Certainty gives way to resolve as the hall finally grows quiet. After speaking publicly and masking the truth of his visitor, Telemachus withdraws from the noise of the day into solitude and thought.

In this closing passage of The Odyssey, Book I, Telemachus answers Eurymachus with guarded restraint, naming the stranger as Mentes while keeping the goddess’s true nature to himself. The wooers return to their pleasures and then disperse into the night, leaving Telemachus alone at last. Guided by the faithful Eurycleia, he retires to his chamber, where reflection replaces confrontation.

This moment matters because it seals the transformation begun that day. The household sleeps, but Telemachus does not—his mind fixed on the journey ahead and the path Athene has laid before him.

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Odyssey is a daily podcast reading one page at a time from Homer’s classic epic — every day. Whether you’re starting from the beginning or joining mid-journey, each episode brings you deeper into the story of The Odyssey.

If you like this show, be sure to check out The Countdown of Monte Cristo — wherever you listen to podcasts!