Eumaios
mythological figure · 2 works · 11 mentions · 48 anchored passages
the swineherd · Eumaeus · Eumaeus, the son of Ctesius son of Ormenus · Father Eumaios · Swineherd · swineherd · swineherd Eumaios
in the texts
Odyssey
The loyal swineherd of Odysseus, who unknowingly hosts his disguised master with generous hospitality while mourning his absence.
The fat pigs have to go to the suitors, who eat them up without shame or scruple;
The swineherd then mixed wine in a bowl of ivy-wood, and taking a seat opposite Odysseus told him to begin.
Eumaios answered, "Old man, no traveler who comes here with news will get Odysseus’ wife and son to believe his story.
Orations
Odysseus's loyal swineherd in the Odyssey, cited as an example of a poor man who nonetheless offers generous hospitality.
or to prove that Odysseus, nowhere seen for twenty years, had come — and that within set days;
And Telemachus too says well-nigh such other things about him to the swineherd, bidding him send him to the city as quickly as possible to beg there, and not to maintain him more days at the station;
but not even Penelope, though she was good and conversed very kindly with him and had learned about her husband — not even she, he says, gave him a cloak as he sat naked beside her, but only promised, if it should appear that he spoke truly about Odysseus,