Book 3 summary Flashcards
Where does Telemachus arrive in this book?
At Pylos
What does Telemachus find when he arrives at Pylos?
- 4500 of Nestor’s people sacrificing bulls in honour of the God Poseidon
What does Athena say to Telemachus as they leave their boat?
- She urges him to put his shyness aside and question Nestor about Odysseus
What is Telemachus worried about, and what is Athena’s response?
- He worries about his youth and inexperience, but Athena assures him that the right worlds will come, with the help of the Gods
- She leads him to the place where Nestor and his friends and family sit roasting meat
Who brings Telemachus and his men meat and wine?
Pisistratus, Nestor’s son
What does Pisistratus do?
Brings Telemachus and his men meat and wine, following the rules of hospitality.
He encourages them to say a prayer for Poseidon
What does Telemachus do when Pisistratus encourages him to make an offering to Poseidon?
- He offers the wine to Athena first, and she asks Poseidon to grant Telemachus safe passage home.
What does Nestor say about Odysseus and Telemachus?
- He describes Odysseus as a man of unequalled cunning, and he tells Telemachus that his eloquence is similar to his fathers
What does Nestor say about Odysseus’ fate?
- After the fall of Troy, Athena created a feud between the brothers Menelaus and Agamemnon.
- Menelaus wanted to return home at once, but Agamemnon wanted to stay in Troy to offer Athena sacrifices.
- Half the men, Nestor included, left with Menelaus, but Odysseus and the other half stayed with Agamemnon.
- Nestor returned safely to Pylos, but he knows nothing of Odysseus’ fate
What does Nestor also mention about the people who went to Troy?
- Aegisthus murdered Agamemnon when the King returned home, and that Agamemnon’s son Orestes avenged the murder- Nestor tells Telemachus to be courageous like Orestes
What does Telemachus tell Nestor after he’s revealed his lack of knowledge about Odysseus?
- He says that he wishes the gods would give him the power to wreak revenge on the suitors.
- Telemachus repeats that Odysseus will never return, because the Gods have cursed him, despite Athena (in the shape of Mentes) chastising him for this
What does Nestor say about Menelaus’ story?
- Menelaus was still at Troy when Aegisthus seduced Agamemnon’s wife Clytemnestra
- She remained faithful to her husband as long as his bard was there to guard her, but Aegisthus sent the bard to die on a desert island, and Clytemnestra yielded to him.
- Zeus swept Menelaus to Egypt, where he spent seven years amassing great wealth.
- Agamemnon returned home and was murdered, by Aegisthus, who reined for seven years, until Orestes came home and killed Aegisthus and Clytemnestra- the day that Menelaus returned home was the day that Orestes avenged Agamemnon.
How does Nestor finish his tale of Agamemnon and Menelaus
By warning Telemachus not to stay away from home for too long, and to visit Menelaus in Lacedaemon
What happens when its time for them to sleep?
- Athena suggests they should leave, but Nestor insists on giving them gifts and letting them stay for the night.
- Athena approves this request, but says she’ll sleep on the ship and leave for another land at dawn- she turns into an eagle and flies away
How does Nestor react to Athena turning into an eagle in front of him?
- He is amazed, and says that he’d never be deficient in character if he is so beloved by Athena
- Nestor takes Telemachus back to his palace, and they drink to Athena before going to sleep
What happens on Telemachus’ second day in Pylos?
Nestor holds a feast
What happens during Nestor’s feast on the second day?
- A goldsmith covers a heifer’s horns in gold
- Nestor pours purifying water and flings barley
- One of Nestor’s sons cuts through the heifer’s neck
- The women pray whilst the men drain the blood, quarter the heifer and cut out and roast its thighbones
- They eat the organs and roast the remaining meat
What is Telemachus doing whilst the sacrifice takes place?
He is being bathed by Nestor’s daughter
Who is Nestor’s daughter that bathes Telemachus, and what does she do?
Polycaste
- Rubs him down with oil
- Dresses him in beautiful clothes so he looks like a god.
What happens after the feast?
- Nestor orders his sons to bring Telemachus a team of horses and a chariot
- His son Pisistratus drives the team towards Sparta
