How does Telemachus develop in the Odyssey


Odysseus is a heroic figure in Greek mythology. He was king of the island of Ithaca and a brave fighter of the Greeks in the Trojan War. In the Iliad and Odyssey written by Homer, he was described with numerous character traits. He was descended from his parents Laertes and Antikleia. With his wife Penelope he fathered the son Telemachus.

Homer and Penelope

The beautiful Helena was once coveted by many men, including Odysseus. This gave her father Tyndareos the advice that all Helena's suitors should swear to help the chosen husband with all problems of their marriage. This should avoid a dispute between all applicants. Tyndareus, who chose the Spartan king Menelaus for his daughter, thanked Odysseus for the advice and gave him his niece Penelope as his wife. From this marriage Ulysses' son Telemachus was born.

Trojan War

After Helena was stolen from Paris by the Trojan, all admirers had to pledge to assist in the war. Odysseus was also supposed to go to war, but the latter presented himself as insane by plowing with a bull and horse and sowing salt. However, he was unmasked by Palamedes by laying the young son Telemachus in front of the plow. Odysseus played an important role in the preparations for the Trojan War: he brought the strong fighter Achilles into the army of the Greeks. When the Greek fleet was hindered by Artemis by a calm before the departure in Aulis and General Agamemnon was supposed to sacrifice his daughter Iphigenia on the altar, he brought her to Aulis by a false claim. During the war, Odysseus proved to be cunning and skillful in advising the construction of the Trojan horse. In doing so, he laid the foundation for the fall of Troy.

The wanderings

After the ten-year siege of Troy, Odysseus and his companions set off on the journey home to Ithaca. However, this journey, known as the “odyssey”, was anything but calm: first they were driven to the coast of the Kikonen and then came to the land of the lotophages. Then they came to the island of the Cyclops, where they met the giant one-eyed Polyphemus and were partly devoured by him. By a cunning plan, Odysseus was able to blind the Cyclops to the eye and flee the island. Further stops were the island of Aiolos and the coast of the Lästrygonen. On the island of Aiaia, the companions met the sorceress Kirke, through whom they came to the underworld. Kirke gave them advice on how to continue and warned them about the sirens. Odysseus covered the ears of his companions with wax and tied himself to a mast so as not to fall victim to the singing of the sirens. In a strait they were then threatened by Scylla and Charybdis and lost six men. With the fragile ship, Odysseus reached the island of Calypso, which coveted him and held him for seven years. Ultimately, Odysseus reached the island of the Phaiacs by swimming and returned to Ithaca, where he re-established his rule.