The Suitors' Domination and Downfall

The suitors' abuse of hospitality, their plot against Telemachus, and their eventual destruction by Odysseus.

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The Suitors' Feasting

The Suitors' Excess Daily Banquets The suitors feast daily in Odysseus's house, consuming his livestock and wine. They behave insolently, abusing servants and guests. Penelope's Trick Penelope delays them by weaving a shroud for Laertes, unraveling it each night. The trick lasts three years until a maid betrays her. Telemachus's Grievance Telemachus is powerless to stop them. He calls an assembly, but the suitors refuse to leave.

Plot to Kill Telemachus

The Ambush Plan Antinous's Scheme When the suitors learn that Telemachus has gone to Pylos, they plot to ambush and kill him on his return. They set up a ship in the strait between Ithaca and Samos. Penelope's Fear Penelope learns of the plot from Medon and prays to Athena. Athena sends a dream to comfort her. The Ambush Fails Telemachus avoids the ambush by landing at a different harbor. The suitors return to the palace, frustrated.

Abuse of the Beggar

The Suitors' Cruelty Mocking Odysseus Odysseus, disguised as a beggar, is insulted and physically abused by the suitors. Antinous throws a stool at him. Others mock him. Ctesippus's Insult Ctesippus throws an ox's foot at Odysseus, but he dodges it. Telemachus rebukes the suitors. Theoclymenus's Prophecy The prophet Theoclymenus foretells doom, but the suitors laugh at him.

The Bow Contest

The Contest Failure of the Suitors Penelope sets up the contest. One by one, the suitors try and fail to string the bow. Leiodes, the priest, cannot even bend it. Odysseus's Turn Odysseus, still disguised, asks to try. The suitors protest, but Telemachus insists. Odysseus strings the bow easily and shoots through the axes. Revelation and Slaughter Odysseus reveals himself and kills Antinous. The other suitors are trapped and killed.

The Massacre

The Slaughter of the Suitors The Battle Odysseus, Telemachus, Eumaeus, and Philoetius fight the suitors. With Athena's help, they kill all 108 suitors. Pleas for Mercy Some suitors beg for mercy, but Odysseus shows none. The bard Phemius and herald Medon are spared. Aftermath The bodies are removed. The disloyal maids are hanged, and Melanthius is mutilated. The house is purified.

Throughout the story until the slaughter

After Telemachus's departure for Pylos

The day before the contest

The day of the contest

Immediately after the contest