Melanthius (Odyssey)
Encyclopedia
Melanthius, the son of Dolius
, plays the minor, yet important character of Odysseus
' disloyal goatherd in Homer
's Odyssey
. In contrast, Odysseus
' cowherd, Philoetius, and swineherd, Eumaeus
, have both remained loyal to Odysseus
during his twenty years of wanderings, as had the father and six brothers of Melanthius.
Melanthius provides the best goats of the herd to make a feast for the suitors of Penelope
. He serves the suitors at the dining table, pouring them wine or lighting a fire in the hall upon their order. He is apparently favored a lot by 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..
Odysseus
, disguised as a beggar and accompanied by Eumaeus
, encounters Melanthius by the fountain dedicated to the nymph
s on his way into town. Melanthius immediately taunts Odysseus and proceeds to kicks him on the hip, unaware that he is really dishonoring his master, causing Odysseus to consider attacking him. 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.
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. When the battle is won, Telemachus
(the son of Odysseus), Eumaeus, and Philoetius hang the twelve unfaithful maidservants, which include Melanthius's sister Melantho
, before turning their attention to Melanthius. They take him to the inner court, 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.
Dolius
In Greek mythology, more precisely in the epic tradition recounted in Homer's Odyssey, Dolius 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....
, plays the minor, yet important character of Odysseus
Odysseus
Odysseus or Ulysses was a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer's epic poem the Odyssey. Odysseus also plays a key role in Homer's Iliad and other works in the Epic Cycle....
' disloyal goatherd in Homer
Homer
In the Western classical tradition Homer , is the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, and is revered as the greatest ancient Greek epic poet. These epics lie at the beginning of the Western canon of literature, and have had an enormous influence on the history of literature.When he lived is...
's Odyssey
Odyssey
The Odyssey is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is, in part, a sequel to the Iliad, the other work ascribed to Homer. The poem is fundamental to the modern Western canon, and is the second—the Iliad being the first—extant work of Western literature...
. In contrast, Odysseus
Odysseus
Odysseus or Ulysses was a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer's epic poem the Odyssey. Odysseus also plays a key role in Homer's Iliad and other works in the Epic Cycle....
' cowherd, Philoetius, and swineherd, Eumaeus
Eumaeus
In Greek mythology, Eumaeus was Odysseus's swineherd and friend before he left for the Trojan War. His father, Ktesios son of Ormenos, was king of an island called Syria. When he was a young child a Phoenician sailor seduced his nurse, a slave, who agreed to bring the child among other treasures...
, have both remained loyal to Odysseus
Odysseus
Odysseus or Ulysses was a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer's epic poem the Odyssey. Odysseus also plays a key role in Homer's Iliad and other works in the Epic Cycle....
during his twenty years of wanderings, as had the father and six brothers of Melanthius.
Melanthius provides the best goats of the herd to make a feast for the suitors of Penelope
Penelope
In Homer's Odyssey, Penelope is the faithful wife of Odysseus, who keeps her suitors at bay in his long absence and is eventually reunited with him....
. He serves the suitors at the dining table, pouring them wine or lighting a fire in the hall upon their order. He is apparently favored a lot by them: Eurymachus
Eurymachus
The name Eurymachus, Evrimahos, or Eurýmakhos , is attributed to the following individuals:-Greek mythology:*In Homer’s Odyssey, Eurymachus, son of Polybus, is an Ithacan nobleman and one of the two leading suitors of Penelope, the other being Antinous...
is said to like him best of all, and he is allowed to have meals in the same dining hall with the suitors..
Odysseus
Odysseus
Odysseus or Ulysses was a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer's epic poem the Odyssey. Odysseus also plays a key role in Homer's Iliad and other works in the Epic Cycle....
, disguised as a beggar and accompanied by Eumaeus
Eumaeus
In Greek mythology, Eumaeus was Odysseus's swineherd and friend before he left for the Trojan War. His father, Ktesios son of Ormenos, was king of an island called Syria. When he was a young child a Phoenician sailor seduced his nurse, a slave, who agreed to bring the child among other treasures...
, encounters Melanthius by the fountain dedicated to the nymph
Nymph
A nymph in Greek mythology is a female minor nature deity typically associated with a particular location or landform. Different from gods, nymphs are generally regarded as divine spirits who animate nature, and are usually depicted as beautiful, young nubile maidens who love to dance and sing;...
s on his way into town. Melanthius immediately taunts Odysseus and proceeds to kicks him on the hip, unaware that he is really dishonoring his master, causing Odysseus to consider attacking him. 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.
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. When the battle is won, Telemachus
Telemachus
Telemachus is a figure in Greek mythology, the son of Odysseus and Penelope, and a central character in Homer's Odyssey. The first four books in particular focus on Telemachus' journeys in search of news about his father, who has been away at war...
(the son of Odysseus), Eumaeus, and Philoetius hang the twelve unfaithful maidservants, which include Melanthius's sister Melantho
Melantho
Melantho, also known as Melántho or Melanthó , is one of the minor characters in The Odyssey. Described as having a "sharp tongue", she is sister to Melanthios, a goatherd in Ithaca, and the daughter of Dolios...
, before turning their attention to Melanthius. They take him to the inner court, 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.
Sources
- HomerHomerIn the Western classical tradition Homer , is the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, and is revered as the greatest ancient Greek epic poet. These epics lie at the beginning of the Western canon of literature, and have had an enormous influence on the history of literature.When he lived is...
, and Stanley Lombardo. Odyssey. Indianapolis: Hackett Pub. Co, 2000.