The Odyssey

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The Odyssey

• Book Fifteen

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Book Fifteen

• Athene arrives in Sparta, she tells Telemachus to
  return home because the suitors are becoming more
  troublesome and are putting pressure on his
  mother to marry, she says his mother might marry
  one of them in his absence. She also informs him
  of the plot against his life.
• She tells him to sail at night and to avoid the
  straits of Samos, where they are lying in wait.
  He is to land at a different harbour he must
  then go to the swineherds hut.

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Book Fifteen

• Telemachus urges Menelaus to let him go home. He
  says he is afraid for his property because no one
  is in charge of this, in his absence. Menelaus
  and Helen present gifts to Telemachus. They then
  partake in a farewell feast at Spartas palace.
• As they depart an eagle passes by with a goose in
  it talons it is assumed this is an omen of some
  kind, did heaven send this omen for us two or
  for you. Helen says that the eagle is just like
  Odysseus, who will return and pounce on the
  suitors.

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Book Fifteen

• Peisistratus and Telemachos speed off to Pylos.
  Telemachos asks Peisistratus to take him straight
  to his ship and not to Nestors palace. He cannot
  afford any more time for hospitality. When they
  reach his ship, his crew are promptly ordered to
  get the boat ready for departure.
• Before his departure, while praying to Athene,
  Telemachus meets a man called Theoclymenus. He is
  a fugitive, on the run, being pursued by
  relatives of a man he killed. Theoclymenus asks
  if he could go with Telemachus. The young prince
  agrees.

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Book Fifteen

• Back at Ithaca Odysseus tells the swineherd that
  he intends to go to the palace to get a job as a
  servant. Eumaeus advises him to stay with him
  until the prince Telemachus returns. He must stay
  where he is because he will be offered no
  hospitality by the suitors.
• The stranger (Odysseus) asks about the kings
  mother and father. Eumaeus tells him Laertes
  prays inconsolably for death because of the loss
  of his wife, the queen, and his son Odysseus. The
  queen died of a broken heart.

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Book Fifteen

• Eumaeus, finally, tells Odysseus about his own
  sorry story. He was from noble birth his father
  was king of Syrie. This island was a place of
  wealth and peace.
• A Phoenician woman who served at their table was
  seduced by a Phoenician trader to return with him
  back to his native land. She stole the prince
  (Eumaeus) and some riches from the royal palace
  and brought these with her, but on their return
  the ships were wrecked and Eumaeus washed up on
  Ithaca thats how he came to be there.

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Book Fifteen

• Finally, Telemachus and his crew arrive safely on
  Ithaca.
• Overhead, an eagle is clutching a dove in its
  claws, some of its feathers fall from the sky.
  Theoclymenus says this is a sign from heaven, In
  all Ithaca there is no more royal house than
  yours. No yours is the power for all time.
  Telemachos sets off for Eumaeus farm.

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Book Fifteen Important Points

• Note that Athene is on hand to help Odysseus
  family once again
• Note the maturity of Telemachus he now makes
  important decisions, shows leadership e.g. he
  says, decisively to Peisistratus that he will not
  go to Pylos because he must be on his way. He
  takes on board Theoclymenus, (a risk here because
  this man was a complete stranger) also there is
  no Athena around to assist him, he can manage on
  his own. His order to his men, to ready the boats
  for departure, is confident and self-assured.
• Telemachus has mixed easily with the great Heroes
  of the Trojan War the world of the heroic.

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Book Fifteen Important Points

• Note the omen (goose) and how Helen of Sparta
  interprets this. This omen is the first of many
  such signs from the heavens.
• Be aware of Eumaeus continuous help to Odysseus
  (who is disguised). The simple herdsman is a
  model of humility and loyalty.
• Note that an eagle passing by Telemachus right
  shoulder is a sign that his royal house is indeed
  a powerful one.

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Book Fifteen Questions

1. Describe Athenes role in this book.
2. Describe the two omens that Telemachus witnesses
   and what they mean.