Mnemosyne — Classical Greek Myth Library

Philoetius, Odysseus’s cowherd, brings cattle for the suitors’ feast and meets the beggar (Odysseus) at the courtyard. He wishes the master would return, curses the suitors’ waste of the herds, and swears loyalty if Odysseus came home. Odysseus tests him with a veiled prophecy of imminent return; Philoetius vows to fight beside the master. Before the bow-contest, Odysseus reveals himself to Philoetius and Eumaeus together; both kiss him and receive orders to bar the doors and fetch arms. In the slaughter Philoetius fights among the loyal few, notably killing the suitor Ctesippus, who had earlier mocked Odysseus with a cow’s hoof. Catalogue the loyal cowherd as counterpart to Eumaeus and foil to Melanthius.