Odyssey Book 21 - 22
The contest begins. Ulysses' bow is brought forth, and Telemachus puts on a show of attempting to string the bow, unsuccessfully. He "tries" three times, before Ulysses secretly signals him to stop. The other suitors attempt to string the bow, and are unable to do so. While this is happening, Ulysses reveals his true identity to two of the livestock tenders who have remained faithful to the king, Eumaeus and Philoetius. They are told of his plan and enthusiastically agree to fight for Ulysses to defeat the suitors.
Antinous, after he fails in the competition, finally suggests that the contest be held another day. Ulysses, though, requests to attempt stringing the bow. Antinous attempts to deny the request, but Penelope is enthusiastic. Telemachus steps forward and grants the "beggar" a chance. Ulysses then strings the bow, and immediately shoots an arrow through 12 axes, as the contest requires. A clap of thunder indicates Zeus' approval.
Telemachus joins Ulysses, as they turn to face the suitors, and the battle begins when Ulysses steps out of his beggar disguise. He leaps forward and fires an arrow directly through the throat of Antinous.
The stunned crowd is then informed by Ulysses that they will die.
Eurymachus tries to offer Ulysses repayment and apology, but his words fall on deaf ears. Eurymachus calls the other suitors to fight, but Ulysses kills him with an arrow to the chest.
Amphinomus attacks Telemachus, and not only fails but is himself killed.
Lacking weapons (other than the swords they are wearing) and armor, the suitors are at a disadvantage. However, the disloyal goat-herder Melanthius rushes to retrieve the hidden hardware from a storeroom. He is caught doing so and is captured alive so that his punishment can be meted out later.
Athena assists in the battle and all suitors are killed by Ulysses, Telemachus, and his small group of local people. After the suitors have been dispatched, others who have been disloyal, dishonest, or have otherwise tarnished the crown are killed, including 12 servant women who are hanged… but only AFTER being forced to clean the gore of battle.
Finally, Melanthius meets his fate. As justice for his disloyalty and cruelty, his nose, ears, genitals, hands, and feet are cut off. He is not outright killed, but is instead given a tortured and painfully slow death.
Analysis
The climax of the story is reached here, as finally, Ulysses can reveal himself, and mete sweet revenge upon those who have wronged him.
But first, before the slaughter, the glory of winning the contest is bestowed upon Ulysses. Not only does the futile struggle of the suitors serve humility and shame upon the suitors, proving their impotence and ineffectiveness, but it exalts the glorious capabilities of the hero, Ulysses. The patience and strategy that Ulysses has demonstrated finally pay off.
All of the suitors are killed, although help from Athena is needed. Even during battle, we see the disloyal goatherd trying to turn the tables against Ulysses and Telemachus, but his efforts are in vain, and his only reward is an especially brutal and painful death.
The great cleansing is completed. All of those disloyal to Ulysses are purged, including members of the royal staff. A very few are spared, upon the recommendation from Telemachus, demonstrating that mercy is still found within Ulysses, but those who have wronged him find the agony of death, typically in degrees commensurate with their wickedness.
While not necessarily meaningful to the storyline, it is worth noting that the feat of shooting an arrow through 12 axes, while seemingly difficult to understand, most likely refers to the lanyard loop found on ax handles. Rather than shooting an arrow through the metal head or wooden handle of the ax, it seems most likely that 12 axes were set up so that their lanyard rings were arranged to make it possible to send an arrow through them. Of course, Ulysses is the only man able to accomplish such a skillful act.
