Hero · Character in Homer’s Odyssey
Telemachus
Odysseus' son, coming of age
Green but earnest; finds his voice, then his nerve, then his sword.
He grows up in the poem's first four books, calling Ithaca's first assembly in twenty years and sailing to Pylos and Sparta for news of his father. When Odysseus reveals himself at the swineherd's hut, the boy becomes a fellow conspirator and then a fighter in the hall.
Bonds
- Telemachus son of Odysseus — born just before he sailed
- Penelope mother of Telemachus — her only son, long shielded
- Eurycleia nurse of Telemachus — helped him slip away by night
- Telemachus visits Eumaeus's lodge — where he finds his father
- Telemachus defies The Suitors — rebukes their unruly uproar
- The Suitors enemies of Telemachus — conspire to kill him
- Antinoüs enemy of Telemachus — plots to ambush and kill him
- Athena patron of Telemachus — watches over his journey unseen
- Zeus aids Telemachus — sends fighting eagles as a sign
- Nestor host of Telemachus — welcomes him to the Pylian feast
- Menelaus host of Telemachus — feasts him, loads his chariot
- Telemachus visits Pylos — first stop in his search
- Telemachus visits Sparta — second stop in his search
- Peisistratus companion of Telemachus — the road to Sparta and back
- Theoclymenus guest of Telemachus — taken aboard at Pylos
- Piraeus companion of Telemachus — trusted with guest and treasure
Appears in
- Book I Visit of Athena to Telemachus
- Book II Departure of Telemachus from Ithaca
- Book III Interview of Telemachus with Nestor
- Book IV Conference of Telemachus and Menelaus
- Book XIII Arrival of Odysseus at Ithaca
- Book XIV Meeting of Odysseus and Eumaeus
- Book XV Return of Telemachus
- 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 XXII Death of the Suitors
- Book XXIII Odysseus and Penelope After the Slaughter
- Book XXIV Conclusion
Scenes
- Telemachus asserts authority — Book I. Telemachus claims song, dismisses mother
- Telemachus warns the suitors — Book I. Telemachus warns of vengeance, Antinoüs mocks
- Night falls on the hall — Book I. Eurymachus asks, Telemachus names Mentes
- Antinoüs Blames Penelope — Book II. Antinoüs blames Penelope’s shroud trick
- Eurymachus Scoffs — Book II. Eurymachus mocks, Telemachus seeks ship
- Antinoüs’s Mockery — Book II. Antinoüs mocks, Telemachus vows revenge
- Provisions from Eurycleia — Book II. Telemachus secretly asks Eurycleia to pack
- Athena Readies the Ship — Book II. As Telemachus, Athena dulls suitors’ wits
- Sailing Through the Night — Book II. Crew embarks, Athena sails by night
- Athena Urges Boldness — Book III. Athena urges Telemachus to approach Nestor
- Nestor Questions the Guests — Book III. Telemachus begs Nestor for Odysseus news
- A Night’s Rest — Book IV. Telemachus retires, Menelaus rises at dawn
- Theoclymenus Taken Aboard — Book XV. Fugitive Theoclymenus begs passage aboard
- Falcon Omen — Book XV. Falcon kills dove, a kingly omen
- Telemachus Arrives — Book XVI. Eumaeus, disguised Odysseus greet Telemachus
- News of Penelope — Book XVI. Eumaeus says Penelope waits faithfully
- Father and Son Reunited — Book XVI. Odysseus reveals himself, they embrace
- Reunion with Penelope — Book XVII. Telemachus defers Penelope’s questions
- Marketplace and Piraeus — Book XVII. Telemachus meets Piraeus, Theoclymenus
- Beggar at the Door — Book XVII. Telemachus feeds beggar Odysseus
- Rebuke of Telemachus — Book XVIII. Penelope scolds, Telemachus blames suitors
- Telemachus Ends the Uproar — Book XVIII. Telemachus rebukes suitors, all retire
- Nurse and Torchlight — Book XIX. Telemachus dismisses maids for the night
- Mentor Rallies Kin — Book XXIV. Odysseus urges Telemachus, Laertes rejoices
Telemachus is named in 147 of the poem’s scenes; these are the twenty-four that carry the most of the name.