cannot reach them. The two of them will then seize the arms and slaughter the suitors. 

Before Eumaeus can tell Penelope the news of Telemachus' return, the crew of his ship reach the palace and inform everyone that Telemachus has returned. The suitors are furious that their plot to ambush him has failed. Antinous recommends putting Telemachus to death before he can call an assembly to denounce them, but Amphinomus, a more thoughtful suitor, persuades them to wait for a sign from the gods. Penelope finds Antinous and denounces him for the plot against her son. Eurymachus manages to clam Penelope down with false concern for the safety of Telemachus.

In book 17 Telemachus leaves Odysseus at Eumaeus' hut and heads to the palace, where he receives a tearful welcome from Penelope and the nurse Eurycleia. In the palace he meets Theoclymenus and Piraeus and tells them not to bring the gifts from Menelaus and Helen to the palace because the suitors will steal them. When he sits to eat with Penelope he tells her the news he heard of Odysseus in Pylos and Sparta, but doesn't reveal he has seen him in Eumaeus' hit. Theoclymenus swears he believes Odysseus is back in Ithaca.

Eumaeus and Odysseus walk towards the palace; Odysseus back in his old-man disguise. On the way they meet Melanathis, a subordinate of the suitors, who is scornful of Eumaeus and the old man. Odysseus is treated similarly at the palace and the suitors insult him and treat him cruelly. When Penelope hears of this, she demands the old man be brought to her so she can question him about Odysseus. Odysseus refuses for the moment. Eumaeus returns to his hut, leaving Odysseus alone with Telemachus and the suitors.

In book 18 another beggar, Arnaeus (nicknamed Irus), insults Odysseus and challenges him to a boxing match. Athena gives Odysseus extra strength and stature and Odysseus floors Irus and nearly kills him. The suitors congratulate Odysseus. Amphinomus gives him food and treats him well. Odysseus is thankful and pulls the man aside to tell him that Odysseus will return soon and warns him to return to his own land. Amphinomus becomes worried, but refuses to leave.

Athena tells Penelope to go before her suitors. She gives her extra stature and beauty to inflame their hearts. Penelope tells the suitors that Odysseus has instructed her to take a new husband if he was gone for ten years. She then asks them to bring her gifts to show their worth. The suitors shower her with presents. Athena inspires Eurymachus to insult Odysseus; hoping to make him even moreangry at the suitors. Just as a riot is about to break out, Telemachus arrives and difuses the situation.

In book 19 the suitors go to bed and Telemachus and Odysseus remove the arms from the palace. Telemachus then retires and Odysseus is joined by Penelope. Penelope questions the old man about Odysseus, asking him to describe him. Odysseus describes the Greek hero - capturing himself so perfectly that it makes Penelope weep. He tells Penelope that Odysseus had a long ordeal but is alive and is freely travelling the seas. He predicts he will be back within a month. Eurycleia then washes Odysseus' feet and recognises a scar on his foot that Odysseus got whilst boar hunting with his grandfather Autolycus. She realises it is him and is overjoyed, but Odysseus tells her to keep his secret for now and she agrees. Before she retires, Penelope tells Odysseus that she will choose a new husband and will marry the first man who can shoot an arrow through the holes of twelve axes set in a line, in accordance with a prophetic dream she has had. Penelope remains tormented by the loss of her husband and her commitment to remarry.

In book 20 the suitors plot Telemachus' murder. Amphinomus convinces them to call it off, but Athena keeps the other suitors antagonistic to keep Odysseus angry. Ctesippus, a wealthy and arrogant suitor, throws food at Odysseus, which angers Telemachus and amuses most of the other suitors. Theoclymenus and others believe the suitors will soon meet their doom.

In book 21 Penelope gets Odysseus' bow out of the storeroom and announces she will marry the suitor who can string it and shoot an arrow through a line of twelve axes. Telemachus sets up the axes and tries his own hand, but fails to string the bow. The suitors warm and grease the bow to make it supple, but one by one they all try and fail. Odysseus follows Eumaeus and Philoetius outside and reveals his identity to them by showing them the scar on his foot. He promises to treat them as his sons if they fight with him against the suitors.

