Telemachus in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Telemachus

53 passages from 2 ancient authors that tell of Telemachus, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. Telemachus was the son of Odysseus and Penelope, raised in a house besieged by suitors. Learn his name's meaning, family ties, and his path to manhood. For the story in one place, read our article on Telemachus.

Homer (52)

Homer, Odyssey 20.240–394The suitors' feast; Ctesippus and the omenThe suitors plan to kill Telemachus, but an eagle flying on their left with a dove stops them. Telemachus gives the stranger a seat and a table, and Ctesippus throws an ox's hoof at him, which misses, and Telemachus tells him that he would have run him through with his spear. Theoclymenus foresees blood on the walls and a shadow of death over the suitors, and leaves the hall.
Homer, Odyssey 16.1–153Telemachus comes to the hutAt dawn Eumaeus and Odysseus prepare breakfast, and the dogs, which do not bark, show that a friend is coming. Telemachus enters, and Eumaeus embraces him, weeping, and Odysseus rises to give him his seat, but Telemachus bids him stay. Eumaeus tells him of the stranger, and Telemachus promises him clothes, a sword and shoes, but says that he cannot protect him from the suitors. He then sends Eumaeus to tell Penelope that he is home.
Homer, Odyssey 16.321–481The suitors' ambush fails; Penelope rebukes AntinousThe ship that was sent for Telemachus comes back, and the suitors, learning that he escaped, gather and plan to kill him. Amphinomus advises waiting for a sign from the gods, and Penelope comes down to rebuke Antinous for plotting against the son of the man who once saved his father. Eurymachus smooths it over, and Eumaeus returns to the hut that evening.
Homer, Odyssey 17.1–183Telemachus returns to the townAt dawn Telemachus takes his spear and goes to the town, telling Eumaeus to bring the stranger to beg there. Eurycleia and the maids greet him with tears, and Penelope throws her arms round her son and begs him to tell what he has learned of his father. He tells her of Nestor and Menelaus, and of what Menelaus heard from Proteus, and the seer Theoclymenus tells her that Odysseus is already in Ithaca.
Homer, Odyssey 1.325–444Phemius sings; Telemachus faces the suitorsThe minstrel Phemius sings of the Achaeans' woeful return from Troy, and Penelope comes down and asks him to sing something else. Telemachus tells her to go back to her room and her work, and then boldly tells the suitors that he will call them to an assembly on the morrow. Antinous answers him, and at night Telemachus goes to bed pondering the journey Athena has shown him.
Homer, Odyssey 2.239–381Mentor's rebuke; Telemachus prepares to sailMentor rebukes the people of Ithaca for sitting by in silence, and Leocritus answers that even Odysseus could not drive so many men from the hall. The assembly breaks up. Telemachus prays by the shore, and Athena in the likeness of Mentor encourages him to make ready, while the suitors mock him in the hall. He has the nurse Eurycleia fill jars with wine and bags with barley, and she swears to tell no one.
Homer, Odyssey 15.493–557Telemachus lands on IthacaThe two men sleep a short while, and at dawn Telemachus' ship comes to land, and he tells the crew to go to the city while he goes to the farm. He sends Theoclymenus to the house of Eurymachus, and as he sacrifices, a hawk flies by, carrying a dove, and Theoclymenus says that the family of Odysseus will rule Ithaca. Telemachus goes to Eumaeus' farmstead.
Homer, Odyssey 15.1–91Athena goes to SpartaAthena goes to Lacedaemon and finds Telemachus sleepless, with Peisistratus sleeping near, and tells him to go home at once, since the suitors are plotting to ambush him. She tells him to land at the first point of Ithaca and send the ship on to the city, and to go to Eumaeus' hut. At dawn he tells Menelaus that he must go, and Menelaus offers him a tour of Greece, but Telemachus refuses.
Homer, Odyssey 19.1–95Odysseus and Telemachus remove the armsOdysseus, left in the hall, plans with Athena's help the death of the suitors, and tells Telemachus to carry the arms away to the store-room. Telemachus does so, with Eurycleia's help, and Athena goes before them with a golden lamp. Telemachus goes to bed, and Melantho abuses the stranger again, and Penelope rebukes her.
Homer, Odyssey 2.382–434Athena makes ready the shipAthena, in the likeness of Telemachus, goes through the city gathering a crew, and borrows a swift ship from Noemon. She sheds sleep on the suitors, and then, as Mentor, calls Telemachus out to the ship. They stow the stores and set sail with a fair west wind, with Athena sitting at the stern.
Homer, Odyssey 3.1–101Telemachus lands at PylosTelemachus and Athena reach Pylos at sunrise and find Nestor and his people sacrificing black bulls to Poseidon on the shore. Nestor's son Peisistratus welcomes them, gives them a place at the feast and hands Athena the golden cup. When they have eaten, Nestor asks who they are, and Telemachus asks him for news of his father.
Homer, Odyssey 15.182–300Pylos; TheoclymenusTelemachus drives to Pylos, where he asks Peisistratus to take him directly to the ship, to avoid a delay at Nestor's house, and he sails at once. At the ship he is met by Theoclymenus, a seer who has fled Argos after a killing, and who begs to be taken on board. Telemachus agrees, and they sail past Pheae and Elis, steering for the sharp isles.

40 more passages of Homer that name Telemachus

Epic Cycle (1)

Epic Cycle, Summaries and Fragments 9.1–10.2Returns and TelegonyProclus' summary of the Returns begins with Athena causing a quarrel between Agamemnon and Menelaus about the voyage from Troy. The fragments mention Medea and Aeson, Heracles at Themiscyra, and Telemachus marrying Circe. The Telegony, in two books, has Odysseus sailing to Elis after the suitors are buried, and the author says that Odysseus had a son Telegonus by Calypso.