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Women and their Wiles: Portents and Telemakhos' Journey

Explore the cunning and influential women in The Odyssey, as well as the significance of bird signs and Telemakhos' development throughout the story.

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Women and their Wiles: Portents and Telemakhos' Journey

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  1. ODYSSEY 15 -16 Women Portents Telemakhos Grows Up

  2. The Story Thus Far… • Odysseus has made it home • Telemakhos is on his way home from Sparta • The Suitors are actively planning on killing Telemakhos when he returns • Penelope is still in hiding from the Suitors

  3. Women and their Wiles • Athena tells Telemakhos that Penelope is close to getting married • Eurymakhos – “Wide-Fighter” • “You know a woman’s pride at bringing riches to the man she marries” (pg. 268) • Dowry • Agreed upon by the father and future husband • Could be property, cash, or land

  4. Marriage & Dowry • Sometimes called “bride price” • Dowry + husband’s contribution = oikos! • “ideal” was to provide support without having to buy supplies • If divorced, dowry returned in full • 5th C. Athens - women and their money becoming more and more important for production of Athenian citizens

  5. Helen and her Wiles • Helen does two important things • Give Telemakhos a robe • Interprets omens • The Robe • “keep it for your own bride, your joyful wedding day” (pg. 271) • How joyful was Helen’s marriage?

  6. Menelaus & Helen • Menelaus had intended to kill Helen • Took her on his ship, intending to kill her later • Forgot all about it by the time he reached Sparta • OR…the sight of her topless changed his mind

  7. Women and their Wiles II • The Phoinikian Slave • Intrigue against her master • Caused Eumaios to be sold to Laertes • Tricky female slave • Odysseus’ Maidservants • “You and I alone must learn how far the women are corrupted” (pg. 299) • “Yes, make distinction between good girls and those who shame your house” (pg. 300)

  8. “Good” Women • Antikleia • Raised Eumaios • “gave new clothing, cloak and sandals…well she loved me” (pg. 279) • The source of Eumaios’ loyalty to Odysseus

  9. Penelope • The model of sophrosyne – “excellence” • North: “she is a good housekeeper, a nurturer of her husband, a child-bearer..she is chaste, graceful and does not like to talk about sex with other women” • Od. 18.333 (pg. 344): “Here, then, you must attend to everything” • She is quite capable, though she loses her temper (pg. 303-304)

  10. Portents and Birds • Two divinations in these books 1)The eagle and goose 2)Hawk and dove

  11. The Hawk and Goose • A mountain eagle appears with a goose in its talons • Eagle = Odysseus, Goose = Suitors • Helen interprets, not Menelaus • Helen seems tuned in to domestic strife • Bird signs VERY important (especially eagles)

  12. The Hawk and Dove • Theoklymenos is descendant of Melampous • Melampous introduced the worship of Dionysos to Greece (Herodotus) • A serpent licked his ears and he could then understand bird language and guess the future • Theoklymenos interprets as sign of eternal rule by Odysseus’ house • Pg. 285 “A god spoke in this bird-sign on the right. I knew it when I saw the hawk fly over us.”

  13. Hesiod Works & Days 202-211 And now I will tell a fable for princes who themselves understand. Thus said the hawk to the nightingale with speckled neck, while he carried her high up among the clouds, gripped fast in his talons, and she, pierced by his crooked talons, cried pitifully. To her he spoke disdainfully: `Miserable thing, why do you cry out? One far stronger than you now holds you fast, and you must go wherever I take you, songstress as you are. And if I please I will make my meal of you, or let you go. He is a fool who tries to withstand the stronger, for he does not get the mastery and suffers pain besides his shame.' So said the swiftly flying hawk, the long- winged bird.

  14. Bird Signs • Aka Augury • haruspicy is the study of entrails • Apollo was the god of prophecy • Signs on the right were favorable • Never organized into state religion as in Rome

  15. What do they mean? • Signs of unalterable divine will • Here, they signify Odysseus as a predatory, aggressive creature • Sense of impending doom for the suitors

  16. Telemakhos Grows Up • Not afraid to express himself now • Turns down extended xenia from Menelaos • Acts as a noble around other nobles • To Helen (pg. 273) • Peisistratos (pg. 274-275) • Still uncertain about Odysseus, even though Athena twice told him to buck up

  17. Telemakhos Still Has Doubts • “uncomprehending, wild with incredulity, [he] cried out, ‘You cannot be my father Odysseus!” (pg. 295) • “How can two men do battle with a houseful in their prime?” (pg. 297) • It’s actually 118 suitors, according to Telemakhos (pg. 297) • Once Telemakhos believes, however….

  18. REVENGE • Telemakhos finds his courage • “Even when danger comes, I think you’ll find courage in me.” (pg. 299) • “Telemakhos, now strong with magic..” (pg. 305) • Athena is going to fight with the two men, and this finally gives hope to Telemakhos

  19. Foreshadowing • The individualization of the suitors • Some good – Amphinomos • Some bad - Antinoos • Sharp increase in omens and portents • The last example of proper xenia • The introduction and evolution of the servants of Odysseus

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