Speaker A
If such is the will of the Gods, that Odysseus returns home, I shall go to Ithaca to encourage his son.
Athena inspires Telemachus to seek news of Odysseus amid suitors' threat in Ithaca. The episode explores loyalty, courage, and destiny.
Key Takeaways
- Telemachus must grow into his role as the head of his household and protector of his mother.
- The suitors represent a threat to Odysseus's legacy and the stability of Ithaca.
- Divine intervention plays a crucial role in guiding mortals and shaping destinies.
- Loyalty and faithfulness, especially Penelope's, are central themes in the story.
- The search for Odysseus symbolizes hope and the struggle against despair.
Summary
- Athena visits Ithaca disguised as Mentes to encourage Telemachus to seek news of his father, Odysseus.
- Penelope, Odysseus's faithful wife, weaves endlessly, worried about her husband and son.
- Suitors have overrun Odysseus's home, consuming his wealth and pressuring Penelope to remarry.
- Telemachus calls an assembly to confront the suitors and assert his authority as Odysseus's son.
- The suitors mock Telemachus's efforts, showing disrespect to his family and mother.
- Telemachus plans to sail to Pylos to seek information about Odysseus from Nestor.
- The episode recounts the tragic aftermath of the Trojan War and the fates of Greek heroes.
- Euryclea, Odysseus's old nurse, recognizes Telemachus's resemblance to his father.
- The narrative highlights themes of loyalty, courage, divine intervention, and the struggle for justice.
- Athena's visit inspires Telemachus to embrace his role as the rightful heir and protector of his household.
Chapters
- 00:00Athena's Visit and Encouragement to Telemachus
- 01:25Penelope's Vigil and the Suitors' Threat
- 06:15Telemachus Meets Mentes and Learns of the Suitors
- 16:15Telemachus Confronts the Suitors and Calls Assembly
- 22:25The Aftermath of the Trojan War and Greek Heroes' Fates
- 34:25Telemachus Prepares to Seek News of Odysseus
Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown
Speaker A
So said Athena, daughter of Zeus, as she descended from Mount Olympus to the house of Odysseus, on the island of Ithaca.
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She took a human appearance, as Gods use to appear to mortals.
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She had the face of Mentes, the lord of Taphos.
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In the house, a woman was weaving endlessly.
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Her name was Penelope, Odysseus's faithful wife.
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She rarely came out from the room, her former wedding chamber.
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All her thoughts were for her husband, gone twenty years before.
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Fearing what the Gods had planned for her son.
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And for herself.
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"Welcome, stranger."
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"I greet you. Come inside, my house is yours."
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"So, you are Telemachus, the son of Odysseus?"
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"My mother calls me so... But that's a name I never heard from the lips of Odysseus."
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"Euryclea, a guest has arrived. Follow me, stranger."
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Euryclea, daughter of Ops, had come to the court as a child.
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She had been the nurse of Odysseus.
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Telemachus called her grandmother.
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"Penelope, a stranger has come."
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"Telemachus has welcomed him. Maybe he brought some news about Odysseus!"
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"Don't be so hopeful. Beware, Penelope. The world is full of people who travel under false names."
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"And invent stories to charm their hosts. He will be like the previous ones, all of those who gave you."
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"The news from Odysseus you wished to hear."
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"I am Mentes, the lord of Taphians."
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"And my ship is anchored in the bay across Samos, beneath the mountain."
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"So you know Ithaca?"
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"I do, I actually know it very well."
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"I was here years ago as a guest of your father. I was told that your father was back."
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"No, what you heard was wrong. No one knows about him."
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"Who are all these people?"
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"They leave their weapons outside the palace, yet act as masters. Also, I see they ignore you."
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"I try to ignore them myself."
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"Are they your guests?"
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"Guests used to be plenty in this house, when it was honored in my father's days."
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"But as you can see, rules have changed over time. And living in this shame is now my plight."
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"Look, they are the pretenders to the throne. They come here every day and plunder my house, each day some more."
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"These pretenders are lords from Ithaca."
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"And from other islands all around: Samos, Zante, Doulichion. They want to marry my mother."
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"And must your mother marry again?"
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"She does not want to, but dares not oppose."
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"I understand her weakness."
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"How long has this been lasting?"
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"Long enough to devour all my wealth, for you can see this is what they do."
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"Today once more they'll take a calf, and slaughter cattle."
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"They shall soil the house and make it a pigsty."
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"They will devour all, they will do all to offend the house of Odysseus. Thieves at least run away, fearing to be caught."
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"Punished or even slain. But not these! They stay whatever."
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"Your father is needed back."
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"My father?"
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"Yes, if Odysseus suddenly appeared amidst the party."
