 |
Melanthius ( /məˈlænθiəs/ ; Ancient Greek : Μελάνθιος), the son of Dolius, is a minor character in Homer's Odyssey : Odysseus's disloyal goatherd. In contrast, Odysseus's cowherd Philoetius and swineherd Eumaeus have both remained loyal to Odysseus during his twenty years of wanderings, as have Melanthius's father and six brothers.
Melanthius provides the best goats of the herd for a feast for the suitors of Penelope. [1] He serves the suitors at the dining table, pouring them wine [2] or lighting a fire in the hall upon their order. [3] He is apparently favored by many of them: Eurymachus is said to like him best of all, and he is allowed to have meals in the same dining hall with the suitors. [4]
Odysseus, disguised as a beggar and accompanied by Eumaeus, encounters Melanthius on his way into town, by the fountain dedicated to the nymphs. Melanthius immediately taunts Odysseus and proceeds to kick him on the hip, unaware that he is really dishonoring his master, causing Odysseus to consider attacking him. [5] Later, when Odysseus is brought in front of the suitors, Melanthius asserts that he knows nothing of the stranger and that Eumaeus alone is responsible for bringing him in. His speech results in the suitors' rebuking Eumaeus. [6]
Early in the battle with the suitors, Eumaeus and Philoetius catch Melanthius trying to steal more weapons and armour for the suitors. On the orders of Odysseus, they bind him and string him up from the rafters, where he is mocked by Eumaeus. [7] When the battle is won, Telemachus (the son of Odysseus), Eumaeus, and Philoetius hang the twelve slaves, including Melanthius's sister Melantho.[ citation needed ] Melanthius is then taken to the inner court, where individuals chop off his nose and ears with a sword, pull off his genitals to feed to the dogs, and then, in their fury, chop off his hands and feet. [8]
According to Malcolm Davies of St. John's College, Oxford, the text does not specify who mutilates Melanthius. [9] Rick Newton of Kent State University stated that "there is no indication" that Telemachus did not participate in Melanthius's execution, and whether Odysseus asked the three to kill Melanthius is not "explicitly" answered. [10] Newton identified Eumaeus and Philoetius as being among the participants of the mutilation. [10] The text does not explicitly state that Melanthius succumbs to those injuries. Davies stated that he believed that Melanthius survives the injuries. [11] According to Davies, the nature of Melanthius's mutilation shows his low social status, compared to the more noble deaths of the suitors. [12] According to Davies, Melanthius becomes a "living corpse", facing "ridicule", resulting from a "ghastly and humiliating punishment". [13] Newton states that Melanthius dies from his injuries, and that the mutilation is an "execution". [10] A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology, edited by William Smith, stated that Odysseus was responsible for Melanthius's death, and that said death was done "cruelly". [14] Mark Buchan, in Ramus , stated that Melanthius dies and that the mutilation of the hands and feet as well as that of the penis both show symbolism; Buchan argued that the former body parts are used in combat and the latter part is a "more obvious expression of his manhood." [15]
The Odyssey is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest works of literature still widely read by modern audiences. Like the Iliad, the Odyssey is divided into 24 books. It follows the Greek hero Odysseus, king of Ithaca, and his journey home after the Trojan War. After the war, which lasted ten years, his journey from Troy to Ithaca, via Africa and southern Europe, lasted for ten additional years during which time he encountered many perils and all of his crewmates were killed. In his absence, Odysseus was assumed dead, and his wife Penelope and son Telemachus had to contend with a group of unruly suitors who were competing for Penelope's hand in marriage.
Penelope is a character in Homer's Odyssey. She was the queen of Ithaca and was the daughter of Spartan king Icarius and Asterodia. Penelope is known for her fidelity to her husband Odysseus, despite the attention of more than a hundred suitors during his absence. In one source, Penelope's original name was Arnacia or Arnaea.
In Greek mythology, Telemachus is the son of Odysseus and Penelope, who are central characters in Homer's Odyssey. When Telemachus reached manhood, he visited Pylos and Sparta in search of his wandering father. On his return to Ithaca, he found that Odysseus had reached home before him. Then father and son slew the suitors who had gathered around Penelope. According to later tradition, Telemachus married Circe after Odysseus's death.
In Greek mythology, Eteoneus may refer to various characters:
In Greek mythology, Eumaeus was Odysseus' slave, swineherd, and friend. His father, Ctesius, son of Ormenus, was king of an island called Syra, although it has also been suggested that Eumaeus may have referred to Syracuse, Sicily.
In Greek mythology, Polypoetes was a name attributed to the following individuals:
In Homer's Odyssey, Argos, sometimes referred to as Argus, is Odysseus's faithful dog. Bred to be a hunting dog before Odysseus leaves for the Trojan War, Argos is neglected after Odysseus is presumed dead. Twenty years later, Odysseus returns to Ithaca and finds him lying in piles of manure, immobile from old age and neglect, and infested with parasites. When Argos sees Odysseus, he immediately drops his ears, wags his tail and recognizes him. Disguised as a beggar, Odysseus cannot greet his dog without revealing his identity, but secretly weeps. Upon seeing his master return home, Argos dies.
The Odyssey is a 1997 American mythology–adventure television miniseries based on the ancient Greek epic poem by Homer, the Odyssey. Directed by Andrei Konchalovsky and co-produced by Hallmark Entertainment and American Zoetrope, the miniseries aired in two parts beginning on May 18, 1997, on NBC. It was filmed in Malta, Turkey, parts of England and many other places around the Mediterranean, where the story takes place. The cast includes Armand Assante, Greta Scacchi, Irene Papas, Isabella Rossellini, Bernadette Peters, Eric Roberts, Geraldine Chaplin, Jeroen Krabbé, Christopher Lee and Vanessa Williams.
In Greek mythology, Pylaemenes may refer to two distinct characters:
Philoetius is a character in Greek mythology who plays a significant role in Homer's Odyssey, aiding Odysseus, Telemachus, and Eumaeus in their slaughter of the suitors of Penelope.
In Greek mythology, Amphimachus was a name attributed to multiple individuals.
In Greek mythology, the suitors of Penelope are one of the main subjects of Homer's Odyssey.
In Greek mythology, more precisely in the epic tradition recounted in Homer's Odyssey, Dolius or Dolios was a slave of Penelope whom she had received from her father Icarius on occasion of her marriage to Odysseus. He served as a gardener.
In Greek mythology, the name Ctesippus may refer to:
In Greek mythology, the name Damastor may refer to:
In Greek mythology, Halius may refer to the following characters:
In Greek mythology, Melantho is one of the minor characters in the Odyssey.
In Greek mythology, Ctesius may refer to three distinct characters:
In Greek mythology, Ithacus may refer to two different characters:
The Return is a 2024 drama film directed by Uberto Pasolini and starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche. The film is a retelling of the last sections of Homer's Odyssey as adapted by Edward Bond, John Collee, and Pasolini.
 | This article relating to Greek mythology is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |