Athena's Intervention and the Covenant of Peace — Odyssey §24.482-24.548 (Homer) | Greek text & English translation

ἐπεὶ δὴ μνηστῆρας ἐτίσατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

Now since noble Odysseus has taken vengeance on the suitors,

ὅρκια πιστὰ ταμόντες¹ ὁ μὲν βασιλευέτω αἰεί,

let him rule forever as king, having cut trustworthy oaths;

ἡμεῖς δʼ αὖ παίδων τε κασιγνήτων τε φόνοιο

and let us on our part bring about forgetfulness of the slaughter

ἔκλησιν θέωμεν· τοὶ δʼ ἀλλήλους φιλεόντων

of their sons and brothers; and let them love one another

ὡς τὸ πάρος, πλοῦτος δὲ καὶ εἰρήνη ἅλις ἔστω.

as before, and let there be wealth and peace in abundance.

ὣς εἰπὼν ὤτρυνε πάρος μεμαυῖαν Ἀθήνην,

Having spoken thus, he urged on Athena, who was already eager beforehand,

βῆ δὲ κατʼ Οὐλύμποιο καρήνων ἀΐξασα.

and she went darting down from the peaks of Olympus.

οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν σίτοιο μελίφρονος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,

But when they had put away their desire for honey-hearted food,

τοῖς δʼ ἄρα μύθων ἦρχε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·

then among them much-enduring noble Odysseus began to speak:

ἐξελθών τις ἴδοι μὴ² δὴ σχεδὸν ὦσι κιόντες.

"Let someone go out and see lest they are already coming near."

ὣς ἔφατʼ· ἐκ δʼ υἱὸς Δολίου κίεν, ὡς ἐκέλευεν·

So he spoke; and the son of Dolius went out as he bid;

στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ οὐδὸν ἰών, τοὺς δὲ σχεδὸν ἔσιδε πάντας·

and going he stood upon the threshold, and saw them all close at hand;

αἶψα δʼ Ὀδυσσῆα ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

and straightway he spoke winged words to Odysseus:

οἵδε δὴ ἐγγὺς ἔασʼ· ἀλλʼ ὁπλιζώμεθα θᾶσσον.

"These men indeed are near; let us arm ourselves more quickly."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ὤρνυντο καὶ ἐν τεύχεσσι δύοντο,

So he spoke, and they arose and put on their armor,

τέσσαρες ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆʼ, ἓξ δʼ υἱεῖς οἱ Δολίοιο·

four about Odysseus, and the six sons of Dolius;

ἐν δʼ ἄρα Λαέρτης Δολίος τʼ ἐς τεύχεʼ ἔδυνον,

and among them Laertes and Dolius put on their armor,

καὶ πολιοί περ ἐόντες, ἀναγκαῖοι πολεμισταί.

though being grey-headed, warriors out of necessity.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἕσσαντο περὶ χροῒ νώροπα χαλκόν,

But when they had put the gleaming bronze about their bodies,

ὤϊξάν ῥα θύρας, ἐκ δʼ ἤϊον, ἄρχε δʼ Ὀδυσσεύς.

they opened the doors and went out, and Odysseus led them.

τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ ἀγχίμολον θυγάτηρ Διὸς ἦλθεν Ἀθήνη

And near them came Athena, the daughter of Zeus,

Μέντορι εἰδομένη ἠμὲν δέμας ἠδὲ καὶ αὐδήν.

likened to Mentor both in form and voice.

τὴν μὲν ἰδὼν γήθησε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·

Seeing her, much-enduring noble Odysseus rejoiced,

αἶψα δὲ Τηλέμαχον προσεφώνεεν ὃν φίλον υἱόν·

and straightway he addressed Telemachus, his dear son:

Τηλέμαχʼ, ἤδη μὲν τόδε γʼ εἴσεαι³ αὐτὸς ἐπελθών,

"Telemachus, now indeed you will know this yourself as you go forward,

ἀνδρῶν μαρναμένων ἵνα τε κρίνονται ἄριστοι,

where fighting men have their best decided,

μή τι καταισχύνειν πατέρων γένος, οἳ τὸ πάρος περ

not to disgrace the race of your fathers, who beforehand

ἀλκῇ τʼ ἠνορέῃ τε κεκάσμεθα πᾶσαν ἐπʼ αἶαν.

excelled in strength and courage over all the earth."

τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

And wise Telemachus spoke back to him in turn:

ὄψεαι, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα, πάτερ φίλε, τῷδʼ ἐπὶ θυμῷ

"You shall see, if you wish, dear father, with this spirit of mine,

οὔ τι καταισχύνοντα τεὸν γένος, ὡς ἀγορεύεις.

that I will not disgrace your race, as you say."

ὣς φάτο, Λαέρτης δʼ ἐχάρη καὶ μῦθον ἔειπε·

So he spoke, and Laertes rejoiced and spoke a word:

τίς νύ μοι ἡμέρη ἥδε, θεοὶ φίλοι; ἦ μάλα χαίρω·

"What day is this for me, dear gods? Surely I rejoice greatly;

υἱός θʼ υἱωνός τʼ ἀρετῆς πέρι δῆριν ἔχουσιν.

my son and grandson are contending about excellence."

τὸν δὲ παρισταμένη προσέφη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

And standing near him, flashing-eyed Athena spoke to him:

ὦ Ἀρκεισιάδη, πάντων πολὺ φίλταθʼ ἑταίρων,

"O son of Arceisius, by far the dearest of all my companions,

εὐξάμενος κούρῃ γλαυκώπιδι καὶ Διὶ πατρί,

having prayed to the flashing-eyed maiden and to father Zeus,

αἶψα μαλʼ ἀμπεπαλὼν προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος.

straightway swing and cast your long-shadowing spear."

