Katabasis in Myth and Film

Julia and Jasmine

For our “Odysseus encounter” we used his meeting with the swineherd Eumaios after he first reaches the shores of Ithaka. Odysseus follows Athene’s advice and goes to the house of the swineherd where he is entertained with food and a place to sleep. Here Eumaios asks him the general questions: what man are you and whence? Where is your city? Your parents?… and so on. From here Odysseus embarks on a false tale of his origins and his journeys. He begins his lies by saying he is from Crete and is the son of a man named Kastor. He also incorporates truths into this part of his story by saying he is the son of a rich man and that he is of noble birth. Odysseus again integrates lies into his story by making up an expedition to Egypt and a tale about him almost being sold into slavery. He also claims to have sacked Troy with Odysseus and Menelaos which is a lie because he is Odysseus. To keep his real identity a secret, Odysseus is disguised by Athene as a beggar complete with ratty clothing which even Odysseus himself describes as a “vile rag”. She transforms the godlike Odysseus into a withered, ocean beaten old man who is given as much hospitality as a king when he reaches the swineherds house. Eumaios sacrifices the best of the pigs for this stranger and gives him his share of bread and wine. He also lets Odysseus spend the night lying by the fire while he sleeps out with the pigs. Eumaios is more than hospitable to this stranger that he has just met. Although Odysseus keeps his stories pretty vague, he does use one sign or “semata” that might clue someone in that he is luckier than a normal man. Odysseus has a way of getting out of many different sticky situations and difficulties. Much like the real Odysseus, in his false story he claims to have escaped being a slave and even escaped death at the hands of Zeus. Odysseus seems to get out of situations while others suffer, and this is a theme in his story as well. He obviously has the Gods looking out for him in more ways than one, the simple fact that he returned to Ithaka after such a long absence is testament to that

When Odysseus begins to stage his homecoming to Ithaka he takes great care to follow the guidance of Athene and remain in disguise as a beggar. He begins to slowly enter his household first by staying and learning of the situation from the swineherd. Many times throughout his time spent in disguise he tests the faithfulness of not only his servants but his wife as well. Also, he tests the character of the suitors by perceiving their reactions to him. He begs for food under the advice of Athene to see who is generous and receives the torment of the suitors’ words and the objects they throw at him when he speaks his thoughts in their presence. It took much effort for him to endure their hostilities and unjust destruction of his household. Odysseus also entreats the help of others in his plot. Telemachos is the first to learn of his father presence, but also his previous maid Eurykleia and other servants learn of Odysseus as his need for their help arrives. Athene is constantly influencing the situation. She shielded Penelope from seeing the nurse realize it was Odysseus, and even aroused the suitors to make the anger grow even deeper in Odysseus. She also made Penelope appear even more glorious to the suitors and put the idea of the bow contest into her mind. Slowly, Odysseus entered into his household, perceived the loyalties of the inhabitants, and the character of the suitors while plotting their demise.

When Odysseus arrives back on Ithaka, his desires are to rid his household of the suitors and enjoy his homecoming.  However, he takes what he learns in the underworld from ghosts such as Agamemnon and does not reveal himself right away to everyone.  Instead he is disguised as a beggar and cleverly learns about what is going on in his household through a swineherd.  Odysseus does in fact reveal himself to Telemachos though, which seems appropriate, as the two of them can plot to get rid of the pesky suitors, and they are both alike in many ways as they have each completed journeys and discovered something about themselves.   His glorious homecoming is a bit delayed as he plots against the suitors and tries to learn if his wife has been faithful to him or not.  He is revealed to others slowly, first to Telemachos and then to the old nurse, but he swears each to secrecy, as he wants to make sure that the suitors do not know his identity.  Odysseus wishes to have a proper homecoming, where all will admire his long endurance and sufferings and he will be glorius, the god among men.  Until then, however, Odysseus tells a false story of his identity to work his way into the inner rings of his household.   Ultimately, Odysseus plans to reveal himself in the challenge of the bow and arrow, and kill all the suitors that have soiled his household.