Suitors of Penelope - List of Suitors Appearing in The Odyssey

List of Suitors Appearing in The Odyssey

While most of the suitors are not dealt with individually by Homer, some are mentioned by name and play more or less significant roles in the poem.

  • Agelaus, son of Damastor. Was killed by Odysseus.
  • Amphimedon, son of Melaneus. Was killed by Telemachus.
  • Amphinomus. Shows courtesy towards the disguised Odysseus, who warns him against staying; the warning goes unheeded, though, and he is killed along with the other suitors, though by Telemachus and not Odysseus.
  • Antinous, son of Eupeithes. One of the leaders of the suitors, he helps instigate the plot to kill Telemachus as he returns from the mainland, and helps spur the fight between Odysseus (as the beggar) and Irus, a notorious beggar.
  • Ctesippus of Same, son of Polytherses. A "ribald fellow" of great wealth who gives Odysseus, disguised as a beggar, a "present" by throwing a heifer's foot at him; Telemachus threatens him in response, and says that he would have killed him if he had not missed. After killing him, the stockman says that his death is a present in return for the one he gave to Odysseus.
  • Demoptolemus, killed by Odysseus.
  • Elatus, killed by Eumaeus.
  • Euryades, killed by Telemachus.
  • Eurydamas. Offered a pair of earrings as a gift to Penelope. Was eventually killed by Odysseus.
  • Eurymachus, son of Polybus. One of the leaders of the suitors, noted for being smooth and deceitful. He blames everything on Antinous after he is killed by Odysseus, saying that the suitors are sorry for what they have done and will repay Odysseus. His pleas do not persuade Odysseus, so he tells the suitors they will have to fight if they wish to live, and he is shot with an arrow while charging Odysseus.
  • Eurynomus, son of Aegyptius. His brother Antiphus accompanied Odysseus to the Trojan War and was devoured by Polyphemus on the way back.
  • Leiocritus, son of Evenor. Was killed by Telemachus.
  • Leiodes, son of Oenops. The sacrificial priest to the suitors, he hated the evil deeds of the suitors and was indignant with the others. While Odysseus is killing the suitors, he begs for mercy, saying that he tried to stop the others and they were paying for not listening to him. Odysseus hears him out but says that as priest, he must have prayed for Odysseus to not come home, so he kills him anyway.
  • Peisander, son of Polyctor. Offered a necklace as a gift to Penelope. Was killed by Philoetius.
  • Polybus, son of Polyctor and father of Eurymachus.

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