Penelope

Penelope (pənĕl`əpē), in Greek mythology, wife of Odysseus and the mother of Telemachus. In Homer's Odyssey she is pictured as a chaste and faithful wife. When Odysseus was away, she was surrounded by suitors who tried to persuade her that he would never return. She agreed to choose another husband when she finished weaving her father-in-law's shroud, but this was never done, for she unraveled by night what she wove by day. At last her strategem was discovered, and the suitors were enraged. She promised to marry the man who could bend her husband's great bow. None of the suitors could do this but Odysseus, who had returned disguised as a beggar. With the aid of the strung bow, Odysseus slaughtered the suitors and then revealed himself to Penelope. In another legend, however, Penelope was not faithful to her husband, but slept with one or all of the suitors and was banished by Odysseus on his return.

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Penelope

Extensions to the open source Thunderbird e-mail client that made it more Eudora-like. Penelope was later renamed Eudora. See Eudora.

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Penelope

put off a decision on which suitor to marry by secretly unraveling the shroud she said she must first complete. [Gk. Lit.: Odyssey]

See : Indecision

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Penelope

foils suiters for twenty years while awaiting return of Odysseus. [Gk. Myth.: Kravitz, 182]

See : Perseverance

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Penelope

weaves shroud for 20 years, unraveling it each night. [Gk. Lit.: Odyssey]

See : Sewing and Weaving

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Penelope

a model of wifely virtue. [Gk. Lit.: Odyssey]

See : Wifeliness

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Penelope

in the ancient Greek epic the Odyssey, the wife of Odysseus and the mother of Telemachus. During the 20-year absence of Odysseus, Penelope remained faithful to him, declining the proposals of all suitors. She promised to choose a husband when she finished weaving a shroud for her father-in-law, Laërtes; however, at night she would unravel the day’s work. When her suitors discovered the deception, Penelope promised to become the wife of the man who succeeded in shooting Odysseus’ bow, hoping that no one would be able to draw the powerful bow. After Odysseus, who had secretly returned, had killed all the suitors, Penelope recognized him. Penelope’s name has come to signify marital faithfulness and devotion.