Antinous: First of the Suitors to Die (*Odyssey* 22)

Antinous: First of the Suitors to Die (Odyssey 22)

Catalogue ID: 04-trojan-cycle/190-antinous-first-death-odyssey-22

Cycle: Trojan — Odyssey / mnesterophonia

Version line: Homeric — Antinous shot at the wine-cup

Sources: Homer, *Odyssey* 22.1–88 (death); character built in Books 1–21

Source file: /workspace/greek-myth-catalogue/04-trojan-cycle/190-antinous-first-death-odyssey-22.md

Characters

Antinous — leading suitor; first killed
Eupeithes — father (blood-feud sequel in Book 24)
Suitors — shocked into arms after Antinous falls
Telemachus — targets of Antinous’s earlier plots (background)
Thyestes — archer; reveals himself after the shot

Places

Megaron of Odysseus’s palace — feast-table and death
Mycenae — wider stage of the suitors’ occupation

Themes

Marriage

Narrative

Antinous son of Eupeithes is the boldest and most insolent of Penelope’s suitors—plotting ambush against Telemachus, abusing the beggar Odysseus, and leading the feast’s arrogance. When Odysseus strings the bow and shoots through the axes, he turns on the suitors. Antinous is lifting a two-handled cup of wine, with no thought of death; Odysseus’s arrow passes through his throat; the cup drops; blood thickens the bread and meat on the table. Only then does Odysseus reveal himself. Eurymachus tries to shift blame onto Antinous alone and offers reparation; Odysseus refuses, and the general killing begins. Catalogue Antinous’s end apart from the whole mnesterophonia: the first arrow names the ringleader and ends the suitors’ blindness.