Justice and Consequences — The Odyssey

Odysseus tore off his rags and shot Antinous through the throat while the ringleader lifted his wine cup. The suitors thought it was an accident until Odysseus named himself and listed their crimes: wasting his wealth, forcing his servants, and courting his wife while he was still alive. He called them dogs and said they would all die. They looked for weapons on the walls but found none.

Eurymachus offered oxen and gold to buy forgiveness, but Odysseus refused every deal. He told the suitors they could fight or flee, but no one would escape. Eurymachus charged with his sword, but Odysseus shot him through the chest. Telemachus brought shields and spears for his father, Eumaeus, and Philoetius while Odysseus held the doorway and shot suitors with his remaining arrows. When the arrows ran out, he took up a spear and helmet himself. Philoetius guarded the narrow door so the suitors could not escape. Melanthius sneaked to the storeroom and armed the enemy, but Eumaeus and Philoetius caught him, bound him, and hung him from the rafters.

Athena appeared as Mentor, scolded Odysseus to fight harder, then perched as a swallow and turned the suitors' spears aside. Father, son, and loyal servants threw their own spears and drove the survivors into a corner until the floor ran with blood. The suitors groaned as their brains were battered in. Leiodes begged for mercy, but Odysseus killed him too. Telemachus spared the bard Phemius and the herald Medon because they had been forced to serve the suitors.

Odysseus told Euryclea to bring the twelve disloyal maids, who first cleaned the hall and carried out the dead, then were hanged in the courtyard. Melanthius was mutilated and left for the dogs. Odysseus ordered sulphur burned to purify the house, told Euryclea to rejoice in silence over the dead, and sent for Penelope while the loyal maids embraced him with torches in their hands. The slaughter was over, but the house still needed cleansing before normal life could return.