Mortal · Character in Homer’s Odyssey
Laertes
Odysseus' father on the farm
Grieving, withdrawn to his orchard; one spear-throw restores the old king.
The old king has left the palace for his orchard, where he works in patched clothes and grieves for a son he assumes is dead. In the last book he gets both his son and, for one throw of a spear, his strength back.
Bonds
- Laertes father of Odysseus — aged, grieving, living apart
- Anticleia wife of Laertes — his queen, dead before him
- Laertes dwells in Ithaca — his orchard, away from town
- Dolius servant of Laertes — keeps the old man’s orchard
- Laertes slays Eupeithes — one cast of the old king’s spear
Appears in
- Book I Visit of Athena to Telemachus
- Book XI Visit of Odysseus to the Land of the Dead
- Book XIV Meeting of Odysseus and Eumaeus
- Book XV Return of Telemachus
- Book XXIV Conclusion
Scenes
- Telemachus questions the stranger — Book I. Telemachus laments, asks his guest’s name
- Night falls on the hall — Book I. Eurymachus asks, Telemachus names Mentes
- Antinoüs Blames Penelope — Book II. Antinoüs blames Penelope’s shroud trick
- Menelaus Mourns Odysseus — Book IV. Menelaus mourns brother, grieves Odysseus
- Odysseus on Calypso’s Isle — Book IV. Odysseus weeps, Menelaus promised Elysium
- Lament and Comfort — Book IV. Eurycleia confesses helping Telemachus
- Calypso’s Final Appeal — Book V. Odysseus spurns eternity for Penelope
- Assembly Convened — Book VIII. Herald Athena summons chiefs
- An Oath and a Story — Book XIV. Odysseus swears return, Eumaeus won’t wager
- News of Laertes — Book XV. Laertes grieves, Anticleia dead
- Sold to Laertes — Book XV. Plot succeeds, Laertes buys Eumaeus
- The Stranger’s Welcome — Book XVI. Telemachus clothes stranger, sends Eumaeus
- Word for Laertes Deferred — Book XVI. Telemachus defers word to Laertes
- Plotting the Vengeance — Book XVI. Odysseus plans, Telemachus urges caution
- Goatherd Trussed — Book XXII. Herdsmen bind, hoist Melanthius
- The Bard’s Plea — Book XXII. Phemius begs mercy, Telemachus intercedes
- Amphimedon’s Tale — Book XXIV. Amphimedon tells slaughter, Penelope praised
- Odysseus Finds Laertes — Book XXIV. Odysseus finds Laertes grieving in orchard
- Odysseus Tests Father — Book XXIV. Disguised, Odysseus hears Laertes lament
- Father and Son Reunite — Book XXIV. Odysseus reveals scar to Laertes
- Laertes Transformed — Book XXIV. Athena makes Laertes godlike again
- Odysseus Arms for Battle — Book XXIV. Odysseus’ band marches to meet Ithacans
- Mentor Rallies Kin — Book XXIV. Odysseus urges Telemachus, Laertes rejoices
- Eupeithes Slain — Book XXIV. Eupeithes falls, Odysseus routs survivors
Laertes is named in 53 of the poem’s scenes; these are the twenty-four that carry the most of the name.