Telemachus Seeks Answers in Pylos — The Odyssey

Telemachus and Athena arrive at Pylos at sunrise while the people are sacrificing black bulls to Neptune on the shore. Nine groups of five hundred men each are feasting together. Telemachus is nervous. He tells Mentor he does not know how to speak to an old king like Nestor. Athena says heaven will help him and tells him to go straight to Nestor and ask for plain truth about his father.

Nestor welcomes them with proper hospitality before asking who they are. Pisistratus, Nestor's son, seats them on soft sheepskins and gives them food and wine. They pray to Neptune and eat well. Only after dinner does Nestor ask who they are. Then Telemachus speaks boldly. He says he comes from Ithaca and wants honest news about Ulysses. He asks Nestor not to soften the story out of pity, even if the answer is painful.

Nestor has no direct news of Ulysses, but he tells a long story about what happened after Troy. Greek leaders quarreled on the way home. Some ships returned quickly while others were wrecked or delayed. He praises Ulysses' cleverness and then tells how Aegisthus killed Agamemnon while Menelaus was away. Orestes later killed Aegisthus to avenge his father. Nestor says a son can defend a house when the father is gone. Telemachus wishes he could punish the suitors the same way, but he does not think the gods will grant him that luck. Athena urges him not to give up hope. Telemachus then asks for more details about Agamemnon's murder, and Nestor tells him to visit Menelaus in Sparta because Menelaus has travelled farther than anyone and may know more.

When night comes, Athena says they should make offerings and sleep. Nestor insists Telemachus stay in his house, not on the ship. Athena then flies away as an eagle, which amazes everyone. Nestor says the gods favour Telemachus. The next morning Nestor holds a sacrifice to Athena, bathes and clothes Telemachus like a prince, packs food and wine for the road, and sends him off in a chariot with Pisistratus. They drive all day across open country and spend the night with Diocles before heading on toward Menelaus.