Homer · tr. Bryant, 1871

Book XI · Episode 2 of 6

Mother and the Heroines

Odysseus embraces mother’s shade in vain

Scenes

  1. Reunion with Anticleia — Anticleia reports on family, eludes embrace
    • Odysseus explains he came seeking Tiresias
    • His wife weeps within his halls
    • Telemachus now runs the estate
    • His father lives in poverty, mourning him
    • Her shade slips like a shadow
  2. Tyro’s Line — Odysseus meets Tyro, who bore Neleus
    • Women come forward one by one
    • Tyro loves the river-god Enipeus
    • Poseidon takes the river’s form
    • He hides them in an arching wave
    • Aeson, Pheres, Amythaon born to Cretheus
  3. Theban and Pylian Queens — Antiope, Alcmena, Megara, Epicaste, Chloris
    • Antiope boasts of lying with Zeus
    • Alcmena bears Heracles to Zeus
    • Megara is Creion’s daughter, Heracles’ wife
    • Epicaste unknowingly weds son Oedipus
    • Winning Pero costs a year in fetters
  4. Further Heroines — Leda and Iphidameia pass by night
    • Castor and Polydeuces share life and death
    • Otus, Ephialtes threaten to pile Ossa
    • Zeus and Leto’s son kill them
    • Artemis slays Ariadne at Dionysus’ word
    • Eriphyle sells her husband for gold