Ancient Wisdom Atlas

Motif

failed suitors before the decisive bow trial

failed_suitors_before_the_decisive_bow_trial

A motif of the Initiation and Transformative Ordeal family, within the sub-family Marriage Trials and Wedding Rites. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.

1 occurrences

1 traditions


greek

  • The Odyssey BOOK XVIII / BOOK XIX / BOOK XX / BOOK XXI; lines 9317-9414 confidence: high

    Leiodes son of Oenops, sacrificial priest to the suitors, hates their evil deeds, fails to string the bow, and says the bow will take life and soul from many chiefs connected with the contest for Penelope.

    Multiple suitors fail to string the bow even after warming and greasing it, leaving Antinous and Eurymachus remaining.

    read in the book