Geography Index

Spring of Arethusa

A spring on the island of Ithaka (Ithaca).

  Returning to his home island of Ithaka, Odysseus encountered the goddess Athene (Athena). She told him to go to the Spring of Arethusa so he could meet the swineherd, Eumaios (Eumaeus). Athene said Eumaios was still loyal to Odysseus and his son, Telemachos (Telemachus), and would help him become acquainted with the indulgences and plots of the local people, in particular the suitors who wanted to marry Odysseus' wife, Penelope. Before departing, Athene transformed Odysseus into the guise of a beggar so no one would recognize him, not even Eumaios.

Latitude North, Longitude East
38.3294, 20.7412