Books 13-16: Summary

Odysseus completes his account of his wanderings, and Alcinous assures him that he will be able to return home safely. He requests his courtiers to heap more gifts on Odysseus. As is their custom, the Phaeacians provide the wanderer safe passage home. Odysseus is asleep when they arrive, so the Phaeacians carry him to the shore, unload his gifts, and leave him sleeping on the beach. Poseidon is annoyed that the Phaeacians chose to help Odysseus and complains to Zeus. The gods agree on Poseidon’s vengeance against the Phaeacians. Poseidon turns the Phaeacian into stone. The ship and its entire crew sink right in front of the Phaeacians.

When Odysseus awakens on the shore of Ithaca, he is unable to recognize it since it is covered in an enchanted mist. Athena then appears disguised as a shepherd and assures him that he is in fact in Ithaca. She disguises him as an old beggar so that he can gain information without being recognized. This way, he’d also be able to look for his loyal swineherd, Eumaeus, and hide in his hut for the time being.

Odysseus is pleased with Eumaeus ‘s hospitality as well as his devotion to his master, whom he does not recognize. Odysseus creates a story about his beggar character. He tells Emaeus that he was once wealthy, that he had fought at Troy with Odysseus. He further tells him that he’s heard that Odysseus was still alive and sailing homeward.

Eumaeus and the beggar/Odysseus continue their conversations. Meanwhile, Athena asks Telemachus to return home. She guides Telemachus safely past the suitors’ ambush, and asks him to go directly to Emaeus upon arriving at Ithaca. Eumaeus recounts his life story to Odysseus: he was once a prince, but was stolen away from his father’s home by pirates. Later, Laertes, father of Odysseus, brought him to Ithaca to be reared by his wife.

As instructed by Athena, Telemachus goes directly to Eumaeus’s hut, who is pleased to see him. He offers food and wine to Telemachus, and then goes to the palace to tell Penelope that Telemachus has returned. Athena takes this opportunity to alter Odysseus’ appearance, making him look more like his former self. Odysseus reveals himself to his son, and they work out a plan to defeat the suitors. Odysseus warns his son to tell no one—not even Penelope—that the king of Ithaca has returned.

Meanwhile, Antinous also has a plan. He tells the other suitors how they must assassinate the prince. However, Amphinomus, the most decent of the suitors, asks them to be patient and wait for a sign from the gods before proceeding with the plan. The suitors agree to postpone Telemachus’ murder. Penelope confronts Antinous about the plan, but is cut off by the smooth-talking Eurymachus.

Books 13-16: Analysis

These books focus on Odysseus’ return to Ithaca. They also focus on two of the most important themes in the epic: hospitality and loyalty. The Phaeacians, who are models of hospitality, are punished by the gods for their kindness and generosity, which is ironic since granting safe passage to wayfaring strangers was otherwise considered a virtue in Homer’s world.

Upon returning to Ithaca, Odysseus needs protection. Athena turns the hero into an old beggar, which can be interpreted as the final step in Odysseus’s transformation. In assuming the disguise of a beggar, Odysseus humbles himself and displays a lack of arrogance.

Eumaeus is an epitome of loyalty and fidelity. Even though Odysseus has been away for twenty years, Eumaeus continues to hope for his return. He is also kind enough to offer food and share his bed with a vagabond. The conversations between Odysseus and Eumaeus highlight the values of humility and kindness.