Question

Match the person to the description. 1. Laertes Odysseus's father 2. Anticleia father of Melantho and Melanthius 3. Antinous disloyal goatherd 4. Leodes first suitor killed 5. Alcinous the one who recognizes Odysseus's scar 6. Eurycleia the one who thinks the bow will kill the suitors 7. Artemis Apollo's twin 8. Dolius blind bard of the Phaeacians 9. Demodocus king of the Phaeacians 10. Melanthius Odysseus's mother

Answer 1

1. Laertes => Odysseus' father. He lives in Ithaca and waits for his son to come back.
2. Anticleia => Odysseus's mother. While Odysseus is gone, she commits suicide because of grief. They meet again in the underworld.
3. Antinous => the first suitor killed. He is the most violent and insolent among suitors. He is the one who plots against Telemachus.
4. Leodes => the one who thinks the bow will kill the suitors. He is a suitor himself, although the least insolent one. He predicts that Odysseus will come back for revenge. He is the last suitor Odysseus kills.
5. Alcinous => King of the Phaeacians. He is extremely hospitable and even offers his daughter to Odysseus.
6. Eurycleia => the one who recognizes Odysseus's scar. She was Odysseus' nurse. When he comes back to Ithaca, disguised as an old beggar, she washes his legs and notices the scar.
7. Artemis => Apollo's twin. She is the goddess of hunting and childbirth, and is only occasionally mentioned in The Odyssey.
8. Dolius => father of Melantho and Melanthius. He is Penelope's slave and father of seven sons (one of whom is Melanthius) and one daughter, Melantho. While Melanthius and Melantho are disloyal to Odysseus and Penelope, their father and brothers remain loyal.
9. Demodocus => blind bard of the Phaeacians. Some scholars believe he was Homer's reference to himself.
10. Melanthius => disloyal goatherd. Unlike Eumaeus, Melanthius is loyal to the suitors, instead of his master Odysseus. He will even assist the suitors in the battle with his former master.