Weave a Tale: The Adventures of Odysseus

Odysseus swam along the rugged and rocky coast of Scheria to find an open beach to enter land. He felt thankful to the gods when he came upon the mouth of a stream that emptied into the sea. Once again, Odysseus prayed to the mighty gods for an easy landing. The river suddenly grew calm as if the gods had ordered so and Odysseus swiftly swam towards the land. He reached land, panting heavily and sank down on his knees. ‘At last, I can avail the luxury of being exhausted,’ he thought. Having been in the ocean for a long period, his body was swollen and salt water bubbled from his mouth and nostrils. He wearily walked to the nearby grove, heaped dry leaves on his body as covering and fell asleep.

Nearly two decades had passed since Odysseus had left Ithaca to fight the Trojans. His son Telemachus had been just an infant then. Paris, the Prince of Troy had kidnapped Helen, the Queen of Sparta, a Greek state. The Greek princes had rallied together in a battle against Troy. The war happened was fought for ten long years. Now, Queen Helen was home as were all the other Greek soldiers who had survived the war, except Odysseus. He and his companions were not destined to reach home so early. They spent several years wandering all over the coast of Greece encountering countless dangers. By the end of the tenth year, every one of the men, with the exception of Odysseus, was dead.

In these twenty years, several events had happened in Ithaca. Soon after the war, when Odysseus did not arrive home, people surmised that he was dead. And so, all the eligible bachelors of Greece, some hundred of them, thronged the palace at Ithaca to woo Penelope, the beautiful wife of Odysseus. They were more interested in wearing the crown of Ithaca, than in marrying her.

Odysseus’ father Laertes was very old and his son Telemachus was too young to govern the land. So whoever married Penelope, would also inherit the kingdom. But Penelope was not interested in any of these suitors. “I’m sure my husband is still alive and would return home soon,” she told them.

But the suitors were not to be discouraged easily. They decided to stay at Ithaca until Penelope made her choice. Everyday, elaborate feasts had to be prepared for these men, while they lolled about the palace, drank casks of wine, and made merry. This cost a fortune to the state treasury. But the men were not ashamed to sit under another man’s roof and deplete his riches. In fact, they felt they could rightfully do so until Penelope made a choice.

However, after some time, when the men began pestering Penelope everyday, she had to devise an excuse to keep them quiet. “I want to weave a garment for my father-in-law Laertes. And I shall announce my choice of husband from among you, after I finish that,” she declared. The suitors agreed, as it seemed to be a reasonable request. Penelope worked on the garment every day from morning till night. Three years passed, but the garment was still not woven. It remained the same as she had started it.

The men grew suspicious and paid some servants of the palace to help them spy on her. They entered her chambers in the night and found her unravelling whatever she had woven during the day.

They came out of hiding and confronted her. “So, this is how you have been cheating us so long. You’ve betrayed us. Chose one of us right away,” they threatened her.

“You may have outwitted me. But you cannot force me to choose a second husband, when I believe my dear Odysseus to still be alive,” Penelope was adamant.

“Then you have no choice but to entertain us all until you select one of us,” the suitors replied brashly. But Penelope resisted them successfully.

By now, Telemachus had grown to be a young man of twenty years. He shared many characteristics with his father – his looks, wisdom, and courage. He was outraged with the men who troubled his mother and ruined his riches, and he was determined to be rid of them soon.

Odysseus was a favourite of the goddess Athene. It was her protection and interest in him that had seen Odysseues safely through his wanderings and adventures. Now, she decided to help his son, the young Telemachus. She arrived at the palace gates of Ithaca in the guise of Mentes, an old friend and well-wisher of Odysseus.

Inside, arrangements for a grand feast were on. Penelope’s suitors were sprawled on the couches, and were indulging in games like chess and others. Telemachus was seated alone, filled with frustration and helplessness. When he noticed a visitor outside, he rushed to welcome him.

He conducted the guest respectfully to a table next to the one on which the feast was being laid. As he attended to the need of the guest, the suitors barged into the room and headed to the table laden with food. Telemachus’s face shrunk in disgust.

(To be continued)

Painting: Telemachus and Mentor on the Island of Calypso by Charles Monnet (1774)

Weave a Tale

The Adventures of Odysseus - 10

About Me

Labels