Laërtes' farm

Odyssey Book 1 line 176-181 Barry B Powell
Odyssey Book 16 line 126-149 Barry B Powell
Odyssey Book 4 line 678-684 Barry B Powell

Odysseus has decided to flee to his farm where his father lives. But where can we find this farm? This is what Athena in the form of Mentes, said to Telemachos about Laërtes and his dwellings.

We say that we are guest-friends of one another, from a long way back. If you want, go to the old warrior Laërtes, and ask him. They say that he no longer comes to the city, but that he suffers pain far away in a field, attented by an old woman as his servants who places before him food and drink when fatigue has taken hold of his limbs as he creeps along the hill of his vineyard.

So, Laërtes is old, no longer comes to town and lives far away in a field. He eats with his servants and works his vinyard. But in which direction should we look?

Just after Telemachos arrived at the hut of Eumaios, he ordered him to tell Penelope he had arrived. And Eumaios suggested to inform Laërtes also, but Telemachos said:

But now call the old man Dolios here, he who keeps my garden with its many trees. He might go to Laërtes and sit down beside him and tell him all these things, in the hope that Laërtes may weave some plan in his heart. That men could go forth and make a lament before the people who are eager to distroy the race of Odysseus, who is like a god.

No, after giving your messages, come back here, and do not go over the fields looking for Laërtes. Tell my Mother to send out the slave who is the housemaid as soon as possible, in secret. She can tell the old man.

After telling the news to Penelope he wanted to go over the fields to look for Laërtes. So, we have the look across the fields of the city. Penelope however send Dolios.

Do you remember the name Dolios? It was about the goat herder Melanthios, son of Dolios. He came from the west part of the island, near Porto Katsiki, the harbor of the goats. That is across the fields of Ithaca far away in the south-west. That is a good location to be away from the turmoil in the palace, isn't it?

Porto Katsiki

The palace