Telemachus has to go see Nestor because he needs information on his father Odysseus's possible whereabouts. The Trojan War ended ten years ago, and though Nestor and Odysseus left Troy at the same time, Odysseus has not yet returned home. In fact, all the men who were expected home from the war have returned, and yet no one knows anything of Odysseus's fate.
When Telemachus arrives at Pylos, along with Athena who is disguised as...
Telemachus has to go see Nestor because he needs information on his father Odysseus's possible whereabouts. The Trojan War ended ten years ago, and though Nestor and Odysseus left Troy at the same time, Odysseus has not yet returned home. In fact, all the men who were expected home from the war have returned, and yet no one knows anything of Odysseus's fate.
When Telemachus arrives at Pylos, along with Athena who is disguised as Mentor, he finally meets Nestor, and he says,
"I come afar to seek some tidings of my father, royal hardy Odysseus, who once, they say, fought side by side with you and sacked the Trojan town."
He goes on to say that the fate of every other man who did not return from Troy is known, but no one is able to give them any news about Odysseus's fate or whereabouts. Nestor does not know, and so he sends his son with Telemachus to Menelaus's palace at Lacedaemon. Menelaus tells Telemachus that he heard that Odysseus was last seen on an island, "letting the big tears fall, in the hall of the nymph Calypso, who holds him there by force."
It has become more and more urgent that Telemachus find his father (or find out that he is, in fact, dead) because the suitors who wish to marry Penelope, Odysseus's wife (or widow, if he's dead), are eating them out of house and home, taking advantage of the hospitality they are due by custom until Penelope chooses a husband from among them.
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