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Homer · Odyssey §22.212-22.284

Athena's Encouragement and the Counterattack

Passage 157 of 173 · Greek

Summary

Agelaus threatens Athena in the guise of Mentor, but she encourages Odysseus before transforming into a swallow and retreating to the roof-beam. The suitors' initial volley fails due to Athena's intervention, and Odysseus and his allies launch a deadly counter-offensive.

§22.212πρῶτος τήν γʼ ἐνένιπε Δαμαστορίδης Ἀγέλαος· §22.213Μέντορ, μή σʼ ἐπέεσσι παραιπεπίθῃσιν Ὀδυσσεὺς
First Agelaus, son of Damastor, rebuked her: "Mentor, let not Odysseus persuade thee with words to fight against the suitors, and to defend him.
§22.214μνηστήρεσσι μάχεσθαι, ἀμυνέμεναι δέ οἱ αὐτῷ. §22.215ὧδε γὰρ ἡμέτερόν γε νόον τελέεσθαι ὀΐω· §22.216ὁππότε κεν τούτους κτέωμεν, πατέρʼ ἠδὲ καὶ υἱόν, §22.217ἐν δὲ σὺ τοῖσιν ἔπειτα πεφήσεαι, οἷα μενοινᾷς §22.218ἔρδειν ἐν μεγάροις· σῷ δʼ αὐτοῦ κράατι τίσεις.
For thus, I think, our purpose shall be fulfilled: When we shall have slain these, father and son, then thou too shalt be slain among them, for what thou purposest to do in the hall; with thine own life shalt thou pay the price.
§22.219αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ὑμέων γε βίας ἀφελώμεθα χαλκῷ, §22.220κτήμαθʼ ὁπόσσα τοί ἐστι, τά τʼ ἔνδοθι καὶ τὰ θύρηφι, §22.221τοῖσιν Ὀδυσσῆος μεταμίξομεν· οὐδέ τοι υἷας §22.222ζώειν ἐν μεγάροισιν ἐάσομεν, οὐδέ θύγατρας §22.223οὐδʼ ἄλοχον κεδνὴν Ἰθάκης κατὰ ἄστυ πολεύειν. §22.224ὣς φάτʼ, Ἀθηναίη δὲ χολώσατο κηρόθι μᾶλλον, §22.225νείκεσσεν δʼ Ὀδυσῆα χολωτοῖσιν ἐπέεσσιν· §22.226οὐκέτι σοί γʼ, Ὀδυσεῦ, μένος ἔμπεδον οὐδέ τις ἀλκή §22.227οἵη ὅτʼ ἀμφʼ Ἑλένῃ λευκωλένῳ εὐπατερείῃ, §22.228εἰνάετες Τρώεσσιν ἐμάρναο νωλεμὲς αἰεί, §22.229πολλοὺς δʼ ἄνδρας ἔπεφνες ἐν αἰνῇ δηϊοτῆτι, §22.230σῇ δʼ ἥλω βουλῇ Πριάμου πόλις εὐρυάγυια.
But when we have taken away your strength with the bronze, all the possessions that are thine, within doors and without, we will mingle with the possessions of Odysseus; and thy sons we will not suffer to live in thy halls, nor thy daughters nor thy cherished wife to walk in the city of Ithaca." So he spoke, and Athena grew more wroth at heart, and she rebuked Odysseus with angry words: "No longer, Odysseus, hast thou steadfast might or any valor, such as when for white-armed Helen, daughter of a noble sire, for nine years thou didst fight against the Trojans unceasingly ever, and didst slay many men in the dread conflict, and by thy counsel was the wide-wayed city of Priam taken.
§22.231πῶς δὴ νῦν, ὅτε σόν τε δόμον καὶ κτήμαθʼ ἱκάνεις, §22.232ἄντα μνηστήρων ὀλοφύρεαι ἄλκιμος εἶναι;
How is it then that now, when thou hast come to thy house and thy possessions, thou shrinkest from being brave against the suitors?
§22.233ἀλλʼ ἄγε δεῦρο, πέπον, παρʼ ἔμʼ ἵστασο καὶ ἴδε ἔργον, §22.234ὄφρʼ εἰδῇς οἷός τοι ἐν ἀνδράσι δυσμενέεσσιν §22.235Μέντωρ Ἀλκιμίδης εὐεργεσίας ἀποτίνειν. §22.236ἦ ῥα, καὶ οὔ πω πάγχυ δίδου ἑτεραλκέα νίκην, §22.237ἀλλʼ ἔτʼ ἄρα σθένεός τε καὶ ἀλκῆς πειρήτιζεν §22.238ἠμὲν Ὀδυσσῆος ἠδʼ υἱοῦ κυδαλίμοιο.
But come hither, friend, stand by my side and behold the deed, that thou mayest know what manner of man toward hostile men is Mentor, son of Alcimus, to requite benefits." She spoke, and did not yet give them victory to turn the tide completely, but still made trial of the strength and valor both of Odysseus and of his glorious son.
§22.239αὐτὴ δʼ αἰθαλόεντος ἀνὰ μεγάροιο μέλαθρον §22.240ἕζετʼ ἀναΐξασα, χελιδόνι εἰκέλη ἄντην.
And she herself flew up to the roof-beam of the smoky hall and sat there, in appearance like a swallow.
§22.241μνηστῆρας δʼ ὤτρυνε Δαμαστορίδης Ἀγέλαος, §22.242Εὐρύνομός τε καὶ Ἀμφιμέδων Δημοπτόλεμός τε, §22.243Πείσανδρός τε Πολυκτορίδης Πόλυβός τε δαΐφρων· §22.244οἱ γὰρ μνηστήρων ἀρετῇ ἔσαν ἔξοχʼ ἄριστοι, §22.245ὅσσοι ἔτʼ ἔζωον περί τε ψυχέων ἐμάχοντο· §22.246τοὺς δʼ ἤδη ἐδάμασσε βιὸς καὶ ταρφέες ἰοί.
But the suitors were urged on by Agelaus, son of Damastor, and Eurynomus, and Amphimedon, and Demoptolemus, and Peisander, son of Polyctor, and wise Polybus; for these were by far the best in valor of the suitors as many as still lived and fought for their lives; but the others the bow and the thick-falling arrows had already laid low.
