Mortal · Character in Homer’s Odyssey

Antinoüs

Cruellest of the suitors

Insolent, greedy, cruel; first in every outrage, first to fall.

The ringleader: he organizes the ship meant to ambush Telemachus and throws a footstool at the beggar in his own host's hall. Odysseus' first arrow goes through his throat as he lifts a cup.

Bonds

• Antinoüs suitor of Penelope — directs the contest's order
• Penelope defies Antinoüs — rebukes him before the hall
• Antinoüs enemy of Telemachus — plots to ambush and kill him
• Antinoüs persecutes Odysseus — hurls a footstool at him
• Odysseus slays Antinoüs — first arrow, through the throat
• Eupeithes father of Antinoüs — the first man slain

Appears in

• Book I Visit of Athena to Telemachus
• Book II Departure of Telemachus from Ithaca
• Book IV Conference of Telemachus and Menelaus
• Book XVI Odysseus Discovering Himself to Telemachus
• Book XVII Return of Odysseus to His Palace
• Book XVIII Combat of Odysseus and Irus
• Book XX The Last Banquet of the Suitors
• Book XXI The Bending of the Bow of Odysseus
• Book XXII Death of the Suitors

Scenes

1. Telemachus warns the suitors — Book I. Telemachus warns of vengeance, Antinoüs mocks
2. Antinoüs Blames Penelope — Book II. Antinoüs blames Penelope’s shroud trick
3. Antinoüs’s Mockery — Book II. Antinoüs mocks, Telemachus vows revenge
4. Suitors Learn of the Voyage — Book IV. Noemon’s question reveals Telemachus sailed
5. Antinoüs Presses for Details — Book IV. Antinoüs learns Mentor led the crew
6. Antinoüs Plots an Ambush — Book IV. Antinoüs demands ship to ambush Telemachus
7. Suitors Set Sail — Book IV. Antinoüs silences suitors, ship departs
8. Antinoüs Urges Murder — Book XVI. Antinoüs demands death, Amphinomus dissents
9. Penelope Confronts Antinoüs — Book XVI. Penelope rebukes Antinoüs, Eurymachus lies
10. Antinoüs Rebukes Eumaeus — Book XVII. Antinoüs scolds Eumaeus over the beggar
11. Telemachus Intervenes — Book XVII. Telemachus shames Antinoüs, who mocks him
12. The Egyptian Tale — Book XVII. Odysseus invents a tale, Antinoüs jeers
13. Struck by a Footstool — Book XVII. Antinoüs hurls footstool, Odysseus curses him
14. Suitors’ Uneasy Rebuke — Book XVII. Suitors warn gods may walk as strangers
15. Penelope’s Outrage — Book XVII. Penelope calls Antinoüs most hateful
16. Suitors Stage a Brawl — Book XVIII. Antinoüs offers winner a goat’s paunch
17. Gifts for the Queen — Book XVIII. Suitors send gifts to Penelope
18. Leiodes Fails and Warns — Book XXI. Leiodes warns of deaths, Antinoüs rebukes
19. Greasing the Bow — Book XXI. Bow warmed with grease, suitors fail
20. Eurymachus Fails, Feast Deferred — Book XXI. Eurymachus fails, Antinoüs defers contest
21. Odysseus Asks to Try — Book XXI. Odysseus asks to test bow
22. Antinoüs Mocks the Beggar — Book XXI. Antinoüs threatens to ship him to Echetus
23. Penelope Defends the Stranger — Book XXI. Penelope rebukes Antinoüs, promises gifts
24. Odysseus Reveals Himself — Book XXII. Odysseus sheds rags, shoots Antinoüs

Antinoüs is named in 35 of the poem’s scenes; these are the twenty-four that carry the most of the name.

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