Telemachus

Mortal man

Telemachus ( tə-LEM-ə-kəs; Ancient Greek: Τηλέμᾰχος, romanized: Tēlémăkhos, lit. 'far-fighter', IPA: [tɛː.lé.ma.kʰos]) is the son of Odysseus and Penelope in Greek mythology, and a central character in Homer's Odyssey. When Telemachus reached manhood, he visited Pylos and Sparta in search of his wandering father.

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Mentions
2
Connected characters
2
Books
2
Telemachus. Telemachos-Figur
Telemachos-Figur · Anna16Image source ↗CC BY-SA 3.0

Mentions in the Iliad

A. T. Murray, Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press, 1924 · Homer, Iliad with an English Translation · CC BY-SA 3.0 US

“nor may I any more be called the father of Telemachus, if I take thee not, and strip off thy raiment, thy cloak, and thy tunic that cover thy nakedness, and for thyself send thee wailing to the swift ships, beaten forth from the place of gathering with shameful blows.”
Il. 2.260–264
“Son of Atreus, what a word hath escaped the barrier of thy teeth! How sayest thou that we are slack in battle, whenso we Achaeans rouse keen war against the horse-taming Trojans? Thou shalt see, if so be thou wilt and if thou carest aught therefor, the father of Telemachus mingling with the foremost fighters”
Il. 4.350–354

Connections

Father · Sources
Father · Sources
Son of Atreus, what a word hath escaped the barrier of thy teeth! How sayest thou that we are slack in battle, whenso we Achaeans rouse keen war against the horse-taming Trojans? Thou shalt see, if so be thou wilt and if thou carest aught therefor, the father of Telemachus mingling with the foremost fighters
Il. 4.354

Il. 4.354

Grandfather · Sources
Grandfather · Sources

Происхождение выведено по цепочке родителей: Лаэрт → Одиссей → Телемах.

as he stood. He laid no hand upon his benched, black ship, for that grief had come upon his heart and soul; and flashing-eyed Athene stood near him, and said: Son of Laërtes, sprung from Zeus, Odysseus of many wiles, is it thus indeed that ye will fling yourselves
Il. 2.173
This again is Laertes' son, Odysseus of many wiles, that was reared in the land of Ithaca, rugged though it be, and he knoweth all manner of craft and cunning devices. Then to her again made answer Antenor, the wise: Lady, this verily is a true word that thou hast spoken,
Il. 3.200
Son of Atreus, what a word hath escaped the barrier of thy teeth! How sayest thou that we are slack in battle, whenso we Achaeans rouse keen war against the horse-taming Trojans? Thou shalt see, if so be thou wilt and if thou carest aught therefor, the father of Telemachus mingling with the foremost fighters
Il. 4.354

Il. 2.173 · Il. 3.200 · Il. 4.354 · Il. 4.358 · Il. 8.93 · Il. 9.307 · Il. 9.624 · Il. 10.144 · Il. 10.544 · Il. 10.570 · Il. 11.316

In art

Vouet Simon Hélène offrant à Ménélas la potion de la reine Polydamne
Vouet Simon Hélène offrant à Ménélas la potion de la reine PolydamneSimon Vouet · 1600Musée CarnavaletInv. P2486

Simon Vouet. Vouet Simon Hélène offrant à Ménélas la potion de la reine Polydamne. Musée Carnavalet. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18785915

The Sorrow of Telemachus
The Sorrow of TelemachusAngelica Kauffmann · 1783Metropolitan Museum of Art · Нью-ЙоркOil on canvasInv. 25.110.187

Angelica Kauffmann. The Sorrow of Telemachus. Metropolitan Museum of Art. CC0. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19912047

The Return of Telemachus to Penelope
The Return of Telemachus to PenelopeAntonio Zucchi · 1773National TrustInv. 960077.5

Antonio Zucchi. The Return of Telemachus to Penelope. National Trust. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q55429982

See all 18
Helen Recognising Telemachus, Son of Odysseus
Helen Recognising Telemachus, Son of OdysseusJean-Jacques Lagrenée · 1795Hermitage Museum

Jean-Jacques Lagrenée. Helen Recognising Telemachus, Son of Odysseus. Hermitage Museum. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q115688037

Image author: Jean-Jacques Lagrenée

Image date: 1795

Telemachus, Urged by Mentor, Leaving the Island of Calypso
Telemachus, Urged by Mentor, Leaving the Island of CalypsoCharles Meynier · 1800Louvre Abu Dhabi

Charles Meynier. Telemachus, Urged by Mentor, Leaving the Island of Calypso. Louvre Abu Dhabi. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q117745912

