The Odyssey: Part 9 - Penelope

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2:15My name's Thomas and I'm your host. Thanks so much for being here. Our story tonight is the ninth and final episode of The Odyssey. Thank you for joining us on this journey. We hope it's been a relaxing one compared to Odysseus's wanderings. A big thank you to Alexandra for the beautiful adaptation she's done of this millennial old story. I have loved recording at all for you. And some exciting news. We'll have the full-length nine-part stitch version coming out this Saturday night for our September compilation episode. Plus in the near future we'll also be releasing an audiobook version that you'll be able to find on various audiobook platforms very soon.

3:15In the previous episode Odysseus revealed his identity to his son, Tilemachus, and began to make plans for his battle with the suitors. This evening we'll join Odysseus as he takes back his palace and reveals himself to Penelope, the wife who's been patiently awaiting his return all these years. If you're familiar with Homer's Odyssey, you might remember the final section is quite gory. In this adaptation there is still a battle scene, but all the references to violence have been softened or removed. And rest assured that after the battle you can look forward to a happy ending. Now before we begin our final chapter tonight, let's take

4:23a brief moment to reflect. The story you've been listening to has been told for many hundreds of years. Just think of all the tallings by fire sides and bad sides. You are part of this tradition. So however you might be feeling right now, let this thought bring you comfort. Storytelling is something that unites us and stories like the Odyssey have been sending us to sleep for centuries. It won't be long before you're drifting off too. Just close your eyes and breathe in deeply. Then let it out, feeling yourself sink into relaxation.

5:40And now we're ready to begin. We'll pick up where we left off last time in the palace with a Dicious asleep by the fire. Just as Odysseus had drifted into sleep, he gradually drifted out of it. The sound of footsteps slowly returned him to the waking world. At first he thought it might

6:42be Eureclair. Before falling asleep he had spoken to his old nurse. She now knew the secret of his identity. But as Odysseus opened his eyes, he saw that it was Penelope coming towards him. Penelope is beloved wife. But Odysseus was still disguised as a beggar. He didn't want to reveal himself just yet. And Penelope sat in the chair opposite Odysseus and spoke once more of her troubles. Should she marry one of the suitors? Of course she didn't want to, but she was under so much pressure.

7:48Then looking Odysseus in the eye, Penelope spoke of a strange dream she'd had. She dreamt that twenty geese came to the palace. She was happy to see them pecking at the grain on the ground. Then out of nowhere an eagle swooped down and killed the geese. In the dream Penelope wept while the women gathered around her. But then the eagle returned. It perched on a roof beam and spoke to her. Queen said to the eagle, this is not a dream but a vision. Penelope then woke up.

8:56Now she asked Odysseus how he would interpret her dream. Odysseus smiled and said the meaning was clear. Her husband would return and the suitors would be abolished. But Penelope was not so convinced. Dreams could be confusing and not all of them came true. So as it seemed she had no other choice, she had come up with a plan to choose a husband from among the suitors. She would set up a contest with twelve axes and challenged the suitors to string a bow and shoot through all the axes. If any man succeeded she would agree to marry him.

10:06As Penelope reflected on her plan, she sighed. It was hard to imagine herself leaving this palace, the home where she had been so happy. If she left she was sure it would haunt her dreams. Odysseus told Penelope that her plan for the contest was a good one and he had a hunch that before anyone succeeded in shooting the arrow Odysseus would return. Penelope smiled wistfully. Then as she got to her feet she said that it was time she went to bed.

11:10Unlike the gods humans sometimes had to sleep. Penelope went upstairs accompanied by her servants. Once she was alone in her bedroom she shared a few tears for her husband. Ever since he had left all those years ago she had whacked for him. But the goddess Athena took pity on Penelope and cast sleep upon her. Odysseus meanwhile was wide awake. A bed had been prepared for him by the palace entrance. Made from woolen fleeces and a warm blanket.

12:15But Odysseus could not sleep. His mind raced as he thought of the battle ahead. And along to fight the suitors and to finally take revenge. As Odysseus tossed and turned he became aware of a presence. The goddess Athena was standing beside him shining in the dark. She asked Odysseus why he was still awake. He had no reason to be so restless now that he was back in his own home under the same roof as his wife and son. This was what he had longed for for so many years.

