Melanthios

Odyssey Book 14 line 107-110 Barry B Powell
Odyssey Book 17 line 225-228 Barry B Powell
Odyssey Book 17 line 234-238 Barry B Powell

A flock of goats

Melanthios is the leader of the shepherds of the eleven flocks of goats coming from the far end of the island. The herders must be rotating the flocks over the rough mountain. Wandering mount Ithakos for 10 days passing the Porto Katsiki and go up and down the city each eleventh day. Eumaios the pig herder tells's about it:

Melanthios left them there as they slowly walked along. But Melanthios himself went quickly forward and soon arrived at the house of the king. He went in at once and sat down among the suitors, opposite Eurymachos, who liked him especially.

Melanthios, son of Dolios is more often near the city than up with his flocks. And Melanthios is in a hurry.

Every day one of these drives up his herd of fat goats for the suitors to select from, whichever seems the best. In the meamwhile I watch over and protect these pigs and I pick out the best of the swine and send it to them.

Eumaios does not approve the way the goats leader is protecting the flocks, letting the suitors pick out goats while they are needed to maintain a good flock. And there is more Eumaios is not happy with. He tells Melantios what Odysseus would do if he returns home:

Then he would dispel the hollow show that you insolently now put on, wandering always through the city while the wicked herdsman destroy the flocks.