Χ- The revenge of Odysseus

The suitors at first did not understand who the stranger was and began to threaten him and accuse him of murder. After the first panic they ran to find weapons and shields, but Telemachus had hidden them.

Odysseus shouted at them angrily: “Dogs, you wanted to marry my wife, you ate and drank shamelessly in my house, abusing the hospitality when I was away. So that's where Odysseus came back to take revenge."

Then they all realized who they had in front of them. Eurymachus was the first to find the courage to speak and begged Odysseus for mercy as the suitors had been persuaded by Antinous to set a trap for Telemachus. In fact, they were willing to repay their debt to him with gold and animals and whatever else was needed.

Odysseus clenched his fists, saying that only with his lives could they atone for the harm done to him. Eurymachus took the knife from his sheath, but the ready-for-war Odysseus struck him dead with another arrow. Telemachus in turn drove his pole into Amphinomus, who moved against Odysseus.

Telemachus then opened the room where he had hidden the weapons and distributed spears helmets and shields to him, Eumaeus and Philitius. But he forgot to lock the door and Melanthios, who was loyal to the suitors, took advantage of this to arm the suitors who were in the great hall as well.

The battle that followed was fierce and inconclusive until Mentor appeared, who was none other than Athena who sided with Odysseus. The suitors even threatened to kill Mentor's family, provoking the wrath of the goddess who threw the her pole killing two suitors. On the contrary, the spears of the opponents fell on her and she was ostracized.

Phemius who was entertaining the suitors with his song fell on his knees, begging Odysseus to take pity on him as the suitors had forced him to serve them. So Odysseus was convinced that he had remained faithful and did not mind. The battle ended with the overwhelming victory of Odysseus and his friends. The king of Ithaca then asked Eurycleia to punish his unfaithful handmaidens, initially by washing and cleaning the hall of the bodies of the dead suitors. Then they too, together with Melanthios, would follow the same fate as the suitors.

Finally came the rest of the faithful slaves who welcomed their master with lighted torches and tears of joy. They dressed him in his royal costume, giving joy to Odysseus who also felt moved by the reception they gave him.