13:15True said Odysseus. But he couldn't help but plan his attack and think of strategies. There was also another thought that was starting to weigh on him. If all the suitors were killed, what then? There would surely be consequences, repercussions. Athena smiled, her eyes glittering. Odysseus should have learned to trust her by now. She was a goddess who had watched over him throughout all his trials. She would protect him no matter what.

14:16Now, said Athena, he must go to sleep. He needed to be well rested so he was ready for whatever awaited him tomorrow. Odysseus closed his eyes and soon thanks to Athena's magic he was fast asleep. When dawn arrived, bright and golden, Odysseus awoke in confusion. For a moment, he thought Penelope was right beside him. But then he remembered where he was, not in his bedroom with his wife, but in a makeshift bat by the palace entrance.

15:17Odysseus was fully awake. He made his way to the courtyard. There he raised his arms to the heavens and prayed to Zeus, king of the gods. Odysseus Father Zeus said Odysseus, if you have brought me back home for a reason, if this is my fate, give me a sign. Zeus had him as a clapper thunder rolled across the sky, Odysseus smiled. The rest of the household was soon awake and that worked. Men and women began to grind green for the days meals.

16:21Some servants chopped wood or went to fetch water from the spring while others swept the thoughts. Soon the suitors would begin another feast. Meanwhile Odysseus wandered to the fields just outside the palace where he encountered some familiar faces. Three herdsmen passed by with their animals. One was the swine heart, Yumeus, who greeted him warmly. Another was Melanthius, the goat heart and friend of the suitors, who had been rude to Odysseus the day before. Once again, he jeered at him, telling him to back elsewhere.

17:28The third man was another herdsman, for Lytius, who looked at Odysseus with curiosity. Like the others, he had no clue who he was. For Lytius took Odysseus for a stranger down on his luck. And yet somehow the man looked like a king. He had a noble bearing. Once his cows were safely tied up, for Lytius shook Odysseus's hand and they talked for a while. For Lytius spoke questfully about his absent lord. Odysseus had been such a good master,

18:31if only he would come back. With a rye smile, Odysseus said that he would swear an oath. Evout in Zeus's name, the Odysseus would come home soon, and that the suitors would leave never to return. The suitors, of course, had no idea what was in store for them. They were already settling down for their next banquet, helping themselves to bread, meat, and wine. Odysseus still disguised as a beggar, joined them out to the table.

19:31Telenicus spoke sternly, ordering the suitors to treat him with respect. This man was a guest at the palace. But as the suitors ate and drank, they became increasingly rowdy. Some of them mocked Odysseus and held things in his direction. Telenicus tried to stop him, but the men were out of control. Then the goddess Athena intervened. She cast a spell over the suitors, making them laugh uncontrollably. They were all gripped by the same sinister vision.

20:33It seemed that the meat they ate was oozing with blood. As the man continued to cackel, another guest spoke. His name was Theo Clemenus, and he was a prophet. He said that he too had a vision. The palace walls covered in blood, the courtyard full of ghosts, and a dark mist blocking out the sun. The suitors laughed at the prophet's speech, but he remained calm. He could see perfectly well what was coming for the suitors, and they had brought it on themselves.

21:38Now there was no escape. But as the prophet left the table, the suitors remained oblivious, laughing and choking among themselves. They never tired of cheering at Odysseus and teasing Telenicus. But Father and Son kept their tempers, biting their time. They knew that this was the suitors' final meal. As the feast continued, a flash of inspiration came to Penelope, sent by the goddess Athena. Penelope went to the story where Odysseus' treasure was kept.

22:40Among the bronze and gold was an assortment of weapons, including a bow. The bow had been precious to Odysseus as it was a gift from a dear friend. Rather than take it to war, Odysseus had kept it safely stored in his palace. In memory of his friend. Now in the story, Penelope opened each chest until she found what she was looking for. And here it was, her beloved husband's bow. Tis came to her eyes as she picked it up, along with the quiver of arrows.

