Page "Circe" Paragraph 7

Towards the end of Hesiod's Theogony ( 1011f ), we find that Circe bore Odysseus three sons: Ardeas or Agrius ( otherwise unknown ); Latinus ; and Telegonus, who ruled over the Tyrsenoi, that is the Etruscans.

The Telegony ( Τηλεγόνεια ), an epic now lost, relates the later history of the last of these.

Circe eventually informed him who his absent father was and, when he set out to find Odysseus, gave him a poisoned spear.

With this he killed his father unknowingly.

Telegonus then brought back his father's corpse, together with Penelope and Odysseus ' other son Telemachus, to Aeaea.

After burying Odysseus, Circe made the others immortal.

According to Lycophron's Alexandra ( 808 ) and John Tzetzes ' scholia on the poem ( 795-808 ), however, Circe used magical herbs to bring Odysseus back to life after he had been killed by Telegonus.

Odysseus then gave Telemachus to Circe's daughter Cassiphone in marriage.

Some time later, Telemachus had a quarrel with his mother-in-law and killed her ; Cassiphone then killed Telemachus to avenge her mother's death.

On hearing of this, Odysseus died of grief.