Yesterday Ithaca rejoiced to the news that Odysseus has finally returned home after twenty years. He has been re-united with his wife Penelope, his son Telemachus and his father old King Laertes. However, he had some trouble to deal with first.

Upon arrival Athena gave Odysseus a mask to turn him into an old man so he would not be recognised. He was told of the suitors that wanted to marry his wife, Penelope, and take his kingdom. On the way to his palace Telemachus came along having returned from a journey to Sparta. Odysseus revealed his true identity to Telemachus. His son was overjoyed at his return. Together they made a plan.

When they arrived at the palace the suitors lay around eating and drinking. Penelope didn’t want to marry any of them but she proclaimed that whoever could string Odysseus’s bow and fire an arrow down a line of axes, that would be the man she married. None had the strength to do it.

The suitors ran in terror. Odysseus, with the help of Telemachus, then proceeded to slaughter all the men who would have taken his wife and his kingdom. With deadly arrows from their bows the men scattered and fell. Soon all were dead!

Penelope could not believe it was really Odysseus at first. But when he mentioned their bed built into a tree she realised that only her husband could know that and embraced him joyfully!

His father, King Laertes, was just as happy to see him but friends of the suitors arrived seeking revenge for the killings. However, before more bloodshed Athena appeared and made them put down their weapons. Peace, it seems, is here to stay. And so is Odysseus!