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"With a helmet, a sword and a bow in his hand, what a bitter wedding for these suitors!"
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"No, stranger, he will never see his home again."
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"Odysseus's destiny is in the hands of the Gods."
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"But you, hear my advice, go get some news! If you learn he is dead for certain, make a tombstone on the shore."
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"And give your mother a spouse. But if on the opposite, you learn that he is alive."
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"Telemachus, I am no fortune teller."
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"Yet I feel in my heart, so it will be."
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"Now, I must go. My crew is waiting."
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"Stranger, please stay!"
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"Do as I told you, and be brave."
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"Wait! Where shall I go?"
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"Prepare a ship and sail to Pylos. There you will meet Nestor, a friend of your father."
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Athena disappeared, like a seabird.
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But the goddess had inspired Telemachus courage and strength.
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And the irresistible will to meet his father again.
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"And Troy fell, and its walls collapsed."
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"And the Greek warriors were cursed with the revenge of the Gods."
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Phemius was singing the epic tales of Achaean heroes.
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Although he was a famous bard, he would not have played.
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In Odysseus's house, if the suitors had not made him.
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"Why have you stopped, Phemius? Because the queen has arrived?"
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"Why must we always hear this sorry tale?"
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"Because we enjoy it. But we can change theme if you like. What about love?"
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"Mother, Phemius is not to blame."
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If the return of the Greek warriors from Troy has been tragic.
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And as you know, it entertains our guests. Why have you come anyway?
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"Where is that stranger?"
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"What did he want? Did he bring some news?"
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"What news did you expect?"
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"The stranger has gone. Why don't you tell your mother who he was? My mother believes the tales of all visitors."
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And is left deceived by their flattery. Shall I encourage her?
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"Telemachus, spare your mother. I have been derided enough for this."
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"Don't be cruel yourself. Do you want me to go back to my father? Is this what your heart commands?"
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"Where are your hopes, and what about mine? How long yet shall I suffer this daily disgrace? Go back to your room!"
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"And keep away from their eyes, mother. The Gods let me know the child is now a man."
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"And I shall act as the landlord from now on! Listen, suitors of my mother! I summon the people's assembly tomorrow."
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"And I expect to see you there."
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"What has gone into Telemachus? An assembly all of a sudden? Who gave him the idea?"
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"Why worry? This is just a boy's whim. He wants to play assembly? Let us be his playmates and go."
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"As for me, I do not like surprises."
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"Neither do I. But there will be none from the people."
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"We shall bear our weapons anyway, so that our words have more weight. Phemius, go on."
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"Gold, and slaves, and horses, and sheep were on the decks."
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Booty for every ship. But some sailed unaware.
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Of a god's wrath aboard, too much blood had been spilled. Ajax was first to sail, but soon he hit the reefs.
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And he and all his crew plunged into the abyss. Menelaus met the storm, and many a ship sank under his sorry eyes.
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As for Agamemnon, easy was the journey, he disembarked unhurt, acclaimed as a hero. Honor, glory, and praise, he was alike the Gods.
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To him all things were due. Many were wondering how to exploit his deed.
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Aegisthus sealed his fate, and he drowned in his own blood.
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Even a king cannot curb the will of the Gods.
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At night, the suitors went back home.
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And Telemachus closed the doors.
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I brought you up like your father before, I know this family very well.
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Although a slave, I was more like a spouse.
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If Laertes had not feared his wife's jealousy.
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"Why tell me this today, grandmother?"
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"Today I saw your father's spirit in you!"
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There had been no assembly in Ithaca for 20 years.
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The Ithacans were surprised by the call of Telemachus.
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First spoke Egyptius.
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He was a prominent citizen.
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He knew about the stranger who came and talked to Telemachus.
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Was this the reason for the assembly?
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"Maybe he brought some news about our lost army. Whatever it is, we are ready to listen."
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"Telemachus has serious matters to talk about, which we must not ignore. Give him the scepter. He is now a grown man!"
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Mentor had been the friend of Odysseus.
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Who entrusted him the education of Telemachus.
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A task he had taken the best care of.
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"I now speak to you all, who knew my father."
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Or who remember him at least. Unless you all forgot him?
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"No, you are wrong. This was once a peaceful land."
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Until the sorry day we had to wage war against Troy.
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We complied for our misfortune.
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And saw our best sons sail away on his ships. No, we did not forget Odysseus. He is accountable to us.
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"Stop, my lords! You may not bear weapons in the assembly! You offend the liberty of the people, and the house of the king."
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"What king are you talking about? We have none, Mentor, for twenty years now."
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"Sit down, this is an assembly!"
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"All of you suitors wish my father dead."
