

53900
17
Penelope and the Suitors
1912
painting by John William Waterhouse (Museum: Aberdeen Art Gallery)
While her husband, Odysseus, was absent fighting in the Trojan War, Penelope waited faithfully for him in Ithaca. When he failed to return at the end of the war she was plagued by persistent suitors and, even though she remained aloof, the local noblemen could not be discouraged. Desperate to avoid re-marriage, she conceived the idea of postponing her decision until she had completed weaving a piece of tapestry intended as a shroud for Laertes, Odysseus's father. Every night she unravelled the work she had done during the day thereby prolonging her labour until the return of Odysseus, finally delivered her from the suitors.
While her husband, Odysseus, was absent fighting in the Trojan War, Penelope waited faithfully for him in Ithaca. When he failed to return at the end of the war she was plagued by persistent suitors and, even though she remained aloof, the local noblemen could not be discouraged. Desperate to avoid re-marriage, she conceived the idea of postponing her decision until she had completed weaving a piece of tapestry intended as a shroud for Laertes, Odysseus's father. Every night she unravelled the work she had done during the day thereby prolonging her labour until the return of Odysseus, finally delivered her from the suitors.
- Medium:
- Oil on canvas
- License:
- Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
- For more:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suitors_of_Penelope
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