The Odyssey Book Thirteen

Book Thirteen Odysseus, having narrated his tale, is impatient to get home. King Alcinous makes preparations to see the hero home. He orders ships, presents gifts and holds a farewell banquet for Odysseus. After speeches, sacrifices and blessings the ships rows Odysseus back to Ithaca. When they reach Ithaca they pull into a cove with a cave situated off it. There they unload the caskets of treasure and place these against the trunk of an olive tree.

Poseidon, who witnesses the return of Odysseus, and all the gifts he has received from the Phaeacians, is furious. He gets the consent of Zeus to punish the Phaeacians by wreaking the returning ship. He waits until their ship is nearly home and in full view of the citizens. He then sinks the ship – turning it into stone, rooting her “to the sea bottom”. When King Alcinos sees this, he recalls a prophecy that says punishment will come for giving safe passage to strangers. Sacrifices and supplications are then made to Poseidon. Book Thirteen

Book Thirteen Meanwhile, Odysseus begins to inspect his treasure – at this point he does not recognise Ithaca. A disguised Athene appears as a shepherd and informs him that he is indeed on Ithaca. Odysseus pretends he is a stranger and gives Athene a made-up story about how he came to Ithaca; this of course is not true – but part of his cunning subterfuge. He says he is a refugee who had to flee his native land because he killed a great runner called Orsilochus. This man tried to rob him of the war treasures he won at Troy. Travelling across the sea via a Phoenician ship and having spent some time at Pylos and Elis, he eventually reached Ithaca.

Book Thirteen Athene praises him for his cleverness and reveals herself to the hero. Athena removes the mists from the land and this allows him to recognise his own kingdom. Odysseus tells her of his misfortunes after Troy, Athene tells him that she could to nothing for him - because he had blinded the Cyclops, Poseidon’s son.

Book Thirteen Athena and Odysseus then discuss plans to deal with the suitors. Athena assures him of her help. Athena says she will change him into an old haggard, a wrinkled beggar, unrecognisable. She tells him to go to Eumaeus’s hut, an old swineherd who looks after his pigs. This man is loyal to Odysseus and his family. She will go to Sparta to fetch Telemachos. She tells Odysseus of the plot to kill his son by the suitors but informs the hero, “I have an idea they will not succeed.” Athena then waves a wand over Odysseus changing him to an old beggar. She sets off for Sparta and the two separate.

Book Thirteen: Important Points Note how the harmony between Odysseus and Athene is restored. Throughout chapter 9-12, Odysseus had acted independently of her but ultimately he cannot succeed without the goddess. The purpose of sending Odysseus to the swineherd gives him time to prepare a plan: he must know what exactly he is facing into and what is happening at the palace. Note also the role of false story telling, as opposed to the true one Odysseus tells the Phaeacians. These fake tales charm Athene who is impressed by his cunning. Fake stories allow him to conceal his identity until the moment is right for him to strike his opponents.

Questions Describe Odysseus and Athena’s meeting.