2nd+Sons+of+Zeus+Bk+15

The Odyssey of Homer: Book XV
 * By: Tom Enright, Danny O'Callaghan, Casey Andreski, Nick LaCourt, and Dakota Stautz

Key Characters: ** Athena Eumaeus Telemachus Menelaus Theoclymenus Odysseus Peisistratus Eurymachus Helen Sparta, Pylos and Ithica Tenacious- holding fast; characterized by keeping a firm hold Conjure- to affect or influence by or as if by invocation or spell. Gewgaw- something gaudy and useless; trinket; bauble Moored- to secure (a ship, boat, dirigible, etc.) in a particular place, as by cables and anchors or by lines Anchorage- that to which anything is fastened 
 * Setting: **
 * Vocabulary words: **
 * General Summary: **
 * Athena finds Telemachus and tells him to go back home in a dream.
 * Telemachus heads home with gifts from Menelaus
 * Before leaving an omen that means that Odysseus is coming to seek revenge on suitors
 * Telemachus drops Peisistratus in Pylos and Theoclymenus joins him on his trip back to Ithica
 * Odysseus test Eumaeus one last time and he passes.
 * Another omen comes when Telemachus reaches Ithica that is translated to mean that Telemachus' house would be the most kingly in the nation.
 * Connector: **Many key themes are presented in this book including...

__Hospitality__:
 * When Telemachus implores Menelaus to allow him to depart and journey back to Pylos and then Ithica, Menelaus allows him to go saying, "Telemachus, I'd never hold you back / if you long for return; I'd look askance / at any man who keeps a guest too long / or too impatiently cuts short his stay" (XV, 297). This quote shows that allowing a stranger or friend into your home and respecting all of his wants was an important virtue in Greece. Menelaus and Helen provide Telemachus with elaborate and splendid gifts as he prepares to depart, another hospitable action.
 * Telemachus drops Peisistratus back in Pylos on his way to Ithaca. Telemachus wishes to depart at once because if Nestor were to discover Telemachus was there, he would rush to see that he not leave and not allow him to depart empty handed. This shows the obligation Greeks felt to provide hospitality.
 * Odysseus tests Eumaeus to see just how generous he would be, and when Odysseus suggests that he plans to make his way into town and beg for food, Eumaeus immediately says that Odysseus can continue to stay with him.
 * In Ithaca, Telemachus asks his dear friend Peirsaeus if he can take Theoclymenus into his house, and Perisaeus obliges at once.

__The importance of prophecy /__ __Omens:__ Birds acting as omens occurred prior to Book XV in the Odyssey, but this chapter has a focus on omens. Omens acted as a type of prophesy. An eagle carrying a large goose in its claws appears as Telemachus prepares to leave, and the reason why a god sent it was deciphered by Helen. Helen's supposition was that the bird symbolized Odysseus returning and killing all the suitors. Later in the book, Telemachus says that Zeus would strike all the suitors down on one fatal day and a bird holding a dove flys over head, sent by Apollo. Theoclymenus infers that this omen showed that Telemachus was now the riteful king of Ithaca.

__The importance of sacrifice:__
 * As Telemachus and Peisistratus depart, Menelaus offers a libation of honeyed wine. Their return trip is successful and uneventful, a possible result of Menelaus' offering.
 * When Telemachus readies to depart from Pylos, he makes quick sacrifice to Athena on the shore to ensure her guidance on his trip home to Ithica.

__The justice of the gods:__ An example of Greek slavery was Odysseus' swineherd [|Eumaeus]. He was a prince in Syria, an island above Ortygia. He had a servant/maid that was a captured Phoenician women. At that time the Phoenicians were coming into his homeland and met with his servant. She was persuaded into giving up Eumaeus. He captured on his way back from the fields of his house by Phoenician pirates.
 * At the very beginning of the book, Athena gives advice to Telemachus. She informs Telemachus that he has been away from home too long and that he must return to be with his mother and to control the suitors. She also warns Telemachus to beware of the suitors who are waiting to ambush and kill him when Telemachus returns to Ithaca. Athena also tells Telemachus to go to the swine heard (Eumeaus), sleep there, and then Eumeaus as a messenger to inform Penelope that Telemachus has returned. Athena possibly saves Telemachus' life and facilitates a feeling of peace for Penelope.
 * Athena blesses Telemachus with a swift west wind to speed his journey to Ithaca.
 * Detective: **​ Greek Slavery
 * slavery was very common in Ancient Greece
 * may have been more slaves than citizens
 * many ways on could become a slave
 * 1) born into a slave family
 * 2) taken prisoner if city was attacked
 * 3) abandoned as a baby
 * 4) a family needing money so one child would be sold usually
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">female because boys were needed to work on the farms
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">kidnapping
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">many different jobs
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">household servant
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">mineworker
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">ship's crew member
 * 4) <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">police force (Athens)
 * 5) <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">clerks at the treasury office (Athens)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">things that effected price
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">age
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">appearance
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">health
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">attitude
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">strength
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">usually after a major victory when there were a lot of prisoners of war
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">For more information on Greek slavery click [|Here]