The Odyssey Amphinomus Quotes

"Friends, I’ve no desire to kill Telemachus, not I –
it’s a terrible thing to shed the blood of kings.
Wait, sound out the will of the gods – that first.
If the decrees of mighty Zeus commend the work,
I’ll kill the prince myself and spur on all the rest.
If the gods are against it, then I say hold back!"

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 16, lines 444-449. Amphinomus disagrees with Antinous’ plan to quickly and secretly kill Telemachus. He urges the suitors to only kill the prince if Zeus and the gods indicate their approval. If the gods are against it, they should hold back.

"True,
but here I see you suitors plotting your reckless work,
carving away at the wealth, affronting the loyal wife
of a man who won’t be gone from kin and country long.
I say he’s right at hand – and may some power save you,
spirit you home before you meet him face-to-face
the moment he returns to native ground!
Once under his own roof, he and your friends,
believe you me, won’t part till blood has flowed."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 18, lines 163-171. Posing as a beggar, Odysseus warns young suitor Amphinomus of the bloodshed to come, so that he might escape the fate of the other suitors. Amphinomus has been kind to the beggar, greeting him warmly and wishing him luck and "great days from this day on." The disguised Odysseus attempts to save his life by revealing that Odysseus is close by. He suggests Amphinomus save himself by returning home before Odysseus arrives home to spill the blood of the greedy suitors "carving away" his wealth and offending his "loyal wife."

Amphinomus made his way back through the hall,
his heart sick with anguish, shaking his head,
fraught with grave forebodings…
but not even so could he escape his fate.
Even then Athena had bound him fast to death
at the hands of Prince Telemachus and his spear.
Now back he went to the seat that he’d left empty.

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 18, lines 174-180. Amphinomus is left shaken by Odysseus-the-beggar’s words that he should leave Odysseus’ house if he wants to save himself. However, he fails to heed the warning and goes back to his seat in the hall with a sense of foreboding. He has reason to worry, for we learn that Athena has fated him to die at the end of Telemachus’ spear.

"Fair enough, my friends; when a man speaks well
we have no grounds for wrangling, no cause for abuse.
Hands off the stranger! And any other servant
in King Odysseus’ palace. Come, steward,
pour first drops for the god in every cup;
let’s make libations, then go home to bed.
The stranger? Leave him here in Odysseus’ halls
and have his host, Telemachus, tend him well –
it’s the prince’s royal house the man has reached."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 18, lines 467-475. Amphinomus makes this speech after Telemachus angrily criticizes the suitors and orders them to leave. Amphinomus is considered to be the best-behaved of the suitors. He says that they should heed Telemachus’ orders not to abuse the "stranger" (Odysseus in disguise) and to go home to bed. But first they should enjoy one last drink, he suggests.

Now as they spoke and urged each other on,
and once more the suitors were plotting certain doom
for the young prince – suddenly, banking high on the left
an omen flew past, an eagle clutching a trembling dove.
And Amphinomus rose in haste to warn them all,
"My friends, we’ll never carry off this plot
to kill the prince. Let’s concentrate on feasting."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 20, lines 267-273. As the suitors discuss the killing of Telemachus, their murderous plot is stopped in its tracks by an omen forecasting death and destruction. An eagle flies by with a dove in its jaws. Amphinomus at once recognizes the warning and urges them to abandon their plot and just carry on feasting. But it is too late, as their own doom is foreshadowed here.

The suitors ambled into Odysseus’ royal house
and flinging down their cloaks on a chair or bench,
they butchered hulking sheep and fatted goats,
full-grown hogs and a young cow from the herd.
They roasted all the innards, served them round
and filled the bowls with wine and mixed it well.

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 20, lines 275-280. After a bird omen forecasting death and destruction, the suitors are persuaded by Amphinomus to cut short their plotting to kill Telemachus. Instead they indulge their greed and obey Amphinomus’ instruction to "concentrate on feasting" – on Odysseus’ food and wine!

Amphinomus rushed the king in all his glory,
charging him face-to-face, a slashing sword drawn –
if only he could force him clear of the doorway, now,
but Telemachus – too quick – stabbed the man from behind,
plunging his bronze spear between the suitor’s shoulders
and straight on through his chest the point came jutting out –
down he went with a thud, his forehead slammed the ground.

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 22, lines 94-100. The death of suitor Amphinomus is described. As he attacks Odysseus with his sword, Telemachus stabs him with his spear in the back.
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