Ctesippus
Violent suitor from Same who threw an ox hoof at the disguised Odysseus
The Legend of Ctesippus
Ctesippus was a wealthy suitor from the island of Same who joined the others feasting in Odysseus' palace. He was distinguished by his brutality and arrogance, rivalling even Antinous in his contempt for decency. When the disguised Odysseus sat among the beggars in his own hall, Ctesippus hurled a cow's hoof at him, calling it a guest-gift — a savage mockery of the sacred custom of hospitality. Telemachus rebuked him furiously, warning that he would have speared him on the spot had the missile struck its target. During the final battle, the cowherd Philoetius killed Ctesippus and taunted him, saying the death blow was his own guest-gift in return. This poetic justice was among the most satisfying moments of the suitors' slaughter.
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Polytherses
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Fun Fact
The cowherd killed him and called it a return guest-gift, making it one of the Odyssey's sharpest moments of poetic justice
Explore Further
Antinous
🗡 heroNone recorded
The most arrogant of the suitors who occupied Odysseus' palace in Ithaca
Leodes
🗡 heroNone recorded
Reluctant suitor and sacrificial priest who failed to string Odysseus' bow
Melanthius
🗡 heroNone recorded
Treacherous goatherd of Ithaca who sided with the suitors against Odysseus
Eurymachus
🗡 heroNone recorded
Prominent suitor of Penelope who used charm and deception to dominate Odysseus' hall
Amphinomus
🗡 heroNone recorded
The most decent of Penelope's suitors, killed despite Odysseus' veiled warning to flee
Iphitus
🗡 heroNone recorded
Son of Eurytus who gave Odysseus the great bow and was later murdered by Heracles
Phemius
🗡 heroNone recorded
Ithacan bard forced to sing for the suitors, spared by Odysseus after the slaughter
Anteia
🗡 heroDesire, false accusation
Queen of Tiryns who falsely accused Bellerophon of assault, setting in motion his legendary trials
Othryoneus
🗡 heroAmbition, courtship
Trojan ally from Cabesos who sought Cassandra's hand in marriage by promising to drive out the Greeks
Erginus
🗡 heroWar, Tribute, Later Fatherhood
King of Orchomenus who exacted tribute from Thebes until defeated by the young Heracles.
Oenomaus
🗡 heroNone recorded
A king of Pisa who killed the suitors of his daughter Hippodamia in rigged chariot races until Pelops defeated him through trickery and divine favour
Atalanta
🗡 heroThe virgin huntress who outran every suitor
The swift-footed huntress who drew first blood against the Calydonian Boar and was only beaten in a footrace by divine trickery.