When Odysseus returns, Eurymachus fails to string the bow, and realises his inferiority to Odysseus. Antinous suggests they adjourn until the next day, when they can sacrifice to Apollo, the god of archery, before trying again. Odysseus, still disguised, asks for the bow. All the suitors complain, arguing a beggar should not be allowed the attempt. Telemachus orders that Odysseus be given the bow. Odysseus then easily strings the bow and sends the first arrow through all twelve axes.

In book 22 Odysseus shoots a second arrow through Antinous' throat. He finally reveals himself in all his heroic glory, and the suitors become terrified. Philoetius locks the front door and Eumaeus has locked the doors to the women's quarters, leaving the suitors with no way out. Eurymachus tries to calm Odysseus, saying that Antinous was the only bad person amongst them, but Odysseus announces he will spare none of them. Eurymachus charges at Odysseus but is cut down by an arrow. Amphinomous is then killed by the spear of Telemachus. Telemachus then gets more arms from the storeroom and arms Eumaeus and Philoetius, but he forgets to lock it and Melanthius reaches it and arms the suitors. However, he is soon found and locked in the storeroom.

A full battle now rages. Athena encourages Odysseus, but doesn't intervene, wanting to test his strength. Odysseus and his men kill several suitors whilst only receiving small wounds themsleves. Finally, Athena joins the battle and Odysseus is victorious. Odysseus then rounds up the disloyal servant women who served the suitors and makes them clear the corpses from the hall before having them taken out of the palace and executed. Melanthius is then tortured and killed.

In book 23 Eurycleia goes to wake Penelope, who has slept through the entire fight. She doesn't believe Eurycleia and remains in disbelief when she enters the hall and sees Odysseus in all his glory. Telemachus rebukes his mother for not greeting her husband more lovingly after his long absence. Odysseus worries that because he has just killed all the noble young men of Ithaca their families may be greatly distressed. He decides that he and his family should lay low in their farm for a while. Penelope remains wary, afraid that a god is playing a trick on her. Odysseus reveals intimate details about their marriage and Penelope finally realises he is her husband. They joyfully reacquaint with each other and Odysseus gives a brief account of his wanderings. He also tells her that Tiresias made a prophecy in the Underworld that he would one day sail again to appease Poseidon. The next day he leaves with Telemachus to go to Laertes' farm. He tells Penelope not to leave her room. Athena cloaks Odysseus and Telemachus in darkness so no-one will see them as they walk through Ithaca.

In book 24, Hermes leads the souls of the suitors to the Underworld. They are weeping as they go. In the Underworld, Agamemnon and Achilles argue over who had the better death, and Agamemnon tells Achilles all about his own funeral. They see the suitors arrive and ask how so many noble young men died. Amphimedon, whome Agamemnon once knew in life, pins most of the blame on Penelope and her indecision. Agamemnon is impressed with Penelope, and contrasts her constancy with the treachery of his own wife Clytemnestra, who quickly remarried.

Back in Ithaca, Odysseus arrives at Laertes' farm. He finds that his father has aged prematurely out of grief for his lost son and dead wife. He doesn't recognise Odysseus, and so Odysseus doesn't immediately reveal himself, pretended to be a friend of his. When Laertes weeps for his son, Odysseus embraces him and reveals himself, using the scar on his foot to reveal himself, and also talking of the memories of the fruit trees Laertes gave him when he was a young child. He tells his father he has avenged himself upon the suitors, and Laertes is overjoyed to see him returned. Dolius, the father of Melanthius and Melantho, joins them for lunch.

The goddess Rumor then flies through the city spreading the news of the massacre at the palace. The parents of the suitors hold an assembly where they assess how to respond. Halitherses, an elder prophet, argues that the suitors got what they deserved for their wickedness. Eupithes, Antinous' father, encourages the parents to seek revenge on Odysseus. Their small army tracks Odysseus to Laertes' house but Athena, disguised again as Mentor, decides to end the violence. Eupithes is killed by Laertes, but the rest are spared. Athena makes the Ithacans forget the massacre and recognise Odysseus as their king. The Ithacans recognise the authority of Odysseus and peace is restored.