Mortal · Character in Homer’s Odyssey

Penelope

Faithful, delaying queen

Patient, guarded, as sly as her husband; believes nothing until proved.

For three years she unwove by night the shroud she wove by day, and she has been putting off a hall full of suitors ever since the trick was found out. When she finally sets the contest of the bow, she is arming her husband without knowing it.

Bonds

• Penelope wife of Odysseus — twenty years faithful
• Odysseus deceives Penelope — tests her as a Cretan stranger
• Icarius father of Penelope — the marriage the suitors invoke
• Penelope mother of Telemachus — her only son, long shielded
• Penelope queen of Ithaca — stakes her hand on the contest
• Eurynomè servant of Penelope — dresses her, readies the bed
• Penelope deceives The Suitors — the shroud unwoven each night
• The Suitors suitors of Penelope — devour his wealth courting her
• Penelope defies Antinoüs — rebukes him before the hall
• Antinoüs suitor of Penelope — directs the contest's order
• Eurymachus suitor of Penelope — offers the richest bridal gifts
• Athena aids Penelope — grants her a deathless beauty
• Medon warns Penelope — word of the ambush at sea

Appears in

• Book I Visit of Athena to Telemachus
• Book II Departure of Telemachus from Ithaca
• Book IV Conference of Telemachus and Menelaus
• Book XI Visit of Odysseus to the Land of the Dead
• Book XIII Arrival of Odysseus at Ithaca
• Book XIV Meeting of Odysseus and Eumaeus
• Book XVI Odysseus Discovering Himself to Telemachus
• Book XVII Return of Odysseus to His Palace
• Book XVIII Combat of Odysseus and Irus
• Book XIX Odysseus Recognized by Eurycleia
• Book XX The Last Banquet of the Suitors
• Book XXI The Bending of the Bow of Odysseus
• Book XXIII Odysseus and Penelope After the Slaughter

Scenes

1. Penelope silences the bard — Book I. Penelope asks Phemius for different song
2. Antinoüs Blames Penelope — Book II. Antinoüs blames Penelope’s shroud trick
3. Antinoüs Plots an Ambush — Book IV. Antinoüs demands ship to ambush Telemachus
4. Medon Warns Penelope — Book IV. Medon overhears plot, warns Penelope
5. Penelope’s Anguish — Book IV. Penelope asks why, collapses wailing
6. A Troubled Sleep — Book IV. Penelope sleeps, Athena sends phantom
7. The Dream Speaks — Book IV. Phantom says Athena guides her son
8. Calypso’s Final Appeal — Book V. Odysseus spurns eternity for Penelope
9. Ship’s Return Reported — Book XVI. Herald tells Penelope her son is safe
10. Penelope Confronts Antinoüs — Book XVI. Penelope rebukes Antinoüs, Eurymachus lies
11. Reunion with Penelope — Book XVII. Telemachus defers Penelope’s questions
12. Feast and a Question — Book XVII. Telemachus dines, Penelope asks for news
13. Theoclymenus’s Prophecy — Book XVII. Theoclymenus swears Odysseus is home
14. Penelope’s Outrage — Book XVII. Penelope calls Antinoüs most hateful
15. Eumaeus’s Report — Book XVII. Penelope asks Eumaeus about stranger’s news
16. A Sneeze and a Summons — Book XVII. Telemachus’s sneeze confirms Penelope’s curse
17. Penelope Agrees to Wait — Book XVII. Eumaeus reports, Penelope agrees to see him
18. Athena Prompts Penelope — Book XVIII. Athena moves Penelope to confront suitors
19. Eurymachus Flatters Penelope — Book XVIII. Eurymachus flatters, Penelope cites charge
20. Penelope Rebukes Her — Book XIX. Penelope scolds Melantho, seats the stranger
21. Penelope Defends the Stranger — Book XXI. Penelope rebukes Antinoüs, promises gifts
22. Eurycleia Wakes Penelope — Book XXIII. Eurycleia announces deaths, Penelope scoffs
23. Scar as Proof — Book XXIII. Eurycleia recalls scar, Penelope agrees
24. Amphimedon’s Tale — Book XXIV. Amphimedon tells slaughter, Penelope praised

Penelope is named in 85 of the poem’s scenes; these are the twenty-four that carry the most of the name.

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