ὣς φάτο, καί ῥʼ ἔμπνευσε μένος μέγα Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη

So she spoke, and Pallas Athena breathed great strength into him;

εὐξάμενος δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα Διὸς κούρῃ μεγάλοιο,

and then, having prayed to the daughter of great Zeus,

αἶψα μάλʼ ἀμπεπαλὼν προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,

straightway swinging he cast his long-shadowing spear,

καὶ βάλεν Εὐπείθεα κόρυθος διὰ χαλκοπαρῄου.

and struck Eupeithes through the helmet with bronze cheek-pieces.

ἡ δʼ οὐκ ἔγχος ἔρυτο, διαπρὸ δὲ εἴσατο χαλκός,

And the helmet did not ward off the spear, but the bronze passed right through;

δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχεʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ.

and he fell with a thud, and his armor clattered upon him.

ἐν δʼ ἔπεσον προμάχοις Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ φαίδιμος υἱός,

And Odysseus and his glorious son fell upon the foremost fighters,

τύπτον δὲ ξίφεσίν τε καὶ ἔγχεσιν ἀμφιγύοισι.

and they struck them with swords and double-pointed spears.

καί νύ κε δὴ πάντας ὄλεσαν καὶ ἔθηκαν ἀνόστους,

And now indeed they would have destroyed all and made them without return,

εἰ μὴ Ἀθηναίη, κούρη Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο,

if Athena, daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus,

ἤϋσεν⁴ φωνῇ, κατὰ ἔσχεθε λαὸν ἅπαντα.

had not cried out with her voice, and held back all the people:

ἴσχεσθε πτολέμου, Ἰθακήσιοι, ἀργαλέοιο,

"Hold back from the grievous war, Ithacans,

ὥς κεν ἀναιμωτί γε διακρινθῆτε τάχιστα.

so that indeed without bloodshed you may be separated as quickly as possible."

ὣς φάτʼ Ἀθηναίη, τοὺς δὲ χλωρὸν δέος εἷλεν·

So spoke Athena, and green fear seized them;

τῶν δʼ ἄρα δεισάντων⁵ ἐκ χειρῶν ἔπτατο τεύχεα,

and from them in their terror the weapons flew from their hands,

πάντα δʼ ἐπὶ χθονὶ πῖπτε, θεᾶς ὄπα φωνησάσης·

and all fell on the ground as the goddess uttered her voice;

πρὸς δὲ πόλιν τρωπῶντο λιλαιόμενοι βιότοιο.

and they turned toward the city, longing for their lives.

σμερδαλέον δʼ ἐβόησε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

And much-enduring noble Odysseus cried out terribly,

οἴμησεν δὲ ἀλεὶς ὥς τʼ αἰετὸς ὑψιπετήεις.

and gathering himself he rushed like a high-flying eagle.

καὶ τότε δὴ Κρονίδης ἀφίει ψολόεντα κεραυνόν,

And then indeed the son of Kronos cast a smoldering thunderbolt,

κὰδ δʼ ἔπεσε πρόσθε γλαυκώπιδος ὀβριμοπάτρης.

and it fell in front of the flashing-eyed goddess of a mighty father.

δὴ τότʼ Ὀδυσσῆα προσέφη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

Then indeed flashing-eyed Athena spoke to Odysseus:

διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,

"Zeus-born son of Laertes, Odysseus of many devices,

ἴσχεο, παῦε δὲ νεῖκος ὁμοιΐου πολέμοιο,

hold back, and stop the strife of equal war,

μή πως τοι Κρονίδης κεχολώσεται εὐρύοπα Ζεύς.

lest perchance wide-seeing Zeus, son of Kronos, be angry with you."

ὣς φάτʼ Ἀθηναίη, ὁ δʼ ἐπείθετο, χαῖρε δὲ θυμῷ.

So spoke Athena, and he obeyed, and rejoiced in his heart.

ὅρκια δʼ αὖ κατόπισθε μετʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν ἔθηκεν

And thereafter Pallas Athena, daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus,

Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη, κούρη Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο,

established trustworthy oaths between both sides,

Μέντορι εἰδομένη ἠμὲν δέμας ἠδὲ καὶ αὐδήν.

likened to Mentor both in form and voice.

Syntax notes5 items

§24.483ὅρκια πιστὰ ταμόντες
A nominative plural participle. Semantically it refers to both Odysseus and the Ithacans, but it results in an anacoluthon since it does not agree with the subjects of the subsequent clauses (ὁ μὲν, ἡμεῖς).
§24.491ἴδοι μὴ
The optative `ἴδοι` is followed by a `μὴ` clause (here with the subjunctive `ὦσι`) expressing apprehension or doubt, forming an indirect expression equivalent to a command: "go and see lest they are..."
§24.506εἴσεαι
The second-person singular future middle of `οἶδα` (or `εἴδομαι`). Rather than simple future knowledge, it expresses a strong exhortation for Telemachus to "know" or "realize for himself" the gravity of the battlefield and the honor of his ancestors.
§24.529καί νύ κε δὴ πάντας ὄλεσαν... εἰ μὴ Ἀθηναίη... ἤϋσεν
A past contrary-to-fact conditional construction. The past indicative verbs (`ὄλεσαν`, `ἤϋσεν`) are used with the particle `κε` in the apodosis to present an imminent past scenario: "they would have destroyed all, if Athena had not cried out."
§24.534τῶν δʼ ἄρα δεισάντων
A genitive absolute construction consisting of the pronoun `τῶν` and the present participle `δεισάντων`. It adverbially describes the circumstance ("while they were terrified") separate from the main clause's subject (`τεύχεα`).

Model: gemini-3.5-flashurn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:24.482-24.548