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"You have no respect for my mother's fidelity."
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"And want to marry her by force."
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Here they are every day, fee...
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Why did he go away? Why? -Don't despair, my queen. He did what every son would do. He went to search for his father.
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You'll see he comes back. He'll come back soon. He left and told me nothing...
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He must not leave me alone. Better he was never born. Now death is upon him.
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Daughter of Zeus... Athena... hear me! Save my son... save my child... Save her child...
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(The sun was rising over a quiet sea to shine upon the immortal Gods...) (...and all human offspring on earth.) (The ship arrived in Pylos, home of Nestor, the eldest of those conquered Troy) (Nestor had come back to his homeland a long time ago.)
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(On that morning, Nestor and his kin were making offerings...) (...to Poseidon, who ruled over the seas.) (Nestor began with the ritual cleaning.) (His sons brought the black bull.) (Thrasymedes carried a sharpened axe.) You awake dark memories of our days under the walls of Troy.
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There we left our best: Achilles, Ajax, Patroclus... ... and my son Antilochus, companion of Odysseus.
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It was a long war. For nine years we fought the Trojans and their allies.
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We used all our abilities to win, but above all Zeus... ...allowed us to finish this endeavour...
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...and inspired our final strategy. For all those years, no one surpassed your father... ... in wisdom, courage and cunningness.
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You have not know him, thus I want you to know... ...how exceptional his spirit was at all times...
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...but what I admired most in him was the nobility of his heart. Never there was a quarrel between us...
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... and our unity had a good influence on the warriors. But once the city destroyed and the booty shared...
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...the Gods divided us. Zeus gave us a sad return... ...because in victory we had been neither wise nor just.
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Everyone started to disagree... Some with Menelaus wished an immediate return... while Agamemnon would stay and make offerings to to Athena...
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...as if this would make a difference to the Gods! Most followed Menelaus, while Agamemnon's fleet stayed behind.
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Then in Tenedos, we made a new sacrifice for our return. But Zeus was angry at all of us.
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Later, we arrived at Lesbos without too many losses... ... but quarrels broke out among everyone.
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That is all I can remember. I know we were all overwhelmed by fear.... ... we now longer knew what would appease the Gods.
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Diomedes and I sailed towards Euboea, and the winds brought us home... Your father however decided to return to Troy...
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... to bring Agamemnon back... Since then, no one ever heard of him again. This is a son of mine you haven't met yet.
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This is Odysseus's son, Telemachus Now listen, your search is well inspired... ... unfortunately, I cannot tell you more .
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... but there is a man who may know about your father's fate... ...Menelaus, the last of all to return.
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He travelled to foreign and distant shores, where your father might have passed Go ask this wise man, my son will take you there.
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If you wish, you may leave tomorrow at dawn. (Away from the feast, Penelope worried about Telemachus.) (even if the Gods had protected him on his journey...) (...how could he resist the suitors when he returns?) (Her heart became full of anguish.)
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( But sleep finally overcame her, and tired body relaxed...) (...then Athena appeared to her with the face of Iphtime) (...Penelope's sister...) - Penelope, do not cry. The Gods only wish you well.
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-Iphtime, is it you? -Yes, it is me, your sister. -I haven't seen you for long. You live so far away.
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Why have you come to Ithaca? Why? -To assist you. -Then you know I lost my husband, and my son abandoned me...
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-Yes, I know... ... but don't you suffer, Penelope, you must have hope. -I'm scared. The princes want to kill Telemachus on his way back...
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... they will trap him between Ithaca and Samos. ...if ever the Gods protected him on his journey.
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He has no experience of the sea.... ...he is a child, he was never away from me!
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-Don't be afraid Penelope, Athena has mercy... ... and will bring Telemachus back. -Athena? Can you hear her voice?
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Then tell me: Odysseus, where is he? (Odysseus had been caught many times in the storm...) (...pushed by adverse winds...) (...tossed by the moods of Aeolus and Poseidon..) (...and his raft had so far resisted every assault.) (Odysseus kept hope inside his heart...)
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(But the sea kept pushing between the logs...) (...discarding them and untying the cords...) (Odysseus tied them tighter all the time...) (...sometimes the sail hung down...) (..sometimes it filled, and the mast was close to breaking.) (...the wind went against every move...)
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(...in an endless strife, night and day...) (...each time the memories came back, and Odysseus struggled for Penelope ...) (...and for the son he never knew.) (He waged one battle after the other...) (...wondering each time how long he would still resist...)
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(...how long he would endure this slow agony.)
Topics:OdysseyTelemachusPenelopeAthenaOdysseusIthacaGreek mythologyTrojan Warsuitorsancient Greece
