Odysseus reveals himself, and the suitors become terrified. Odysseus is now ready to take back his kingdom.They have no way out, since Philoetius has locked the front door and Eumaeus has locked the doors to the women’s quarters. Eurymachus tries to calm Odysseus down, insisting that Antinous was the only bad guy among them all, but Odysseus says that he will not kill any of them. Eurymachus then charges Odysseus, but he is cut down by another arrow. Amphinomus is the next to fall, at the spear of Telemachus. Telemachus gets more shields and swords from the storeroom to arm Eumaeus and Philoetius, but he forgets to lock it on his way out. Melanthius reaches the storeroom and gets out fresh arms for the suitors. He isn’t so lucky on his second trip to the storeroom, because Eumaeus and Philoetius find him there, tie him up, and lock him in. A full battle is now in the palace hall. Athena is disguised as a Mentor and encourages Odysseus but doesn’t participate immediately. Volleys of spears are exchanged, and Odysseus and his men kill several suitors while receiving only superficial wounds themselves. Finally, Athena joins the battle, which then ends slowly. Odysseus spares only the minstrel Phemius and the herald Medon, unwilling participants in the suitors’ profligacy. The priest Leodes begs unsuccessfully for mercy
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