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Penelope |
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Upon the return of Odysseus
when Penelope finally discovers that the beggar is her husband. |
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Courtesy of
www.maicar.com |
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| Timeline of Penelope's Life |
| She was married to Odysseus for 10 years before the Trojan War
made Odysseus leave. |
| The Trojan War lasted for 10 years, during which she heard
nothing of him. |
| Suitors came to her palace wishing to marry her. |
| She fooled them for several years saying she would marry someone
when she had completed a shroud for Laertes, but had no intention of
ever finishing. What she wove during the day, she unraveled by
night. |
| Her maids ratted her out and then the suitors took over the
palace and pleased themselves with whatever they wanted. |
| A distressed beggar came to the palace. No one but his old dog
knew it was Odysseus. |
| She created a challenge for her suitors, giving them Odysseus'
bow to bend. None of the suitors but one, the beggar, were able to
do so. The beggar then shot down and killed all of the suitors with
the bow. |
| Penelope had a feeling it was Odysseus because he was the only
one who could string the bow. |
| The beggar then transformed into Odysseus. |
| She wasn't sure it was really him. |
| She told him that she had the maids rearrange the bed chamber,
including the bed. |
| The man proved himself to be Odysseus by replying with the
correct answer: the bed could not be moved, he had built it himself
and it was anchored to the floor. |
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Suitors eagerly trying to
win the affections of Penelope, as she continues to delay
them. |
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Courtesy of
www.utexax.edu |
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Suitors |
| Penelope had a
total of 108 suitors in the two decades that Odysseus was away. |
52 from Dulichium
24 from Same
20 from Zacynthos
12 from Ithaca |
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well-know suitors: |
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Agelaus,
Amphimedon, Amphinomus, Antinous, Ctesippus, Demoptolemus, Elatus,
Euronymus, Euryades, Eurydamas, Eurymachus, Leocritus, Leodes,
Peisander, and Polybus |
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Penelope waiting for the
return of Odysseus. |
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Courtesy of
www.timelessmyths.com |
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Family |
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Father:
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Icarius |
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Mother:
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Periboea |
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Siblings: |
Thoas, brother
Damasippus, brother
Imeusimus, brother
Aletes, brother
Perileos, brother
Iphthime, sister
Alyzeus, brother
Leucadius, brother |
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Mates:
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Odysseus, King of Ithaca
Hermes, God of the Shepards
Telegonus, youngest son of Odysseus and Circe
Antonius, son of Eupeithes
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Children:
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Telemachus, with Odysseus
Poliporthes, with Odysseus (also known as son of Telemachus)
Acusilaus, with Odysseus (unconfirmed)
Pan, with Hermes
Italus, with Telegonus |
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Other: |
Helen of Troy was her first cousin |
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Penelope and Iphthime |
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Courtesy of
www.texasmusicforge.com |
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Statue of Penelope at the
Vatican, Rome |
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courtesy of
www.wikipedia.com |
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Created: 28 April 2007
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