They all shouted approval of the prince
as Odysseus belted up, roping his rags around his loins,
baring his big rippling thighs – his boxer’s broad shoulders,
his massive chest and burly arms on full display
as Athena stood beside him,
fleshing out the limbs of the great commander…
Despite their swagger, the suitors were amazed,
gaping at one another, trading forecasts:
"Irus will soon be ironed out for good!"
"He’s in for the beating he begged for all along."
"Look at the hams on that old-timer – "
"Just under his rags!"
– Homer
The Odyssey, Book 18, lines 76-86. As Odysseus belts up in preparation for the fight with Irus, his boxer’s physique is exposed. The suitors are amazed at his rippling thighs, broad shoulders, huge chest and burly arms. But they don’t draw any conclusions, other than predicting that Irus is in for a beating. They don’t know that they are looking at Odysseus their king.