Mortal · Character in Homer’s Odyssey
Eurymachus
Smooth-tongued second among suitors
Smooth, plausible, faithless; sounds reasonable until the arrows start.
The suitor most likely to win Penelope and the best at sounding reasonable — he flatters Telemachus, laughs at every prophecy, and offers to pay everything back only once the arrows start. An arrow through the liver ends the offer.
Bonds
- Eurymachus suitor of Penelope — offers the richest bridal gifts
- Eurymachus persecutes Odysseus — mocks him, throws a stool
- Odysseus slays Eurymachus — arrow through the breast, into the liver
Appears in
- Book I Visit of Athena to Telemachus
- Book II Departure of Telemachus from Ithaca
- Book XV Return of Telemachus
- Book XVI Odysseus Discovering Himself to Telemachus
- 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
- Night falls on the hall — Book I. Eurymachus asks, Telemachus names Mentes
- Eurymachus Scoffs — Book II. Eurymachus mocks, Telemachus seeks ship
- Suitors Learn of the Voyage — Book IV. Noemon’s question reveals Telemachus sailed
- Athena’s Warning — Book XV. Athena warns Telemachus of ambush ahead
- Lodging for the Seer — Book XV. Telemachus names suitor Eurymachus as host
- Suitors’ Foiled Ambush — Book XVI. Suitors pause, Amphinomus spots the ship
- Penelope Confronts Antinoüs — Book XVI. Penelope rebukes Antinoüs, Eurymachus lies
- Approaching the Hall — Book XVII. Odysseus marvels at palace, plans entry
- Oath and Undressing — Book XVIII. Odysseus exacts an oath, bares his limbs
- Eurymachus Flatters Penelope — Book XVIII. Eurymachus flatters, Penelope cites charge
- Gifts for the Queen — Book XVIII. Suitors send gifts to Penelope
- Melantho Taunts Odysseus — Book XVIII. Melantho mocks, Odysseus invokes Telemachus
- Eurymachus Mocks and Offers Work — Book XVIII. Eurymachus mocks Odysseus, offers work
- Footstool Strikes the Cupbearer — Book XVIII. Eurymachus hurls footstool, fells cupbearer
- Eurymachus mocks, seer departs — Book XX. Eurymachus scoffs, Theoclymenus leaves
- Greasing the Bow — Book XXI. Bow warmed with grease, suitors fail
- Eurymachus Fails, Feast Deferred — Book XXI. Eurymachus fails, Antinoüs defers contest
- Odysseus Asks to Try — Book XXI. Odysseus asks to test bow
- Penelope Defends the Stranger — Book XXI. Penelope rebukes Antinoüs, promises gifts
- Wrath Declared — Book XXII. Odysseus denounces suitors, spurns offer
- Eurymachus Slain — Book XXII. Eurymachus dies, Telemachus kills Amphinomus