Source-groundedThe Odyssey
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Item · Collective

Ulysses’s twelve axes

Published entity metadata

Read-only identity and editorial metadata.

Canonical name
Ulysses’s twelve axes
Disambiguator
None
Kind
Item
Scope
Collective
Editorial note
No editorial note published.

Aliases

1

twelve axes

Alternative name · Reported

Location presence

Phase 6 currently covers 24 processed books.

2
long straight groove dug to set Ulysses’s axes1 observation
·Direct

Ulysses’s twelve axes were set in a row in the long straight groove.

See evidence text
“As he spoke he sprang from his seat, threw his crimson cloak from him, and took his sword from his shoulder. First he set the axes in a row, in a long groove which he had dug for them, and had made straight by line. {162} Then he stamped the earth tight round them, and everyone was surprised when they saw him set them up so orderly, though he had never seen anything of the kind before. This done, he went on to the pavement to make trial of the bow; thrice did he tug at it, trying with all his might to draw the string, and thrice he had to leave off, though he had hoped to string the bow and shoot through the iron. He was trying for the fourth time, and would have strung it had not Ulysses made a sign to check him in spite of all his eagerness. So he said: ”
Ulysses’ house1 observation
·Reported

Antinous said the axes could remain in the house where no one was likely to take them away.

See evidence text
“‘It shall not be so, Eurymachus,’ said Antinous, ‘and you know it yourself. Today is the feast of Apollo throughout all the land; who can string a bow on such a day as this? Put it on one side—as for the axes they can stay where they are, for no one is likely to come to the house and take them away: let the cupbearer go round with his cups, that we may make our drink-offerings and drop this matter of the bow; we will tell Melanthius to bring us in some goats tomorrow—the best he has; we can then offer thigh bones to Apollo the mighty archer, and again make trial of the bow, so as to bring the contest to an end.’ ”

Claims

6
·Remembered

Ulysses’s twelve axes were set in a line like shipbuilding stays for him to shoot one arrow through all twelve.

See evidence text
“My husband used to set up twelve axes in the court, one in front of the other, like the stays upon which a ship is built; he would then go back from them and shoot an arrow through the whole twelve.”
·Hypothetical

Penelope’s contest requires the successful archer to send an arrow through each of Ulysses’s twelve axes.

See evidence text
“send his arrow through each one of twelve axes, him will I follow”
·Direct

The twelve axes are set upright in an orderly row in a straight groove and packed with stamped earth.

See evidence text
“set the axes in a row, in a long groove which he had dug for them, and had made straight by line. {162} Then he stamped the earth tight round them, and everyone was surprised when they saw him set them up so orderly”
·Reported

Antinous says the axes can remain in place because no one will take them from the house.

See evidence text
“as for the axes they can stay where they are, for no one is likely to come to the house and take them away”
·Direct

Ulysses’s arrow passes through every axe handle-hole from first to last.

See evidence text
“his arrow pierced every one of the handle-holes of the axes from the first onwards till it had gone right through them, and into the outer courtyard”
·Remembered

Ulysses’s twelve axes are represented by the quantity of iron offered with his bow for the suitors’ contest.

See evidence text
“his wife offer his bow and a quantity of iron to be contended for by us ill-fated suitors”

Additional evidence

Evidence records not already represented by a claim.

5
·Remembered
“My husband used to set up twelve axes in the court”
·Direct
“the bow and with the iron axes”
·Reported
“send his arrow through each one of twelve axes”
·Direct
“every one of the handle-holes of the axes”
·Remembered
“his bow and a quantity of iron to be contended for by us”

Passage preview

Book 19 · Passage 36

And Penelope answered, ‘Stranger, dreams are very curious and unaccountable things, and they do not by any means invariably come true. There are two gates through which these unsubstantial fancies proceed; the one is of horn, and the other ivory. Those that come through the gate of ivory are fatuous, but those from the gate of horn mean something to those that see them. I do not think, however, that my own dream came through the gate of horn, though I and my son should be most thankful if it proves to have done so. Furthermore I say—and lay my saying to your heart—the coming dawn will usher in the ill-omened day that is to sever me from the house of Ulysses, for I am about to hold a tournament of axes. My husband used to set up twelve axes in the court, one in front of the other, like the stays upon which a ship is built; he would then go back from them and shoot an arrow through the whole twelve. I shall make the suitors try to do the same thing, and whichever of them can string the bow most easily, and send his arrow through all the twelve axes, him will I follow, and quit this house of my lawful husband, so goodly and so abounding in wealth. But even so, I doubt not that I shall remember it in my dreams.’