§22.247τοῖς δʼ Ἀγέλεως μετέειπεν, ἔπος πάντεσσι πιφαύσκων· §22.248ὦ φίλοι, ἤδη σχήσει ἀνὴρ ὅδε χεῖρας ἀάπτους· §22.249καὶ δή οἱ Μέντωρ μὲν ἔβη κενὰ εὔγματα εἰπών, §22.250οἱ δʼ οἶοι λείπονται ἐπὶ πρώτῃσι θύρῃσι.
To them Agelaus spoke, making his words known to them all: "Friends, now at last this man will stay his invincible hands; lo, Mentor has gone from him, having spoken empty boasts, and they are left alone at the outer doors.
§22.251τῷ νῦν μὴ ἅμα πάντες ἐφίετε δούρατα μακρά, §22.252ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ οἱ ἓξ πρῶτον ἀκοντίσατʼ, αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς §22.253δώῃ Ὀδυσσῆα βλῆσθαι καὶ κῦδος ἀρέσθαι.
Therefore, do not now all at once cast your long spears, but come, let you six first hurl your spears, if perchance Zeus may grant that Odysseus be smitten and we win glory.
§22.254τῶν δʼ ἄλλων οὐ κῆδος, ἐπὴν οὗτός γε πέσῃσιν. §22.255ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκόντισαν ὡς ἐκέλευεν, §22.256ἱέμενοι·
Of the others there is no care, once he has fallen." So he spoke, and they all hurled their spears as he bade, eagerly; but Athena made them all in vain.
τὰ δὲ πάντα ἐτώσια θῆκεν Ἀθήνη, §22.257τῶν ἄλλος μὲν σταθμὸν ἐϋσταθέος μεγάροιο §22.258βεβλήκει, ἄλλος δὲ θύρην πυκινῶς ἀραρυῖαν· §22.259ἄλλου δʼ ἐν τοίχῳ μελίη πέσε χαλκοβάρεια.
One of them struck the doorpost of the well-built hall, another the close-fitting door; and another's bronze-heavy ashen spear fell upon the wall.
§22.260αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ δούρατʼ ἀλεύαντο μνηστήρων, §22.261τοῖς δʼ ἄρα μύθων ἦρχε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς· §22.262ὦ φίλοι, ἤδη μέν κεν ἐγὼν εἴποιμι καὶ ἄμμι §22.263μνηστήρων ἐς ὅμιλον ἀκοντίσαι, οἳ μεμάασιν §22.264ἡμέας ἐξεναρίξαι ἐπὶ προτέροισι κακοῖσιν. §22.265ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκόντισαν ὀξέα δοῦρα §22.266ἄντα τιτυσκόμενοι· Δημοπτόλεμον μὲν Ὀδυσσεύς, §22.267Εὐρυάδην δʼ ἄρα Τηλέμαχος, Ἔλατον δὲ συβώτης, §22.268Πείσανδρον δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπεφνε βοῶν ἐπιβουκόλος ἀνήρ.
But when they had avoided the spears of the suitors, then much-enduring noble Odysseus was the first to speak to his companions: "Friends, now indeed I would say that we too should hurl our spears into the throng of the suitors, who are eager to slay us in addition to their former outrages." So he spoke, and they all hurled their sharp spears, aiming straight forward; Odysseus smote Demoptolemus, Telemachus Euryades, the swineherd Elatus, and the herdsman of the cattle slew Peisander.
§22.269οἱ μὲν ἔπειθʼ ἅμα πάντες ὀδὰξ ἕλον ἄσπετον οὖδας, §22.270μνηστῆρες δʼ ἀνεχώρησαν μεγάροιο μυχόνδε· §22.271τοὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπήϊξαν, νεκύων δʼ ἐξ ἔγχεʼ ἕλοντο.
Then these all together bit the vast earth with their teeth, and the suitors retreated to the innermost part of the hall; and the others rushed forward and drew their spears from the dead.
§22.272αὖτις δὲ μνηστῆρες ἀκόντισαν ὀξέα δοῦρα §22.273ἱέμενοι· τὰ δὲ πολλὰ ἐτώσια θῆκεν Ἀθήνη.
Again the suitors hurled their sharp spears, eagerly; but Athena made most of them in vain.
§22.274τῶν ἄλλος μὲν σταθμὸν ἐϋσταθέος μεγάροιο §22.275βεβλήκειν, ἄλλος δὲ θύρην πυκινῶς ἀραρυῖαν· §22.276ἄλλου δʼ ἐν τοίχῳ μελίη πέσε χαλκοβάρεια.
One of them struck the doorpost of the well-built hall, another the close-fitting door; and another's bronze-heavy ashen spear fell upon the wall.
§22.277Ἀμφιμέδων δʼ ἄρα Τηλέμαχον βάλε χεῖρʼ ἐπὶ καρπῷ §22.278λίγδην, ἄκρον δὲ ῥινὸν δηλήσατο χαλκός.
But Amphimedon struck Telemachus on the wrist, grazing it, and the bronze damaged the surface of the skin.
§22.279Κτήσιππος δʼ Εὔμαιον ὑπὲρ σάκος ἔγχεϊ μακρῷ §22.280ὦμον ἐπέγραψεν· τὸ δʼ ὑπέρπτατο, πῖπτε δʼ ἔραζε.
And Ctesippus grazed the shoulder of Eumaeus with his long spear, over his shield; but it flew over and fell to the ground.
§22.281τοὶ δʼ αὖτʼ ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆα δαΐφρονα ποικιλομήτην, §22.282μνηστήρων ἐς ὅμιλον ἀκόντισαν ὀξέα δοῦρα.
Then they again, around wise and crafty Odysseus, hurled their sharp spears into the throng of the suitors.
§22.283ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρυδάμαντα βάλε πτολίπορθος Ὀδυσσεύς, §22.284Ἀμφιμέδοντα δὲ Τηλέμαχος, Πόλυβον δὲ συβώτης·
There then Eurydamas was smitten by Odysseus, waster of cities, and Telemachus struck Amphimedon, and the swineherd Polybus;