23:46Then she summoned the servants to go through the other chests and take out twelve axes. It was time to set up the competition. With the bow in her arms, Penelope went to the hall where the suitors were eating. Listen, she said, and the room fell silent. Penelope announced that there would be a contest. She herself was the prize. The challenge was to string this bow which belonged to Odysseus. If anyone succeeded, the next step was to shoot an arrow through all twelve axes.

24:52The victor would win Penelope's hand in marriage. With that, Penelope ordered the herdsmen to set up the twelve axes in the hall. When your maus and felitis saw their master's bow, they were deeply moved. And Tinois, one of the worst suitors of all, mocked the herdsmen, calling them foolish peasants. Then he proudly declared that he would take part in the contest. Of course, it would be no easy feat.

25:54When Antennaus was a child, he had once seen Odysseus use this bow. He had never forgotten it. But before Antennaus could pick up the bow, Telemachus said that he would be the first to string it. Or to try at least. The twelve axes were neatly lined up in a row. They were positioned vertically with the handles attached to the floor and the axes in the air. The holes in the axes were perfectly aligned so a single arrow could be shot through all twelve. But first, the bow had to be strong.

27:02Using all his strength, Telemachus tried to bend the bow to hook the string in place. Three times, he felt as though he was coming close. But on the fourth attempt, Odysseus shook his head and Telemachus gave up. With a weary shrug, he admitted that he was too weak. It was the suitors turn to try. The men lined up to take on the challenge. One by one, they tried and one by one, they failed. They couldn't even string the bow, let alone shoot an arrow through the axes.

28:06Even when they tried to soften the wood, warming it by the fire and greasing it with fat, the bow was almost impossible to bend. While the contest continued, the two hardsmen, Yumeus and Faloitius, went outside for some fresh air. Odysseus followed them, and once they were a safe distance from the palace, he asked the men a question. What would they do if Odysseus suddenly returned home? The hardsmen replied that they were both praying for such a day.

29:08May the gods guide Odysseus home, then he would see that they were both ready to fight for him. Well, said Odysseus, in that case, there was something they should know. He was Odysseus. After 20 years of wandering, he had returned home. He was pleased to see that the hardsmen had remained loyal. One day, he would reward them both with houses of their own. The two men looked wide-eyed and incredulous. Odysseus could see that they needed proof.

30:10Look, he said, pulling at his racks. Here was the scar on his leg left by a boar's tusk many years ago. The hardsmen stared at the scar and then burst into tears of joy, throwing their arms around Odysseus. After a warm embrace, the men began to make plans. The battle was about to begin. When Odysseus picked up the boar, that was to be their signal. You may as should see to the women and make sure they were safely locked in their rooms.

31:11And in the meantime, Philoetius would lock the palace gates. After this conversation, the three men went back inside, where the contest was still going on. None of the suitors had succeeded in stringing the bo and they were becoming increasingly frustrated. Antinus suggested that they take a break. This was Apollo's feast day after all. So why not have a drink? They could make libytions to the god. And at dawn the next day, after a sacrifice to honour the Lord of Artuary,

32:11they could resume the contest. The other suitors agreed and called to the servants to start preparing the wine. Thinking quickly, Odysseus spoke to Antinus. He asked if he could have a try at stringing the boar. He was curious to see if he still had some of the strength of his youth. But Antinus responded rudely. He told Odysseus that as a beggar, he should be grateful he was even allowed at the table. So, said Antinus, eat, drink and be quiet.

33:16Then, Penelope spoke up. This man was a guest, she said. They must treat him with respect. Besides, why shouldn't he have a go? The suitors had nothing to fear. Even if the beggar was successful, it wasn't as though Penelope would marry him. But the suitors were afraid of being humiliated. Just imagine what people would say if some old beggar managed to string the boar when everyone else had failed. Still, Penelope insisted. The beggar must be given a chance. And if, with Apollo's blessing, he managed to string the boar, Penelope would reward him.

