Melanthius
Treacherous goatherd of Ithaca who sided with the suitors against Odysseus
The Legend of Melanthius
Melanthius was a goatherd in Odysseus' household who betrayed his absent master by aligning himself with the suitors. When Odysseus returned disguised as a beggar, Melanthius kicked and insulted him on the road to the palace. During the suitors' feasting, he brought them the best goats and curried their favour. When Odysseus began his attack on the suitors, Melanthius sneaked into the storeroom and retrieved weapons and armour for them, briefly turning the tide. He was caught on his second trip by Eumaeus and Philoetius, who tied him up. After the battle, he suffered a brutal punishment for his betrayal.
Parents
Dolius
Symbols
Fun Fact
He nearly turned the battle by smuggling armour to the suitors from Odysseus' own storeroom
Explore Further
Ctesippus
🗡 heroNone recorded
Violent suitor from Same who threw an ox hoof at the disguised Odysseus
Melantho
🗡 heroNone recorded
Disloyal maidservant in Odysseus' palace who mocked the disguised king
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.
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
Eurymachus
🗡 heroNone recorded
Prominent suitor of Penelope who used charm and deception to dominate Odysseus' hall
Aerope
🗡 heroAdultery, royalty
Queen of Mycenae whose adultery with Thyestes caused the devastating curse upon the House of Atreus
Canthus
🗡 heroHerding, loyalty
Argonaut from Euboea who was killed in Libya while searching for stolen cattle
Pentheus
🗡 heroNone recorded
King of Thebes torn apart by his own mother for opposing the worship of Dionysus
Eurycleia
🗡 heroNurse who recognised Odysseus by his scar
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.
Icarius
🗡 heroNone recorded
A legendary king of Sparta and father of Penelope who tried to prevent his daughter from leaving with Odysseus after her marriage
Neoptolemus
🗡 heroSon of Achilles
Neoptolemus was Achilles' fierce son, brought to Troy because a prophecy declared the city could not fall without him.