Confrontation

Odyssey Book 24 line 466 Barry B Powell
Odyssey Book 24 line 467-468 Barry B Powell
Odyssey Book 24 line 469 Barry B Powell
Odyssey Book 24 line 473-474 Barry B Powell

The steep hill were the altar is.

Odysseus party consists of Odysseus, Telemachos, Eumaios and Philoitios, the six sons of Dolios, Dolios himself and Laërtes In total eleven men and Mentor the priest of Apollo.

So, now there are 6 parties:

1-Odysseus and his 11 men,
2-the priest of Apollo Mentor,
3-the spectators,
4-the participants in the rites,
5-the pursuers,
6-the pharmakos.

Since Telemachos and Odysseus are part of the participants it is to be expected that Odysseus and his men were aiming for the altar of Apollo close to the leap. And so were the pursuers, the priest and the Pharmakos.

Most probably Odysseus and his men, Mentor and the Pharmakos awaited the confrontation with the pursuers at the altar near the leap. The altar is placed on a steep hill, making it easier to defend them selves against the pursuers.

Standing beside him the flashing-eyed Athena said:

Meaning Mentor is standing next to Laërtes.

Son of Arkeisios, by far the dearest of all my companions, make a prayer to the flashing-eyed virgin and to Zeus the father,

You see, Athena is not asking Laërtes to pray to herself of course. It is the priest who asks him.

then brandish your long-shadowed spear right away, and hurl it.

Laërtes made the prayer...

He struck Eupeithes on his helmet with the bronze cheek pieces. The helmet did not stop the spear, but the bronze went straight through.

The altar's fundament-stones

And so Eupeithes died by the hand of Laërtes.