In Homer's Book 17 of The Odyssey,
Odysseus disguises himself as a beggar, and enters his home. Telemachus instructs
Odysseus to go into the banquet hall where the suitor's for Penelope's hand (much to her
chagrin) remain gathered, eating her food and infringing on her
privacy.
This has been going on for some time. After all,
Odysseus has been gone for twenty years, as the gods have detained him, and most of
these men believe that Odysseus has died, and his great wealth and beautiful wife are
available for the taking.
When Odysseus enters the hall,
many of the suitors take pity on the beggar, but Antinoös and Eurymachus are rude and
disdainful. Antinoös even throws a footstool at Odysseus, in no way suspecting that the
seemingly pitiful creature before them is really the great hero,
Odysseus.
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