The Odyssey Medon Quotes

Medon, the soul of thoughtfulness, responded,
"I don’t know if a god inspired your son
or the boy’s own impulse led him down to Pylos,
but he went to learn of his father’s journey home,
or whatever fate he’s met."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 4, lines 801-805. Court herald Medon tells Penelope of her son Telemachus’ journey to Pylos and Lacedaemon to find out what happened to Odysseus on his journey home from Troy. He suggests that the trip may have been inspired by a god – it was actually goddess Athena.

The inspired Prince Telemachus heard his pleas
and quickly said to his father close beside him,
"Stop, don’t cut him down! This one’s innocent.
So is the herald Medon – the one who always
tended me in the house when I was little –
spare him too."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 22, lines 374-379. With Odysseus killing everyone in his path, the bard Phemius has just begged him for mercy for himself and the herald Medon. Telemachus intervenes to prevent his father from slaughtering two innocent servants who have not been disloyal.

"Hear me, men of Ithaca. Not without the hand
of the deathless gods did Odysseus do these things!
Myself, I saw an immortal fighting at his side –
like Mentor to the life. I saw the same god,
now in front of Odysseus, spurring him on,
now stampeding the suitors through the hall,
crazed with fear, and down they went in droves."
Terror gripped them all, their faces ashen white.

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 24, lines 490-497. Odysseus’ herald Medon addresses the angry families and supporters of the dead suitors. He tells them that he saw a god fighting on the side of Odysseus – it was actually goddess Athena. The crowd stands frozen in terror when they hear this.
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