Notes

  1. 22.213παραιπεπίθῃσιν — Aorist active third-person singular subjunctive (with Homeric lengthening and suffix `-ῃσι`), which together with the negative particle `μή` expresses a strong prohibition or concern ("let not... persuade"). The infinitives `μάχεσθαι` and `ἀμυνέμεναι` in line 214 depend on this verb to denote the content of the persuasion.
  2. 22.226οἵη ὅτʼ — The relative pronoun `οἵη` (feminine nominative singular) refers back to the antecedent `ἀλκή`, forming an elliptical clause `οἵη ἦν` ("such as it was"). Followed by the conjunction `ὅτε` ("when"), it creates a double ellipsis meaning "such as [it was] when [thou didst fight against the Trojans]."
  3. 22.235εὐεργεσίας ἀποτίνειν — The infinitive `ἀποτίνειν` depends on the relative adjective `οἷός` (line 234) in a characterizing or consecutive sense. Literally meaning "what kind of man [he is] to requite benefits," it describes Mentor's character and capacity to repay Odysseus's past kindnesses in the presence of their enemies.
  4. 22.262εἴποιμι καὶ ἄμμι — The optative `εἴποιμι` with `κεν` (line 262) is a potential optative expressing a mild assertion or suggestion ("I would say / suggest"). The dative `ἄμμι` ("to us/for us") acts as the subject of the infinitive `ἀκοντίσαι` (line 263), resulting in the construction "I would suggest that we too hurl our spears."

Cite this passage

Homer, Odyssey §22.212-22.284. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:22.212-22.284

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