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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Connected characters
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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

In art

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

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

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

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

Photograph / reproduction: Jean-Jacques Lagrenée

Photograph / reproduction date: 1795

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

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

See all 18

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photograph / reproduction: Antonio Canova

Photograph / reproduction date: between 1787 and 1790

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

Photograph / reproduction: Didier Descouens

Photograph / reproduction date: Taken on 11 May 2023

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

Photograph / reproduction: Panek

Photograph / reproduction date: 2025-09-16 16:30:25

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

Photograph / reproduction: Javier Perez Montes

Photograph / reproduction date: 2023-02-11 11:33:19

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

Photograph / reproduction: Keinmy

Photograph / reproduction date: 2020-07-25 15:58:59

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

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.