Calypso Receiving Telemachus and Mentor on her Island
Calypso Receiving Telemachus and Mentor on her IslandPierre Edme Louis Pellier · 1804Musée des Beaux-Arts de CaenInv. 2018.11.1

Pierre Edme Louis Pellier. Calypso Receiving Telemachus and Mentor on her Island. Musée des Beaux-Arts de Caen. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q120555764

Antonio balestra, l'incontro di telemaco e calipso, 1700 ca
Antonio balestra, l'incontro di telemaco e calipso, 1700 caAntonio Balestra · 1700Milwaukee Art Museum

Antonio Balestra. Antonio balestra, l'incontro di telemaco e calipso, 1700 ca. Milwaukee Art Museum. CC BY 3.0. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q127608460

Calypso receiving Telemachus and Mentor in the Grotto
Calypso receiving Telemachus and Mentor in the GrottoWilliam Hamilton · 1800Collection not recorded

William Hamilton. Calypso receiving Telemachus and Mentor in the Grotto. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19738877

Telemachus and the Nymphs of Calypso
Telemachus and the Nymphs of CalypsoAngelica Kauffmann · 1782Metropolitan Museum of Art · Нью-ЙоркOil on canvasInv. 25.110.188

Angelica Kauffmann. Telemachus and the Nymphs of Calypso. Metropolitan Museum of Art. CC0. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19912157

Telemachus and Calypso
Telemachus and CalypsoJean Raoux · 1722Department of Paintings of the LouvreInv. INV 7362

Jean Raoux. Telemachus and Calypso. Department of Paintings of the Louvre. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q29840462

Телемах и Евхариса
Телемах и ЕвхарисаJacques-Louis David · 1818J. Paul Getty MuseumInv. 87.PA.27

Jacques-Louis David. Телемах и Евхариса. J. Paul Getty Museum. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3230385

Telemachus and Termosiris
Telemachus and TermosirisLouis-Jean-François Lagrenée · 1770National TrustInv. 732111

Louis-Jean-François Lagrenée. Telemachus and Termosiris. National Trust. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q52279698

Return of Telemachus
Return of TelemachusArtist not recorded · Date not establishedCollection not recorded

Antonio Canova. Return of Telemachus. собрание не указано. CC BY-SA 3.0. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AArtgate_Fondazione_Cariplo_-_Canova_Antonio%2C_Ritorno_di_Telemaco.jpg

Image author: Antonio Canova

Image date: between 1787 and 1790

(Venice) Return of Telemachus to Ithaca by Antonio Canova - Museo Correr
(Venice) Return of Telemachus to Ithaca by Antonio Canova - Museo CorrerArtist not recorded · Date not establishedCollection not recorded

Didier Descouens. (Venice) Return of Telemachus to Ithaca by Antonio Canova - Museo Correr. собрание не указано. Public domain. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3A%28Venice%29_Return_of_Telemachus_to_Ithaca_by_Antonio_Canova_-_Museo_Correr.jpg

Image author: Didier Descouens

Image date: Taken on 11 May 2023

Lewy architraw penelopa odyseusz telemach
Lewy architraw penelopa odyseusz telemachArtist not recorded · Date not establishedCollection not recorded

Panek. Lewy architraw penelopa odyseusz telemach. собрание не указано. CC BY-SA 4.0. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ALewy_architraw_penelopa_odyseusz_telemach.jpg

Image author: Panek

Image date: 2025-09-16 16:30:25

Madrid - Museo de Historia - Mentor y Telemaco 01
Madrid - Museo de Historia - Mentor y Telemaco 01Artist not recorded · Date not establishedCollection not recorded

Javier Perez Montes. Madrid - Museo de Historia - Mentor y Telemaco 01. собрание не указано. CC BY-SA 4.0. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AMadrid_-_Museo_de_Historia_-_Mentor_y_Telemaco_01.jpg

Image author: Javier Perez Montes

Image date: 2023-02-11 11:33:19

Mentor y Telémaco, Cerámica, sXVIII
Mentor y Telémaco, Cerámica, sXVIIIArtist not recorded · Date not establishedCollection not recorded

Keinmy. Mentor y Telémaco, Cerámica, sXVIII. собрание не указано. CC BY 3.0. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AMentor_y_Tel%C3%A9maco%2C_Cer%C3%A1mica%2C_sXVIII.jpg

Image author: Keinmy

Image date: 2020-07-25 15:58:59

Telemachos-Figur
Telemachos-FigurLudwig Cauer · 1902Collection not recorded

Ludwig Cauer. Telemachos-Figur. CC BY-SA 3.0. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q72099371

04 / PROVENANCE

Sources and verification

The character is matched to the catalogue.

Wikidata Q192482

Reference material remains distinct from the poem’s assertions. Characters who share a name retain separate pages.