Antinous (mythology)

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Antinous ( ancient Greek Ἀντίνοος Antínoos ) is a character from Homer's heroic epic Odyssey . He was the son of Eupeithes and is portrayed in this work of Greek mythology as the most important and most outrageous of Penelope's suitors and is finally killed by her husband Odysseus, who has returned after 20 years of absence .

Role in the odyssey

After Odysseus, king of Ithaca , took part in the war against Troy , he wandered around the seas for a long time after the fall of this city due to the resentment of Poseidon on his journey home. When he was finally absent from his home for 16 years, a group of distinguished people from Ithaca formed who courted Odysseus' faithful wife Penelope, settled in the house of the hero believed dead and squandered his property. Antinous, son of the Ithakesian nobleman Eupeithes , was the most powerful and penetrating of the suitors and also sought to rule over the island. Telemachus , the young son of Odysseus and Penelope, initially passed out in the face of the shameful hustle and bustle of the suitors, but three years later took a more resolute stance against them after he had received advice from his patron goddess Athena . At a popular assembly he had called, however, in vain he urged the suitors to finally vacate his house. Instead, Antinous asked Telemachus to send his mother back to her father Ikarios so that he could remarry her . Telemachus did not want to expel Penelope from the house against her will.

After the unsuccessful course of the popular assembly Telemachus went on an exploration trip to Pylos and from there on to Sparta to see King Menelaus , in order to obtain information about the whereabouts of his father. The suitors were surprised that Telemachos had even managed to leave and saw in him an increasingly dangerous obstacle to their intentions. Antinous developed the plan to equip a ship and ambush and murder Telemachus while he was returning home at sea. He was also the leader in carrying out this assassination attempt, with the assistance of 20 men. But because of Athene's warning Telemachus escaped the ambush, made it back to Ithaca happily and went to the faithful swineherd Eumaius . Odysseus, who had come home unnoticed after 20 years, had already arrived in his hut and made himself known to his son.

When the suitors learned of Telemachus' return, Antinous pleaded for another attempt to get rid of him; for the youth represented a threat to them if he reported to the people's assembly of their unsuccessful attempt on him. However, due to the intervention of the peaceful Amphinomus , his proposal was not put into practice. Soon afterwards, Odysseus, disguised as a beggar, let himself be escorted to his palace by Eumaios and was not recognized by any of the suitors in this masquerade. The haughty Antinous, disturbed by the presence of the "beggar", reproached Eumaios for having brought this suppliant. After a violent exchange of words, he even threw a stool against Odysseus' shoulder. He let the insult go with impunity for the time being, but was later incited by Antinous to a fist fight with another beggar named Iros , who had reviled and tried to intimidate Odysseus. Odysseus quickly emerged victorious from the fight and thus demonstrated his physical strength to the suitors for the first time.

The next day, during an archery competition in which the winner was to receive Penelope's hand, there was a decisive argument between Odysseus and the suitors. The latter failed in their endeavors to draw the great bow of Eurytus , which Odysseus had once received from Iphitus . Antinous initially wanted to postpone the decision with a clever excuse. But now Odysseus asked to take part in the competition as well. The suitors reacted angrily and worriedly to this request. Antinous, who was still in the dark about Odysseus' true identity, tried with bitter scornful words, but in vain, to prevent the "stranger" from getting a chance. After a master shot, the returning King of Ithakes made a brief ominous speech. He was the first enemy to kill Antinous, who was about to drink from a wine jug, with an arrow shot in the throat. All other suitors were killed by Odysseus with the help of Telemachus and a few loyal followers.

According to a later different version of the saga, Antinous is said to have successfully seduced Penelope, which is why Odysseus sent his wife home to her father Ikarios.

literature

Remarks

  1. ↑ Homer, Odyssey 1, 383; 4, 641; u. ö.
  2. ↑ Homer, Odyssey 2, 113-129.
  3. ↑ Homer, Odyssey 4, 660-672.
  4. ↑ Homer, Odyssey 4, 772-786 and 4, 842-847.
  5. ↑ Homer, Odyssey 16, 364-392.
  6. ↑ Homer, Odyssey 17, 374-379.
  7. ↑ Homer, Odyssey 17, 462-465.
  8. ↑ Homer, Odyssey 18, 32-49.
  9. ↑ Homer, Odyssey 21, 256-268.
  10. ↑ Homer, Odyssey 21, 287-310.
  11. ↑ Homer, Odyssey 22: 8-21.
  12. ↑ Libraries of Apollodorus , Epitome 7, 38.