Ainsley's Odyssey Books 21-24
Book 21:
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Penelope get's Odysseus' bow and announces she will marry whichever suitor can shoot an arrow through a line of the 12 axes. Telemachus tries first but can't even string the bow and Odysseus makes him stop
One by one the suitors fail. Then Odysseus reveals himself to Eumaeus and Philoetius and asks if they will fight the suitors alongside him. They stop their attmepts until they can sacrifice to Apolo, the arcery god.
Odysseus then picks up the bow to try but all the suitors protest as they think he will beat them. so they mock him trying to scare him off. But Odysseus easily strings the bow and his first shot went through all 12 axes.
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Book 22:
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Before the suitors realize what is happening, Odysseus shoots an arrow through Antinous' throat. The suitors thought it was an accidental shooting but then he reaveals himself and the suitors are terrified.
They realized they have no way out as all the doors have been locked. Eurymachus tries to calm Odysseus down claiming that Antinous was the only bad one in the group but Odysseys exclaims he would spare no one. So Eurymachus charges him and gets shot down by an arrow. Then next to go was Amphinomus with a spear.
A full battle broke out in the halls and Athena observed disguised as Mentor but chooses not to step in immediately. Odysseus and his men kill several suitors while only getting small wounds themselves. Ahtena then joins the battle which then ends quickly.
Telemachus gets shields and swords for Eumaeus and Phileotius but he forgets to lock the door on his way out and soon Melanthius makes his way in and gets arms for the suitors. But the next time he tried to enter the storeroom, he was caught by Telemachus and Eumaeus and was tied up and locked there.
Odysseus only spares Phemius and Medon as they didn't wish to take part in the suitors' actions. Then the priest Leodes begs for mercy but it is not granted and he is killed.
Makes women who were sleeping with the suitors clean up all the dead bodies then he tells Telemachus to chop them up. But he decides to hang them instead since hanging was not glorious and shameful.
Book 23:
Book 24:
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Euryclea goes upstairs and tells Penelope about the fight and the return of her husband but she doesn't believe her. And she still doesn't believe what she 's seeing even after seeing Odysseus in person. Telemachus is angry she is not more happy to see her husband
Penelope is still worried the gods are playing tricks on her and asks Euryclea to move her bed. but Odysseus reminds her that the bed is immovable as it was built from a trunk in which the house was built around. Penelope then knows this is her husband and is so happy.
Odysseus then tells her of his journey and then tells her that he must deliver the oar to fulfill Tiresias' prophecy. then Odysseus and Telemachus head out towards Laertes' house
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This book begins with Hermes leading the suitors' souls into the Hades. There, Agamemnon and Achilles argue over who had the most heroic death. Then Agamemnon describes Achilles funeral in great detai..
When they arrive at the house Antinous' father is killed by Odysseus and he wants to kill more but Athena stops him. Athena makes all of them forget about the massacre and then Athen and Zeus agree odysseus should be king once again to restore peace
Dolius joins them for lunch while the goddess Rumor flew through the city spreading the news of the massacre. The parents of the suitors then hold a council to decide what to do. Halitherses believes they got what they deserved, but Eupithes thinks they should seek revenge on Odysseus
They ask how all of the suitors met their death and Amphimedon tells them but blames it mostly on Penelope's indecisiveness. Agamemnon gets angry as he says that Penelope was a great wife and his was not.
When Odysseus arrives at Laertes' house he meets his father in the garden but doesn't reveal himself immediately which is rather cruel. He sees that his father has aged due to grief and when his father begins to weep over his son, he finally reveals himself to him. He tells his father about the story of the suitors
Amphimedon:
Dolius:
Halitherses:
Eupithes:
one of suitors, he explains to Agamemnon what happened to them
Father of Melantho and Melanthius
Son of Mastor
Antinous' father; killed by Odysseus