Character · Individual
Read-only identity and editorial metadata.
seer
Title · Direct
suppliant
Descriptive reference · Reported
Phase 6 currently covers 24 processed books.
Telemachus proposed treating Theoclymenus hospitably in Ithaca.
“‘I will not refuse you,’ replied Telemachus, ‘if you wish to join us. Come, therefore, and in Ithaca we will treat you hospitably according to what we have.’ ”
Telemachus instructed Piraeus to take Theoclymenus to Piraeus’s house.
“Then he said to his friend Piraeus, ‘Piraeus, son of Clytius, you have throughout shown yourself the most willing to serve me of all those who have accompanied me to Pylos; I wish you would take this stranger to your own house and entertain him hospitably till I can come for him.’ ”
Theoclymenus was present at the Ithacan place of assembly.
“Telemachus went through, and out of, the cloisters spear in hand—not alone, for his two fleet dogs went with him. Minerva endowed him with a presence of such divine comeliness that all marvelled at him as he went by, and the suitors gathered round him with fair words in their mouths and malice in their hearts; but he avoided them, and went to sit with Mentor, Antiphus, and Halitherses, old friends of his father’s house, and they made him tell them all that had happened to him. Then Piraeus came up with Theo clymenus, whom he had escorted through the town to the place of assembly, whereon Telemachus at once joined them. Piraeus was first to speak: ‘Telemachus,’ said he, ‘I wish you would send some of your women to my house to take away the presents Menelaus gave you.’ ”
Theoclymenus passed through the Ithacan town on the way to the place of assembly.
“Telemachus went through, and out of, the cloisters spear in hand—not alone, for his two fleet dogs went with him. Minerva endowed him with a presence of such divine comeliness that all marvelled at him as he went by, and the suitors gathered round him with fair words in their mouths and malice in their hearts; but he avoided them, and went to sit with Mentor, Antiphus, and Halitherses, old friends of his father’s house, and they made him tell them all that had happened to him. Then Piraeus came up with Theo clymenus, whom he had escorted through the town to the place of assembly, whereon Telemachus at once joined them. Piraeus was first to speak: ‘Telemachus,’ said he, ‘I wish you would send some of your women to my house to take away the presents Menelaus gave you.’ ”
Theoclymenus went into the baths in Ulysses’ house and was washed there.
“With these words he took Theoclymenus to his own house. When they got there they laid their cloaks on the benches and seats, went into the baths, and washed themselves. When the maids had washed and anointed them, and had given them cloaks and shirts, they took their seats at table. A maid servant then brought them water in a beautiful golden ewer, and poured it into a silver basin for them to wash their hands; and she drew a clean table beside them. An upper servant brought them bread and offered them many good things of what there was in the house. Opposite them sat Penelope, reclining on a couch by one of the bearing-posts of the cloister, and spinning. Then they laid their hands on the good things that were before them, and as soon as they had had enough to eat and drink Penelope said: ”
Theoclymenus arrived at Ulysses’ house.
“With these words he took Theoclymenus to his own house. When they got there they laid their cloaks on the benches and seats, went into the baths, and washed themselves. When the maids had washed and anointed them, and had given them cloaks and shirts, they took their seats at table. A maid servant then brought them water in a beautiful golden ewer, and poured it into a silver basin for them to wash their hands; and she drew a clean table beside them. An upper servant brought them bread and offered them many good things of what there was in the house. Opposite them sat Penelope, reclining on a couch by one of the bearing-posts of the cloister, and spinning. Then they laid their hands on the good things that were before them, and as soon as they had had enough to eat and drink Penelope said: ”
Theoclymenus is a foreign seer fleeing Argos after killing a man.
“a man from a distant country, a seer, who was flying from Argos because he had killed a man”
Theoclymenus approaches as a suppliant and solemnly beseeches Telemachus to reveal his identity and home.
“His son, Theoclymenus, it was who now came up to Telemachus as he was making drink-offerings and praying in his ship. ‘Friend,’ said he, ‘now that I find you sacrificing in this place, I beseech you by your sacrifices themselves, and by the god to whom you make them, I pray you also by your own head and by those of your followers tell me the truth”
Theoclymenus admits killing a kinsman and fleeing the victim’s powerful Argive relatives, leaving him a wandering exile.
“I too,’ answered Theoclymenus, ‘am an exile, for I have killed a man of my own race. He has many brothers and kinsmen in Argos, and they have great power among the Argives. I am flying to escape death at their hands, and am thus doomed to be a wanderer on the face of the earth”
Theoclymenus immediately recognizes the hawk as an omen and interprets it as Telemachus’s enduring power.
“As soon as I saw it I knew it was an omen; it means that you will remain powerful”
Theoclymenus is escorted through town to the assembly.
“Theo clymenus, whom he had escorted through the town to the place of assembly”
Theoclymenus lays down his cloak, bathes, and washes with Telemachus.
“they laid their cloaks on the benches and seats, went into the baths, and washed themselves”
Theoclymenus claims sure powers of divination and promises to conceal nothing.
“I can divine them surely, and will hide nothing from you”
Theoclymenus sees a doom vision of shrouded men, tears, blood-dripping architecture, ghosts, a blotted sun, and gloom over the land.
“Theoclymenus saw this and said, ‘Unhappy men, what is it that ails you? There is a shroud of darkness drawn over you from head to foot, your cheeks are wet with tears; the air is alive with wailing voices; the walls and roof-beams drip blood; the gate of the cloisters and the court beyond them are full of ghosts trooping down into the night of hell; the sun is blotted out of heaven, and a blighting gloom is over all the land”
Eurymachus derides Theoclymenus as a senseless stranger and orders him expelled into the street.
“This stranger who has lately come here has lost his senses. Servants, turn him out into the streets, since he finds it so dark here”
Theoclymenus asserts his sound senses and independence, says he will leave unaided, and warns that he sees inescapable mischief overhanging the suitors.
“I see mischief overhanging you, from which not one of you men who are insulting people and plotting ill deeds in the house of Ulysses will be able to escape”
Theoclymenus leaves the house and returns to Piraeus.
“He left the house as he spoke, and went back to Piraeus”
Evidence records not already represented by a claim.
“there came to him a man from a distant country, a seer, who was flying from Argos because he had killed a man”
“His son, Theoclymenus, it was who now came up to Telemachus”
“Piraeus came up with Theo clymenus”
“Theoclymenus saw this and said”
“But Theoclymenus said”