Eurymachus

Eurymachus, son of Polybus, is the most articulate and politically astute of Penelope's suitors, second only to Antinous in influence and far more dangerous because of his ability to cloak his malice in honeyed words. He leads the suitors in their daily depredations of Odysseus's estate, orchestrates the ambush against Telemachus, and, when the moment of reckoning arrives, tries to save himself by blaming the dead. His death by Odysseus's arrow is both a personal punishment and a symbolic defeat of the suitors' collective hypocrisy.

Identity and Role Among the Suitors

Eurymachus is introduced as one of the two ringleaders of the suitors, alongside Antinous. When Telemachus convenes the assembly of Ithaca, Eurymachus is the first to respond after Antinous, mocking the young prince's boldness and warning him that the suitors will not leave until Penelope chooses a husband. He is described as "the best man and the most persistent wooer" among those courting Penelope, and his wealth and status make him a natural leader. Unlike the blunter Antinous, Eurymachus uses flattery and plausible deniability to advance the suitors' cause. When Penelope confronts the suitors about their plot against Telemachus, Eurymachus reassures her with a lie, claiming that Telemachus is "much the dearest friend I have" and that no harm will come to him—while secretly continuing to plan the young man's murder.

Orchestrating the Ambush and Manipulating the Household

When the suitors learn that Telemachus has sailed to Pylos in search of news of his father, Eurymachus joins Antinous in fury and immediately supports the plan to ambush him on his return. He is present when Antinous proposes lying in wait in the straits between Ithaca and Samos, and he does nothing to oppose the murder plot. Within the household, Eurymachus carries on an affair with Melantho, one of Penelope's maids, whom Penelope had raised from childhood. This betrayal of trust within the house deepens the sense of corruption that Odysseus must purge. Eurymachus also takes the lead in verbally abusing Odysseus when the disguised king appears as a beggar, taunting him about his appearance and suggesting he would be fit only for manual labor. When Odysseus responds with a challenge to a contest of strength, Eurymachus throws a footstool at him, missing only because Odysseus dodges.

The Contest of the Bow and the Collapse of Pretense

During the contest of the bow, Eurymachus is one of the last suitors to attempt to string Odysseus's bow. He warms it by the fire and tries repeatedly but fails, and his frustration reveals the suitors' collective weakness. He then proposes postponing the contest until the next day, a transparent delaying tactic. When Odysseus, still disguised, asks to try the bow, Eurymachus vehemently objects, warning that if the beggar succeeds, it will bring disgrace upon all the suitors. His objection is overruled by Penelope and Telemachus, and Odysseus strings the bow with ease.

Death and the Failed Plea for Mercy

Once Odysseus reveals himself and kills Antinous with an arrow, Eurymachus is the first to attempt to negotiate. He addresses Odysseus directly, admitting that the suitors have done wrong but placing all blame on the dead Antinous, whom he describes as the instigator of the violence and the one who sought to kill Telemachus and become king. Eurymachus offers to compensate Odysseus for all the goods consumed, promising each suitor will pay a fine of twenty oxen and continue to give gold and bronze until Odysseus's anger is appeased. Odysseus rejects the offer flatly, declaring that no amount of treasure will stop his hand. Eurymachus then rallies the remaining suitors to fight, drawing his sword and charging Odysseus, but Odysseus shoots him through the breast, the arrow fixing itself in his liver. Eurymachus falls doubled over his table, spilling food and wine, and dies in agony. His death is the second in the slaughter, following Antinous's, and it marks the moment when any hope of negotiation or escape vanishes for the remaining suitors.