ODYSSEY 15 -16

WomenPortentsTelemakhos Grows Up

The Story Thus Far…

Odysseus has made it home Telemakhos is on his way home from

Sparta The Suitors are actively planning on killing

Telemakhos when he returns Penelope is still in hiding from the Suitors

Women and their Wiles

Athena tells Telemakhos that Penelope is close to getting married

Eurymakhos – “Wide-Fighter” “You know a woman’s pride at bringing

riches to the man she marries” (pg. 268)DowryAgreed upon by the father and future husbandCould be property, cash, or land

Marriage & Dowry

Sometimes called “bride price” Dowry + husband’s contribution = oikos! “ideal” was to provide support without having to

buy supplies If divorced, dowry returned in full 5th C. Athens - women and their money

becoming more and more important for production of Athenian citizens

Helen and her Wiles

Helen does two important thingsGive Telemakhos a robe Interprets omens

The Robe“keep it for your own bride, your joyful

wedding day” (pg. 271)How joyful was Helen’s marriage?

Menelaus & Helen Menelaus had

intended to kill Helen Took her on his ship,

intending to kill her later

Forgot all about it by the time he reached Sparta

OR…the sight of her topless changed his mind

Women and their Wiles II

The Phoinikian Slave Intrigue against her master Caused Eumaios to be sold to Laertes Tricky female slave

Odysseus’ Maidservants “You and I alone must learn how far the women are

corrupted” (pg. 299) “Yes, make distinction between good girls and those

who shame your house” (pg. 300)

“Good” Women

AntikleiaRaised Eumaios“gave new clothing, cloak and sandals…

well she loved me” (pg. 279)The source of Eumaios’ loyalty to

Odysseus

Penelope

The model of sophrosyne –

“excellence” North: “she is a good housekeeper, a nurturer of her

husband, a child-bearer..she is chaste, graceful and does not like to talk about sex with other women”

Od. 18.333 (pg. 344): “Here, then, you must attend to everything”

She is quite capable, though she loses her temper (pg. 303-304)

Portents and Birds

Two divinations in these books

1)The eagle and goose

2)Hawk and dove

The Hawk and Goose

A mountain eagle appears with a goose in its talons

Eagle = Odysseus, Goose = Suitors Helen interprets, not Menelaus Helen seems tuned in to domestic strife Bird signs VERY important (especially

eagles)

The Hawk and Dove Theoklymenos is descendant of

Melampous Melampous introduced the worship of

Dionysos to Greece (Herodotus) A serpent licked his ears and he could then

understand bird language and guess the future

Theoklymenos interprets as sign of eternal rule by Odysseus’ house

Pg. 285 “A god spoke in this bird-sign on the right. I knew it when I saw the hawk fly over us.”

Hesiod Works & Days 202-211And now I will tell a fable for princes who themselves understand. Thus said the hawk to the nightingale with speckled neck, while he carried her high up among the clouds, gripped fast in his talons, and she, pierced by his crooked talons, cried pitifully. To her he spoke disdainfully: `Miserable thing, why do you cry out? One far stronger than you now holds you fast, and you must go wherever I take you, songstress as you are. And if I please I will make my meal of you, or let you go. He is a fool who tries to withstand the stronger, for he does not get the mastery and suffers pain besides his shame.' So said the swiftly flying hawk, the long- winged bird.

Bird Signs

Aka Augury haruspicy is the study of

entrails Apollo was the god of

prophecy Signs on the right were

favorable Never organized into

state religion as in Rome

What do they mean?

Signs of unalterable divine will Here, they signify Odysseus as a

predatory, aggressive creature Sense of impending doom for the suitors

Telemakhos Grows Up

Not afraid to express himself nowTurns down extended xenia from Menelaos

Acts as a noble around other noblesTo Helen (pg. 273)Peisistratos (pg. 274-275)

Still uncertain about Odysseus, even though Athena twice told him to buck up

Telemakhos Still Has Doubts

“uncomprehending, wild with incredulity, [he] cried out, ‘You cannot be my father Odysseus!” (pg. 295)

“How can two men do battle with a houseful in their prime?” (pg. 297) It’s actually 118 suitors, according to

Telemakhos (pg. 297) Once Telemakhos believes, however….

REVENGE

Telemakhos finds his courage“Even when danger comes, I think you’ll find

courage in me.” (pg. 299) “Telemakhos, now strong with magic..”

(pg. 305) Athena is going to fight with the two men,

and this finally gives hope to Telemakhos

Foreshadowing

The individualization of the suitors Some good – AmphinomosSome bad - Antinoos

Sharp increase in omens and portents The last example of proper xenia The introduction and evolution of the

servants of Odysseus