34:26She would give him a new cloak and tunic, some sandals, and a sword to keep him safe. Listening to this, Talamakus realized that he had to intervene for Penelope's own safety. He told his mother that only he could oversee the contest. He was the man of the house, and this was men's work. Penelope must go upstairs to the women's quarters. While Penelope was a little taken aback, she obeyed her son. A moment later, the swineherd Yameis picked up the boar.

35:27There was an uproar among the suitors. Who did he think he was? He should be outside with the pigs. For a moment, Yameis hesitated, but Talamakus called out to encourage him. So, Yameis crossed the hall and gave the boar to Odysseus. Afterwards, he quickly left the room and went to find the old servant, Yireklea. He told her to lock the door that led to the hall, and to make sure that the women stayed up stairs. They would be safe there.

36:29For loytis had also done his duty, locking the palace gates. Then, the two herdsmen returned to the hall, where the next round of the contest was about to begin. Odysseus took his time, running his hands over the boar, and checking that it was stilling good condition. The suitors scoffed at him. Look at this beggar, acting like an expert archer. But then, with the graceful ease of a musician tuning his lyre, Odysseus strung the boar. He plucked the string and a sweet sound echoed through the room, like the song of a swallow.

37:42The suitors turned pale and thunder rumbled in the skies. Odysseus picked up an arrow, took him and shocked. The arrow flew through the hole of each axe head, before hitting the wall on the other side of the room. So, Odysseus, it seems that I'm still strong after all. Now, let's begin the feast. The sooner we start, the sooner we can enjoy the celebration that follows. Then, he signaled to T'lamicus, who picked up his own weapons, and came to stand beside his father.

38:46They were ready now. As Antenua stunned to take a sip of wine, an arrow shot right through him. He never saw it coming. Antenua fell to the ground, and the rest of the suitors turned towards Odysseus in shock and anger. They couldn't believe that this old beggar had killed one of the finest young men in Ithaca. Odysseus, who still held the bow, spoke calmly. You thought I would never return from Troy. You took over my house and disrespected my wife and the gods.

39:50But I'm back now, and this is where it ends. The suitors trembled in fear. Some began to beg for their lives, while others reached for weapons. But they were too late, and Odysseus was too quick. He let the arrows fly without mercy. And so the battle began. While Odysseus was the best fighter, he wasn't alone. T'lamicus fought beside him, and so did his loyal servants, Yameus and Faloitius. The gods' Athena was there too. At first, she mingled among them, disguised as a mortal man.

41:04Then she took the form of a swallow and flew up to the roof beam. From there, she watched over Odysseus, keeping him safe and making sure that the suitors' spears missed their target. While some of the suitors had their own spears, others fought with weapons they'd stolen from the palace. Brons swords clashed, sharp spears glitted and pierced, and swift arrows flew from the hall. Few were spared, only the innocent, like the barred femeus, who had been forced to entertain

42:05the suitors with his music. Pleasing his ally around the ground, he sank to his knees before Odysseus, and begged for his life. The barred survived, and so did the other loyal servants of the household. The others were compelled to meet their fates. The battle dragged on until nightfall. By the end, the hall was just as the prophet had predicted, almost unrecognizable. So once it was finally over, Odysseus summoned the servants.

43:08They must clean up and put things in order, so the hall was restored to its former glory. Odysseus himself would start a fire. The smoke would purify the palace. As the clouds of smoke drifted from room to room, the dark room, you were declared unlocked to the doors of the women's quarters. Although they had heard the battle, they had seen nothing. The women came down the stairs with torches in their hands, looking around in astonishment. When they saw Odysseus, they did not recognize him as their master,

44:11but they knew that this was the man who had saved them. The women flocked around to the stranger, greeting him warmly, and Odysseus who knew them all came close to weeping. Eurekaya went back upstairs with a spring in her step. It was as though she was a young woman once more. She went to Penelope's bedroom and found her sleeping. After waking her gently, Eurekaya shared the wonderful news. Odysseus had come home. He was right here inside the palace, and he had got rid of the suitors once and for all.

