Eurycleia
has known Odysseus ever since he was a baby. Throughout Odysseus' childhood, she regularly
bathed him. When Odysseus was a youngster, he sustained a scar on his leg from a wild boar
during a hunt, and it's this mark by which Eurycleia recognizes her lord and master when he
returns to Ithaca after his epic voyage.
Odysseus' wife, Penelope (who still
thinks that Odysseus is a beggar), has instructed Eurycleia to bathe the stranger. As she does
so, Eurycleia sees the scar on Odysseus's leg and immediately recognizes him. She's overjoyed to
see her king once again, but Odysseus still has unfinished business, so he tells Eurycleia not
to reveal his true identity, even to Penelope. First, he has to settle accounts with Penelope's
suitors. Then everyone will know who he is.
No comments:
Post a Comment