1. Odysseus and Penelope By: Maggie Di Vito

2. Odysseus Odysseus (Ulysses in Latin) was the son of Laertes. He was the ruler of the island kingdom of Ithaca. Known for his cleverness and craftiness, Odysseus was an important Greek leader in the Trojan War.

3. Penelope Penelope was the wife of Odysseus. She was the daughter of Icarius of Sparta and the cousin of Helen and Clytemnestra. “Spindle-loosener” is the meaning of her name in Indo-European; she was a very loyal woman.

4. Their Situation Penelope waited 20 years for the return of Odysseus from the Trojan War. She wept and laid in her “bed of sorrows.” Penelope was forced to promise the marriage of a suitor. Finishing the shroud of Laertes was the deadline; she wove during the day undid it in the night. Odysseus went to Sparta to compete for the hand of Helen of Troy. He made the Oath of Tyndareus, which stated that Tyndareus would help Odysseus win the hand of his niece, Penelope. All princes of Hellas went to war with Troy, where Hellen was.

5. Odysseus’s Return Odysseus arrived home disguised as a beggar (Athena had changed his appearance). Penelope was unaware that it was her husband. Euryclia, nurse of Odysseus, recognized him but was ordered not to say a word.

6. The Battle Penelope gave the Bow of Odysseus to the Suitors and agreed to marry the one who could bend it. When none of them were capable, Odysseus took the bow and shot the Suitors which turned into a great battle.

7. Reunited Euryclia woke Penelope telling her that Odysseus had come home and killed the rogues. When Odysseus described the process of constructing his bed out of an olive tree (a detail only known by the two of them), Penelope instantly knew it was him.