Book 14

Odysseus is back in Ithica disguised as a weary, old man. He goes and stays with the swineherder, Eumaeus. Odysseus listens intently to Eumaeus and knows that he is a loyal and trustworthy man, always praising him and watching over him. Eumaeus feeds Odysseus and gives him clothes to keep him warm. Eumaeus says that Odysseus is most likely dead, and Odysseus disagrees saying that he is probably alive and coming home soon. Eumaeus says that he no longer believes this because so many suitors have come to Penelope and asked for gifts in exchange for news of her Odysseus. But all news is a scam, and Penelope is beginning to lose faith that the real Odysseus will ever return home. Odysseus, when asked about how he came to arrive in Ithica, makes up a story about how he fought at Troy with Odysseus and later went to Egypt, but only to end up poor.