45:22But Penelope didn't believe it. The poor old woman had surely lost her mind. She even found herself resenting Eurekaya for waking her from the soundest of sleeps. But Eurekaya insisted that Odysseus was here disguised as a beggar. Talamakus knew the truth, but he had kept his father's secret. Hearingless, Penelope was filled with joy. She laptoped and embraced Eurekaya who told her the story of the battle. But as Penelope listened, she became doubtful once more.

46:28How was it possible that Odysseus had defeated so many men? It couldn't be true. Perhaps a god had killed the suitors, angered by their pride and disrespect, but Eurekaya shook her head. It was Odysseus and she had evidence that it was truly him. With her own hands, she had touched the scar left by the ball's tusk. It was him and soon Penelope would see for herself. Although she couldn't believe it, Penelope agreed to meet the man who had battled the suitors.

47:30As she walked downstairs, she felt conflicted. She didn't know whether to keep her distance or to approach this man, the stranger who claimed to be her husband and kiss him. Odysseus was sitting in a chair near the fire. Penelope sat opposite but said nothing. Looking at his face, she thought she saw traces of her husband. But then again, he looked so different and he was dressed in racks. Telemachus stood nearby. At last, exasperated, he asked his mother what was holding her back.

48:39He couldn't understand why she was being so cold and distant towards her own husband. Penelope didn't know what to say. She wasn't even sure how she felt. But she said if this man really was Odysseus, she would find a way to recognize him. There were things they shared, things that only they knew. Odysseus smiled and told Telemachus to be patient. Penelope needed time and perhaps she needed to test him in her own way. In another room, Odysseus took a bath before changing into a fresh cloak and tunic.

49:50The goddess Athena worked her magic too, making him look taller, younger and more handsome. The goddess Athena Just as a craftsman makes beautiful objects with gold and silver, Athena transformed Odysseus. He now looked like a god. But when he returned to the room where Penelope sat, she remained silent. Odysseus was disappointed. After 20 years, this was the welcome he got from his wife. Her heart must be made of iron. Then he turned to Eureclair and asked the servant to prepare him a bed for the night.

50:56But before she could leave, Penelope gave additional instructions. Eureclair should move the bed that her husband had built. The stranger could sleep there. Penelope's words were a test. And sure enough, Odysseus was out of the bed. That bed could not be moved. Odysseus had built it himself using an olive tree that grew inside the courtyard. He had built the room around it and then the bed. Odysseus had skillfully turned the olive tree into a bed post,

51:57trimming the branches and smoothing the wood. The trunk of the olive tree was the first bed post. He had made three others, in lead with gold, silver and ivory. He hoped his bed was still there, in separable from the olive tree, just as he had made it. As Penelope listened to Odysseus speak, she began to cry. And when he had finished, she threw her arms around him, kissing him again and again. Through her tears, Penelope begged Odysseus to forgive her.

53:01She had been so wary of being tricked. But he knew the story of the bed, how it had been built around an olive tree. This was something that no one else knew. At last, she believed him. Now Odysseus too broke down in tears. They held each other close and would have stayed there until sunrise. But the goddess Athena delayed the dawn, so husband and wife could spend the long night together. They had so much to talk about. Odysseus explained that his travels weren't quite over yet.

54:05The prophet Tyrecyus had given him instructions about another journey he must make to a distant land. There, Odysseus would have to make a sacrifice to the sea God Poseidon. Once it done this, he could live in peace until the end of his days. As Odysseus and Penelope spoke, the servants were busy preparing the olive tree bed, covering it with soft blankets. Once the room was ready, husband and wife returned at a long last to their marriage bed. With Athena's magic, the night went on.

55:13It seemed there was time for everything, including a passionly both shared, telling stories. As they lay in their bed, Penelope told Odysseus all about her time in the palace. But as much as she enjoyed storytelling, she loved to listen even more. She didn't fall asleep until she heard her at all. The lotus eaters, the cyclops, Cersei, the journey to the underworld, the siren song. And after that, the sun god's cattle, the shipwreck, and the year's song calipses O's Island.

56:16And then, at last, he had reached the land of the fiatians, who had sent him home to Ethica in a ship filled with treasures. This was the end of Odysseus' story. Within moments, the sweet asleep came over them both. And at long last, their hearts and minds were at peace.