Odysseus strings his bow

Bright and early morning, Athena encourages Penelope to get Odysseus' most valued bow from its chambers to begin the challenge. After she has her maids set up the axes she explains the challenge: whoever can string her husband's bow and shoot an arrow through the twelve axeheads will win the ultimate prize; her hand in marriage. Telemachus is first to try; he is unable to string the bow three times, then is about to succeed on the fourth when Odysseus, guised as a beggar, gives him a heeding glance and he stops. Leodes, if the first suitor to attempt to string the bow, and fails. Soon the other suitors take their chances only to fail to string the mighty bow. During this time, Odysseus follows his loyal servants Eumaeus and Philoetius outside and reveals his true identity to them by showing them his scar. After they embrace on another and swear their undying loyalty to him, Odysseus gives them specific instructions.

 

 

They then enter the palace hall once more, just as Antinous proposes that they postpone the competition until after they eat and pray to Apollo, the god of archers. Odysseus, still guised as a beggar, asks to try the bow, but Antinous warns him against it. Penelope protests, and Telemachus then encourages his mother to go to her chambers. Stunned at his maturity and levelheadedness, she follows while he warns the palace maids to stay in their chambers throughout the night despite of what they might hear. Having followed the specific instructions given to them, Eumaeus and Philoetius lock the hall doors and courtyard gate. Odysseus the carefully examines the bow while the suitors still mock and ridicule him. He strings it effortlessly just as Zeus thunders (assuring Odysseus of his favor), then shoots the arrow through the axeheads, revealing himself as the long lost King of Ithaca.