Book III · Episode 4 of 5
Night at Nestor’s Hall
Evening rites yield to Athena’s departure
Scenes
- Libations at Nightfall — As night falls, Athena calls for libations
- Heralds pour water over their hands
- Boys fill wine bowls to the brim
- They burn tongues and pour out wine
- Athena and Telemachus rise to leave
- Nestor detains them, chiding their haste
- Athena Vanishes — Nestor keeps Telemachus, Athena vanishes
- His halls hold mantles and blankets
- Athena asks Nestor for fastest horses
- The Cauconians owe her an old debt
- She vanishes like an eagle
- Nestor takes the astonished youth’s hand
- Household Retires — Nestor vows sacrifice, household retires
- Nestor recognizes the visitor as Athena
- He mixes eleven-year-old wine for libation
- Sons and sons-in-law fill the palace
- Telemachus beds beside Peisistratus in hall
- His queen prepares Nestor’s inner chamber