Eurycleia
Eurycleia was Odysseus's old nurse who recognised him by a boar-tusk scar on his thigh when she washed his feet — one of the Odyssey's most famous recognition scenes.
The Legend of Eurycleia
Nurse to Odysseus since infancy, Eurycleia was bought as a slave by Laertes and raised the future king of Ithaca like her own son. She knew the scar he received as a boy hunting boar on Mount Parnassus at Autolycus's home. When Odysseus returned disguised as a beggar — guided by Athena — Eurycleia washed his feet and recognised the scar. He seized her throat and swore her to silence until the suitors were dead. She later confirmed the slaughter to Penelope and identified the disloyal maids. Her loyalty mirrors Eumaeus's and Telemachus's fidelity.
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Fun Fact
Auerbach's analysis of Eurycleia's scene in Mimesis (1946) became one of the most influential essays in literary criticism.
Explore Further
Eumaeus
🗡 heroFaithful swineherd of Odysseus
Eumaeus was the loyal swineherd who sheltered the disguised Odysseus on Ithaca — proof that nobility lies in character, not birth.
Omphale
🗡 heroNone recorded
Lydian queen who owned Heracles as a slave and made him wear women's clothing
Autolycus
🗡 heroMaster thief, grandfather of Odysseus
Autolycus was the greatest thief in Greek mythology, son of Hermes, who could steal anything and change its appearance — grandfather of Odysseus.
Autolycus
🗡 herotheft, cunning
The master thief and shapeshifter, grandfather of Odysseus, whose gift for deception was inherited by the most cunning hero in Greek mythology.
Aethra
🗡 heroMotherhood, Captivity, Loyalty
Princess of Troezen, mother of Theseus, who became a captive slave in Troy.
Parthenopaeus
🗡 heroSeven Against Thebes, Youth, Arcadia
Young Arcadian hero, one of the Seven Against Thebes, who died at the city walls before seeing his homeland again.
Melanthius
🗡 heroNone recorded
Treacherous goatherd of Ithaca who sided with the suitors against Odysseus
Pentheus
🗡 heroNone recorded
King of Thebes torn apart by his own mother for opposing the worship of Dionysus
Canthus
🗡 heroHerding, loyalty
Argonaut from Euboea who was killed in Libya while searching for stolen cattle
Ctesippus
🗡 heroNone recorded
Violent suitor from Same who threw an ox hoof at the disguised Odysseus
Euphorbus
🗡 heroCombat, beauty
Trojan warrior famed for his beauty who first wounded Patroclus before Hector delivered the killing blow
Althaea
🗡 heroNone recorded
Queen of Calydon and mother of Meleager who killed her own son by burning the magical brand that the Fates had tied to his life at birth