Books I – IV Timeline

By Jason Xu

Books I-IICouncil of the Gods

Athena visits Telemakhos in the form of Mentes

Books III-IV...

Athena convinces Telemakhos to find his father

Penelope weeps as she listens to the minstrel’s song

Telemakhos warns the suitors

Telemakhos calls an assembly of the Ithakans

Eagles fly over the crowd

Athena encourages Telemakhos

Telemakhos tells no one of the journey except Eurykleia.

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Books III-IV

Back to Books I-II

Telemakhos sees a grand sacrificing celebration

Telemakhos asks King Nestor about Odysseus

Nestor heard about how suitors have taken over the palace in Ithaka

Telemakhos asks about Agamemnon

Athena reveals her divinity

Telemakhos arrives in Sparta

Menelaus and Helen tell stories

Telemakhos refuses Menelaus’ offer to stay

Suitors hear of Telemakhos’ journey

Council of the Gods

Timeline

Zeus meditates on the fate of Agamemnon and the death of Aigisthos and Klymenstra at the hands of Agamemnon’s son, Orestes.

Athena convinces Zeus to allow her to help Odysseus.

Athena visits Telemakhos in the form of Mentes

Athena, in the form of Mentor, an old family friend of Odysseus, shows up at the gates of the palace.

Telemakhos welcomes her/him in and gives him/her food to eat, showing much xenia.

Timeline

“A maid brought them a silver finger bowl and filled it out of a beautiful sprouting golden jug, then drew a polished table to their side.” (I, 5,169-172)

Athena convinces Telemakhos to find his father

Athena tells Telemakhos of the times he spent with Odysseus and tells Telemakhos to tell the suitors to go “scattering to their homes.” (I, 10. 323).

Athena also convinces Telemakhos to search for his father:

“Then here’s a course for you, if you agree: / get a sound craft afloat with twenty oars / and go abroad for news of

your lost father.” (I, 10. 324-326)

Timeline

Penelope weeps as she listens to the minstrel’s song

The minstrel Phemios sings a song about the homecoming of the Greeks. Penelope asks him to stop the tale. Telemakhos tells his mother wisely of

how Odysseus is not the only hero not to return home.

Shows Telemakhos’ wisdom:

“The lady [Penelope] gazed in wonder and withdrew, / her son’s clear wisdom echoing in her mind. (I, 12. 408-409)

Timeline

Telemakhos warns the suitors

Timeline

Telemakhos informs the suitors that the next morning he will call an assembly where he will tell all of the “insolent men” to leave the

palace.

“At daybreak we shall sit down in assembly / and I shall tell you-take it as you will- / you are to leave this hall. Go feasting

elsewhere, / consume your own stores. Turn and turn about, / use one another’s houses.” (I, 13, 422-426)

Telemakhos calls an assembly of the Ithakans

Telemakhos calls an assembly the morning after Athena appears as Mentes. This is the first assembly since Odysseus left for the Trojan War. Telemakhos tells of how the suitors disrespect the palace and “spend their days around our house / killing our beeves and sheep and fatted goats, / carousing, soaking up our good dark wine, not

caring what they do.” (II, 20-21. 59-62)

The suitors also respond to him (with insults) and reveal some of Penelope’s “trickery”

Timeline

Eagles fly over the crowd

Eagles, sent by Zeus, appear over the crowd. Halitherses reads this as an omen that Odysseus will return. The

suitors call this foolishness and the meeting ends.

Timeline

“Now Zeus…sent a sign to him, launching a pair of eagles from a mountain crest in gliding flight…wing-tip to wing-tip quivering taunt.

Athena encourages Telemakhos

Athena, once again appearing as Mentor, tells Telemakhos the journey will be successful. Athena later takes the form of

Telemakhos in town and finds a crew and ship for the journey.

Timeline

Telemakhos tells no one about the journey except Eurykleia.

When Telemakhos leaves, the wise old nurse Eurykleia packs food for the journey and vows not to tell his mother about the journey.

Timeline

Telemakhos sees a grand sacrificing celebration

When Telemakhos reaches Pylos, he sees a grand sacrifice going on:

“On the shore / black bulls were being offered / to the blue-maned god: / nine congregations…led out nine bulls apiece to sacrifice, / taking the tripes to eat, while on their altars / thighbones in fat lay

burning for the god.” (III. 35, 7-11).

Timeline

Telemakhos asks King Nestor about Odysseus

Athena encourages Telemakhos, who has no experience in public speaking, to ask the king about Odysseus. Nestor, however, does

not have any information about Odysseus. Nestor left with Menelaus, who departed immediately. Odysseus stayed with

Agamemnon, who had waited a day before leaving to sacrifice to the gods.

Timeline

Nestor heard about how suitors have taken over the palace in Ithaka

Nestor adds that he hopes Telemakhos brings honor to his home like Orestes, son of Agamemnon, shows after the murder of his father.

Timeline

Telemakhos asks about Agamemnon

Nestor explains how Agamemnon was murdered by Aigisthios, who married Agamemnon’s wife, and would of taken over the kingdom if

Orestes, Agamemnon’s son, had shows up and killed Aigisthios. Nestor says the courage of Orestes is the example Telemakhos

must follow.

Timeline

Athena reveals her divinity

Athena shreds the form of Mentor and turns into an eagle…..

Before the eyes of the entire court of Pylos too…..

Timeline

Telemakhos arrives in Sparta

Telemakhos arrives in Sparta, where the King Menelaus and his wife Helen are celebrating the separate marriages of their son and

daughter. Telemakhos and Nestor’s son Pisistratus are welcomed. They are invited to a feast where Menelaus recognizes Telemakhos

as son of Odysseus.

Timeline

Menelaus and Helen tell stories

Menelaus tells his guests the story of the Trojan Horse, where Odysseus’ cunning allowed the Greeks to win the war. Helen also tells how Odysseus had dressed as a beggar to sneak into the city walls. Many people start weeping after the stories. Menelaus also tells the story of his return home, where he was stranded in Egypt

for some time.

Timeline

Telemakhos refuses Menelaus’ offer to stay

Telemakhos respectfully tells Menelaus he must continue on his journey to find Odysseus. Shows maturity and good public

speaking.

“Lord, son of Atreus, no, you must not keep me. / Not that a year with you would be too long: / I could never be homesick here – I find /

your tales and all you say so marvelous. / But time hangs heavy on my shipmates’ hands at holy Pylos, if you make me stay.” (IV, 70.

635-640)

Timeline

Suitors hear of Telemakhos’ journey

Timeline

The suitors figure out Telemakhos is not in Ithaka when Mentor is seen in Ithaka when he was supposed to on the ship with Telemakhos. They

plan an ambush for him. Medon hears about the plan and warns Penelope.