Telemachus
- the son of Ulysses and Penelope, Hyg. Fab. 127; Ov. H. 1, 98; 1, 107; Hor. Ep. 1, 7, 40; Cat. 61, 229.
(Τηλέμαχος). The son of Odysseus and Penelopé. He was still an infant when the Trojan War began, and when his father had been absent from home nearly twenty years, Telemachus went to Pylos and Sparta to gather information concerning him. He was hospitably received by Nestor , who sent his own son to conduct Telemachus to Sparta. Menelaüs also received him kindly, and communicated to him the prophecy of Proteus concerning Odysseus. From Sparta Telemachus returned home; and on his arrival there he found his father, whom he assisted in slaying the suitors. (See Odysseus.) According to some accounts, Telemachus became the father of Perseptolis either by Polycasté, the daughter of Nestor , or by Nausicaa, the daughter of Alcinoüs (Eustath. ad Hom. p. 1796; Dict. Cret. vi. 6). Others relate that he was induced by Athené to marry Circé, and became by her the father of Latinus (see Circe); or that he married Cassiphoné, a daughter of Circé, but in a quarrel with his mother-in-law slew her, for which he was in his turn killed by Cassiphoné (Tzetz. ad Lyc. 808). The story of Telemachus was taken as a basis for a famous romance by the great French Archbishop Fénelon, entitled Télémaque, which Louis XIV. regarded as a satire on his court, but which was long popular in France as a school-book.
- Olympic victor: Paus. 6.13.11
- Apollod. E.3.5
- talks with Nestor: Paus. 10.25.2, Hdt. 2.116
- returns from Pylos: Paus. 9.41.4
- Odysseus reveals himself to: Apollod. E.7.29
- helps Odysseus to shoot the suitors: Apollod. E.7.32