Eumaeus

Eumaeus (Greek Εὔμαιος, lat Eumaeus ) is an ancient Greek epic poem the Odyssey, the faithful Sauhirte and friend of Odysseus.

Eumaeus was of noble descent, as his father Ktesios prevailed ( a son of Ormenos ) as king on the island of Syria. There pondered as Eumaeus was still a boy, a ship with Phoenician merchants at. One of the sailors seduced a country woman, who was the nurse of small Eumaeus and this now lured on board, after which the ship sailed away. After seven days, the Phoenician nurse suffered death and her body was thrown overboard. Eumaeus but was a slave to Laertes, father of Odysseus, sold and brought up by Odysseus and his sister Ktimene.

First Eumaeus served as a swineherd of Laertes and was after his abdication in the same function for Odysseus worked, he remained loyal during its 20 - year absence. Reluctantly, he delivered his best pigs from the prassenden in the palace suitors of Penelope, who also kept her husband Odysseus all the time about fidelity.

Eumaeus, who lived in a hut on the land, the first man, Odysseus visited in Ithaca, when he had returned from his long odyssey was. Although the old Sauhirte his Lord, because this the shape of a beggar had been awarded by Athena, did not realize he took him kindly with him, and entertained him. Odysseus did not give his identity at first, though he could be convinced of the fidelity of his servant soon. Instead, he gave himself against him as the son of a rich Cretan out who had taken part in the Trojan War as a commander. He was informed about what happened during his long absence, and told Eumaeus that Odysseus will soon return home, which the swineherd did not want to believe.

Also Telemachus came after his return from Sparta into the tabernacle of Eumaeus, where he met his father Odysseus, whom he also initially did not recognize. However, he was informed by his father about his true identity, as Eumaeus Penelope announced the return of her son. Telemachus then went to the palace, soon afterwards his father and Eumaeus. Here, Odysseus kept for deception in his Bettlermaskerade.

Just before the decisive battle with the suitors Odysseus revealed his identity and Eumaeus, who stood him and his son in this fight by forces to the side.

Eumaeus is often referred to as " divine Sauhirte " in the epic and is the only person in the entire odyssey that is addressed directly in the second person by the narrator.

According to Aristotle gave Telemachus the Eumaeus the freedom of the alleged progenitor of Koliaden, a noble race of Ithaca, was.

Pictures of Eumaeus can be found on some antique vases.