Alkinoos keeps his promise

The next day, Alkinoos commanded and they prepared a fine ship for him, which he loaded with rich gifts. Then Odysseus prepared himself and bid farewell to the hospitable Phaeacians and boarded the ship. It seemed that his suffering was about to end.

Calm journey

They were quietly and beautifully moored in the Ionian Sea and were heading south to Ithaca. Odysseus looked at the familiar sea, recognized the islands they were passing and wept in triumph.

Odysseus in Ithaca

And so, as they sat in the bow, he fell asleep. But soon they arrived at Ithaca. The sailors then took him slowly and brought him to the shore. Then they took off all the gifts and left again for their island.

Odysseus and Athena

When Odysseus awoke, he was frightened. Who knows again, he thought, where the gods have thrown me. He looked around him, but he could not see, for it was dark.

Then he sees a shepherdess, who was the goddess Athena in disguise, coming towards him and saying:

- Do not grieve, Ulysses. You have now arrived in Ithaca. But where you have come, other sufferings await you. Of course, your father, your wife and your son are well and await you with longing. But in your palace all the lords of the land and the surrounding islands have gathered and ask to marry Penelope. But she is faithful to you and deceives them. She tells them that when she finishes her weaving, then she will marry.

He then advised him to go and find Eumaeus, his shepherd, how to reveal himself there to his son and how to clear his house of Penelope's suitors. So they called those who wanted to marry her.

Odysseus and Eumaeus

Odysseus dressed up as an old jealous man and went to find Eumaeus on the mountain where his flocks were. The old shepherd welcomed him, invited him into his hut and fed him.

Then she started asking him who he was and where he came from. In the course of the conversation, he told him about the king of the land, Odysseus, who has been missing for twenty years and no one knows whether he is alive or dead.

He told him of his own and of his suitors, who came and made themselves comfortable in his house, and ate his good things.

Ulysses was moved, but he did not show himself. Only she told him that she had heard that their king was alive and would return. Joyful Eumaeus treated the stranger best to the good news, and then laid him down to sleep.

Odysseus and Telemachus

The next day, Telemachus, who had returned from his trip to Sparta, where he had gone to inquire about his father, arrived at the pens. He sent Eumaeus to the city to tell his mother that he had returned. So Odysseus and his son were left alone. And in a moment, as they were chatting, he threw away the beggar's staff and clothes and revealed himself to his son.

They fell into each other's arms and for a long time the father caressed his child, who had left him as a baby, and the son caressed the father, who had never seen him. As the first emotion passed, father and son sat down and made their plan how to punish the shameless suitors. Only Odysseus asked that Telemachus should tell no one that he had returned, not his mother, nor his grandfather Laertes, nor Eumaeus. It would be better if no one knew, for the gods would help them to succeed in their plan.

Telemachus and Penelope

The next day, he returned to the palace and went up to the roof to see his mother. He told her how he had spent his journey and how he had learned with certainty that his father was alive and would return shortly. Penelope was glad and kissed her son to thank him for the good news.

Odysseus in the palace

In the meantime, Odysseus came dressed as a beggar, along with Eumaeus. When he approached the palace door, he saw his favourite dog Argos, old and thin, lying on one side. As soon as he saw him, the faithful dog recognized him, stood up, wagged his tail, and burst out in joy. Ulysses pitied his old companion to his heart's content. But this was no time for tardiness.

He entered the palace and proceeded to the great hall. There the suitors, well-appointed, ate and drank. Odysseus approached them and began to ask them for alms, a little food. And they mocked him, and some gave him a bone, others pushed him, and one threw a stool that struck him on the shoulder. But he did not speak.

Odysseus and Penelope

In the evening he went back to the great hall. Penelope welcomed him and asked him if he knew anything about Oysseus. And he told her that her husband was alive and would return soon. Pleased then, she commanded the servants to wash him, give him clean clothes and good food, and make a soft bed for him.

Odysseus and Euryclia

But when the old servant Eurycleia washed his feet, she met him. For he had a mark on his foot from a wound made by a boar, and it made him cry out. But he shut her mouth and begged her not to say anything.

The decision of Penelope

The next day, Penelope, after the intervention of the goddess Athena, who had seen her in a dream, called the suitors and told them:

-I decided to get married. But I will take the one who could throw Ulysses' bow and shuttle it through the twelve axe holes in the line. Joyfully they prepared then and each one thought he would be the lucky one.