Laertes

= Laertes. =


 * //"He's the old one. ;)"// **

In Greek mythology, **Laërtes** (Greek : Λαέρτης) was the **son of Arcesius and Chalcomedusa **. He was the **father of Odysseus (**who was thus called Laertiades, Λαερτιάδης) and **Ctimene by his wife Anticlea ,** daughter of the thief Autolycus. He was also the King of Ithaca.**Laërtes' title was King of the Cephallenians,** which he presumably inherited from his father Arcesius and grandfather Cephalus. His realm included Ithaca and surrounding islands, and perhaps the neighboring part of the mainland.
 * Family Background:**

Another account says that Laërtes was not Odysseus's true father; rather, it was Sisyphus, who had seduced Anticlea.
 * Family Controversy:**

In his youth Laertes had conquered Nericum, a coast town in Cephalenia, and he is also said to have taken part in the Calydonian hunt, and in the expedition of the Argonauts. At the time when Odysseus returned from Troy, Laertes lived in rural retirement, and was occupied with agricultural pursuits, and an old female slave attended to his wants but, after the departure of Telemachus, he was so overpowered by his grief, that he gave up his rustic pursuits. After the murder of the suitors, Odysseus visited him, and led him back to his house, and Athena made him young again, so that soon after he was able to take part in the fight against the approaching Ithacans.
 * Important events:**

Laertes stays away from Odysseus' home while Odysseus is gone. He keeps to himself on his farm, overcome with grief over Odysseus' absence and alone after his wife, Anticleia, died from grief herself. Odysseus finally comes to see Laertes after he has killed all the suitors competing for Penelope. He finds his father spading a plant, looking old and tired and filled with sadness. Odysseus keeps his identity to himself at first, but when he sees how disappointed Laertes is to learn that this "stranger" has no news of his son, Odysseus reveals himself, and proves his identity by reciting all the trees he received from Laertes when he was a boy. This emphasis on the land of Ithaca itself perhaps signifies that Odysseus has finally reconnected with his homeland, and his journey is over. Laertes had trained Odysseus in husbandry. After their reunion, the two of them return to Odysseus' home to fend off the families of the dead suitors. Athena __i__nfuses vigour into Laërtes, so he can help Odysseus by killing Eupeithes, father of Antinous. In Robert Fitzgerald's transla of the // Odyssey //, Odysseus refers to him as **King Allwoes**.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laertes http://www.pantheon.org/articles/l/laertes.html http://www.mythindex.com/greek-mythology/L/Laertes.html http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Mythology/Images/Laertes1.gif http://www.answers.com/topic/laertes