Swiftly, Odysseus leaps to the threshhold of the hall and kills Antinous with his next arrow. The suitors are horrified by this act, and think that the old beggar has gone crazy. As they run about in pandemonium, Odysseus announces who he is. Eurymachus then tries to blame the dead Antinous for their misdeeds. Odysseus, howver, has pledged revenged on all the suitors and kills Eurymachus with another arrow. The other suitors try to defend themselves with their swords, using tables as shields, but they are unable to get close enough to Odysseus to hit him. As they do this, Odysseus seemingly fires into the crowd, and each arrow strikes down another enemy.

Meanwhile, Telemachus carries in armor and spears for his father, himself, and the other two loyal servants. Several of the suitors are armed by Melanthius, who stole weapons from the storeroom, but Eumaeus and Philoetius reprehend him and bind him. As the fight conitues, the four comrades fight bravely until each and every suitor is slayed. Odysseus spares only Phemius the bard and Medon the herald.

Odysseus then calls for Eurycleia. He has her tell him of all the disloyal maidservants. Those who fall under this category are brought into the hall and forced to clean up the area. After they accomplish this, they are taken outside the palace and hanged. The traitorous Melanthius is also executed and his body is horribly mutilated. Then the hall is fumigated with sulfur and Odysseus is welcomed by the faithful servants. At this he breaks down into tears.

Book XXIII

Eurycleia runs upstairs eagerly and awakens Penelope to inform her of Odysseus' return. Penelope does not believe her, but goes to the hall to find out for herself. When she arrives there she sees the beggar who is covered in blood and filth. Odysseus tells her who he is, but still she does not believe. Telemachus chides his mother for this, but Odysseus orders him to leave. After he leaves, Odysseus mentions certain secrets that only he and Penelope would know. His wife suddenly realizes that his is Odysseus, and the two greet each other tenderly. Odysseus bathes and dresses himself in his royal garnments. After arranging for the servants to keep up a pretense of dancing and feasting, to allay suspicions of any passer-by, he and Penelope go off together to their room. The newly united couple spend their first night together in twenty years making love and telling each other of the adventures each one went through in the other's absense. In the morning, Odysseus arms himself and accompanied by Telemachus, Eumaeus, and Philoetius sets out for his father's farm.

Penelope

Book XXIV

In Hades, the shades of Achilles, Patroclus, Antilochus, Ajax, and Agamemnon are speaking with each other when Hermes arrives with the souls of the dead suitors. Th group is surprised by the sudden influx of more than one hundred young men, and Agamemnon inquires about the circumstances of their deaths. Amphimedon, one of the suitors, explains the whole story to the group. Agamemnon is greatly impressed by the prowess of Odysseus and the devotion of his wife.

On Ithaca, Odysseus arrives at his father's house and identifies himself to old Laertes. The joy with which the aged man greets his son is touching. While this takes place, the Ithacans learn of the slaughter of the palace and claim the bodies. A meeting of the Assembly is called, and though Medon and Halisthernes advocate peace, a large number of the citizens, led by Eupeithes, the father of Antinous, decide to avenge the deaths of the suitors.

On Olympus, Athene consults with Zeus. Zeus agrees that the revenge taken by Odysseus is well justified and that now peace shall be restored to the island of Ithaca.

When the angry mob arrive at the farm, Odyysseus leads out his small party to meet them. Eupeithes is killed by a spear thrown by old Laertes, and a couple others are killed by the others. The attackers are fleeing in panick when Athene arrives and orders that the conflict be brought to a conclusion. A thunderbolt from Zeus thunders overhead and reinforces the sanctity of this command. At this the battle ends. Later, Athene, disguised as Mentor, establishes peace between the two factions and Odysseus continues to reign as king of Ithaca.