Mortal · Character in Homer’s Odyssey
Eupeithes
Antinous' father, raising the feud
Owed Odysseus his life once; leads the mob against him anyway.
Father of Antinous, the first suitor to die, and leader of the kinsmen who arm for revenge in the final book — though Odysseus once sheltered him from an angry mob when the whole island wanted his blood. Deaf to Halitherses' warning, he marches on Laertes' farm, and the old man's spear goes through his helmet.
Bonds
- Eupeithes father of Antinoüs — the first man slain
- Laertes slays Eupeithes — one cast of the old king’s spear
Appears in
- Book I Visit of Athena to Telemachus
- 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 XXIV Conclusion
Scenes
- Telemachus warns the suitors — Book I. Telemachus warns of vengeance, Antinoüs mocks
- Antinoüs Presses for Details — Book IV. Antinoüs learns Mentor led the crew
- Antinoüs Urges Murder — Book XVI. Antinoüs demands death, Amphinomus dissents
- Penelope Confronts Antinoüs — Book XVI. Penelope rebukes Antinoüs, Eurymachus lies
- Suitors’ Uneasy Rebuke — Book XVII. Suitors warn gods may walk as strangers
- Suitors Stage a Brawl — Book XVIII. Antinoüs offers winner a goat’s paunch
- Gifts for the Queen — Book XVIII. Suitors send gifts to Penelope
- Telemachus seats Odysseus — Book XX. Telemachus seats Odysseus, warns suitors
- Order of the Contest — Book XXI. Antinoüs directs suitors’ attempts
- Eurymachus Fails, Feast Deferred — Book XXI. Eurymachus fails, Antinoüs defers contest
- Eupeithes Rouses Ithaca — Book XXIV. Eupeithes urges killing Odysseus
- Medon Defends Odysseus — Book XXIV. Medon says a god aided Odysseus
- Halitherses Urges Peace — Book XXIV. Halitherses urges peace, ignored
- Eupeithes Slain — Book XXIV. Eupeithes falls, Odysseus routs survivors