The Odyssey

1
The Odyssey

• Book Three

2
Book Three

• Ferried by Athene, Telemachus lands at Pylos.
• There, a great sacrifice is taking place to
  Poseidon, god of the sea and supporter of the
  Achaeans.
• Athene and Telemachus are welcomed and treated
  most favourably, as guest should be.
• Note how proper and orderly things are done at
  Pylos guests are welcomed and the gods are
  worshiped. This is in contrast to the scene at
  Ithaca.

3
Book Three

• King Nestor of Pylos represents solid social
  values loyalty to comrades, to family and to the
  Gods, an antithesis to the disgraceful behaviour
  of the suitors in Ithaca, who have respect for
  neither the Gods nor humans.
• Telemachus asks Nestor about the fate of his
  father. Both men fought along side each other at
  the siege of Troy.
• Nestor recounts his own return story from Troy
  the disagreements between Agamemnon and Menelaus,
  the divisions in the fleet and his own uneventful
  return.

4
Book Three

• Nestor tells him about the struggles they had in
  Troy. How Achilles and Ajax were killed etc. He
  tells Telemachos that every strategy they came up
  with failed to break Troy for nine years. But the
  strategy of Odysseus proved supreme.
• After they had destroyed Troy, Zeus planned
  disaster for our homeward journey. He arranged a
  quarrel between Agamemnon and Menelaus.
• The latter wanted to go home, but the former
  wanted to stay and offer sacrifices to Athena.
  Half of the army departed whilst the other half
  stayed. Odysseus, who had left, later swung back
  and rejoined Agamemnon.

5
Book Three

• Telemachus then hears the story of what happened
  to Agamemnon.
• Aegisthus killed Agamemnon because he wanted his
  wife. Orestes, Agamemnons son, killed Aegisthus
  avenging his fathers murder.
• This is an important tale that is referred to
  several time in the epic. This sorry story is a
  lesson in treachery and deceit. It serves as a
  warning to any man who ventures away from home
  for any lengthy spell.

6
Book Three

• Nestor advises Telemachus to go to Sparta to meet
  Menelaus - he may have more information on the
  whereabouts of Odysseus.
• More sacrifices are made to Poseidon. In the
  ordered world of Pylos the Gods are revered.
• Telemachus is invited back to Nestors palace, a
  banquet is prepared and he is given a place to
  sleep and rest. A heifer is slain and a sacrifice
  is made to Athene, (note detailed description of
  this P.43).
• Telemachus is bathed, sleeps and in the morning
  he is given a chariot to take him to Sparta.

7
Book Three Important Points

• Note how Athene stays by Telemachus side for
  most of this chapter, disguised as Mentor.
  Telemachus is supported and watched over by
  Athene.
• Note how pious and religious Nestor is. Respect
  for the gods is an important attribute of King
  Nestor. Also his respectful treatment of guests
  is in keeping with the best of Greek tradition
  and values.

8
Book Three Important Points

• Note how Telemachus rises to the challenge of
  conversing and mixing with the great heroes of
  the Trojan War adding further to his growth and
  development. Nestor even affirms that he is the
  true son of Odysseus.
• Note the references to the battle of Troy, here
  the world of the Iliad and the Odyssey are
  brought together the two great works of Homer.

9
Book Three Questions

• What does Telemachus find out about Odysseus at
  Pylos?
• Why is Telemachus trip to Pylos important?
• Summarise the death of Agamemnon.