Penelope’s Test

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The next day, Penelope announced that she had devised a new test to select her new husband. She would marry whichever man could string Odysseus’ great bow and shoot and arrow straight through a row of twelve axes. A vast feast was laid out, the bow was carried in, and the contest began. One after another, the suitors tried but could not even bend the bow, let alone string it and shoot an arrow. Odysseus, still in disguise, asked if he might try the bow.

While the suitors laughed and abused him, he strung the bow effortlessly. Unhurriedly, Odysseus fitted an arrow to the string and fired it. The arrow passed right through the twelve axes. As Telemachus barred the hall doors, he fired a second arrow. It pierced Antinous in the throat, just as he was lifting up a golden cup, and his life-blood gushed from his nostrils as he kicked over his table and fell choking to the floor. Odysseus revealed his true identitiy, and his sure aim killed the suitors one by one.