Principal Personages of the Odyssey

The gods agree that Odysseus must return home. Athene appears to Telemachus, telling him to make a plea to the suitors to leave his house, and then to go in quest of news of his father

Telemachus calls an assembly, pleads with the suitors, and is taunted by them. Without Penelope's knowledge he then sails for Pylos

Telemachus is welcomed by Nestor at Pylos and joins in celebrating the feast of Poseidon, but hears no news of Odysseus. He continues his journey to Sparta

Menelaus and Helen receive Telemachus gladly at Sparta. Menelaus gives him hope his father may be alive. In Ithaca, the suitors plan to murder Telemachus. Athene sends a reassuring vision to Penelope

Hermes is sent by Zeus to Ogygia to tell Calypso to let Odysseus go. Odysseus builds a raft and sets sail. The raft is broken by a storm, but Odysseus battles the waves and reaches Scheria

Exhausted, Odysseus hides himself and sleeps. He is awakened by the voices of Nausicaa and her maidens. Nausicaa invites the stranger to the house of her father, Alcinous

King Alcinous and Queen Arete make Odysseus welcome and promise to send him safely home

Alcinous gives a banquet for Odysseus, who displays his prowess in weight-throwing. The minstrel Demodocus sings of Troy

Odysseus reveals who he is and begins the story of his adventures. He tells of the Lotus-eaters and the escape from the Cyclops Polyphemus

Odysseus goes on to tell of the visits to the isle of Aeolus, to the savage Laestrygonians, and to the enchantress Circe, with whom he and his men stayed feasting for a year

Odysseus describes his voyage to Hades, to consult the spirit of the prophet Teiresias and his conversations with the ghosts of his mother and of his old comrades

Odysseus tells of his return to Circe, and departure from her past the Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis, then of his landing on the island of Thrinacia, where his men slaughtered the Sun-god's cattle. Zeus in punishment destroyed their ship, and Odysseus was stranded on Calypso's isle

The tale ends. The Phaeacians heap gifts upon him and Alcinous gives him safe convoy to Ithaca. Odysseus is carried sleeping ashore on his island. Athene appears later to counsel him and changes him into an old beggar

In the hut of his swineherd Eumaeus, Odysseus learns the news of home. He spends the night here

Telemachus in Sparta bids farewell to Menelaus and Helen and returns to Ithaca. On landing, being suspicious of the suitors, he goes to Eumaeus' hut

Telemachus sends Eumaeus into the town to tell Penelope of his return. Odysseus now reveals himself to Telemachus. The suitors learn that Telemachus is back and confer on how to rid themselves of him.

Telemachus is welcomed home by Penelope. Odysseus, accompanied by Eumaeus and in the guise of a beggar, returns to his house. He is abused by the suitor Antinous

Odysseus thrashes the town beggar Irus. He is ill-treated by the suitors and Telemachus censures them

Penelope speaks with Odysseus, not knowing who he is. He assures her that Odysseus will return. The old nurse Euryclea washes his feet and recognizes him by the scar on his leg. Penelope orders a bed prepared for him

In the morning Odysseus is heartened by omens from Zeus. He is again abused by the suitors, in spite of Telemachus' efforts. Disaster impends

Penelope brings out Odysseus' bow as a test for the suitors. They are unable to string it. Apart, Odysseus reveals himself to Eumaeus and Philoetius. Then he strings and shoots the bow easily. The suitors are dismayed

Odysseus and Telemachus begin the slaughter of the suitors, with the help of Eumaeus and Philoetius. The suitors are slain, and the traitorous housemaids hanged

Euryclea tells Penelope the good news. Penelope, convinced at last, embraces her husband and hears from him his story

The ghosts of the suitors gather in the house of Hades. Odysseus goes to find his father Laertes. The men of Ithaca unite to avenge the dead by attacking Odysseus. Athene stops the fray and bids them all make peace