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Bum Boxing, The Scar, and the Dream of the Geese: Decoding Odyssey Books 18-19 (Ad Navseam Ep. 34)

Meta Description: Join Dr. David Noe and Dr. Jeff Winkle in Ad Navseam Episode 34 as they explore the brutal “bum boxing” of Book 18, the tragedy of the dog Argos, and the intimate recognition scene between Odysseus and Eurycleia. Discover why the Odyssey is a comedy of manners, the meaning of the “Gate of Horn,” and why a Latin language expert might prefer Steven Tyler to Rod Stewart.

Introduction: Steven Tyler in the Vomitorium

Welcome back to the “Vomitorium,” listeners! It is Episode 34 of the Ad Navseam Podcast, and your hosts, Dr. Jeff Winkle and Dr. David Noe, are back in the booth.

The mood today is a bit… raspy. Dr. Winkle is fighting off a lingering illness, which has given his voice a gritty, rock-star quality . Dr. Noe, always looking for a silver lining, suggests this might be Jeff’s chance to launch a cover band career. But who is the inspiration? Steven Tyler of Aerosmith? Or Rod Stewart?

While Dr. Winkle prefers the idea of channeling the “Demon of Screamin’” (Tyler), Dr. Noe unfortunately starts quoting “Wake Up Maggie,” confusing his rockers and proving once again that classicists should probably stick to the Latin language rather than classic rock. Despite the vocal fry, the show must go on, because the Odyssey is hurtling toward its violent climax.

Shout-Out: Kirkulus Maximus

Before the fists start flying in Odysseus’s palace, the hosts offer a shout-out to a titan of the field: Dr. Kirk Summers (or “Kirkulus Maximus”), a Professor of Classics at the University of Alabama, Birmingham.

Kirk is a good friend of the show and a world expert on Theodore Beza. He currently has a Latin 202 class reading the Aeneid of Virgil. So, a special Salvete to students Megan, Grace, and Haley. Keep fighting the good fight and studying the Latin language—it will serve you well long after you leave the classroom.

The Opening Quote: Homer’s Dramatic Method

Dr. Winkle sets the stage with a quote from Bernard Knox’s introduction to the Fagles translation of the Iliad. Knox argues that Homer’s method is “dramatic rather than epic”.

“We are not told what is going on in the mind of his characters. We are shown. Homer… does not say, nor does he conceal; he indicates.”

This is crucial for understanding the Odyssey. We rarely get interior monologues (though, as we will see, there is a rare exception in today’s text). Instead, we have to deduce motives from dialogue and action. When Penelope tells a story or Odysseus tells a lie, we have to read between the lines to find the truth.

The Omission: The Tragedy of Argos

Before diving into Book 18, the hosts have to address a “glaring omission” from the previous week. In their haste, they skipped over one of the most poignant moments in the entire epic: the death of Argos, Odysseus’s hunting dog.

Argos has waited 20 years for his master. Once a mighty hunter, he is now old, flea-bitten, and lying on a pile of dung outside the palace gates—a stark symbol of the suitors’ violation of Xenia (hospitality). They feast inside while the King’s dog rots outside.

When Odysseus walks by in his beggar disguise, Argos recognizes him. He thumps his tail and drops his ears. He knows. Odysseus wipes away a single tear but cannot stop, or he will blow his cover. Having seen his master one last time, Argos dies. Dr. Noe admits this scene is heart-wrenching, even for a “no pet person” like himself.

Book 18: Bum Boxing and the Goat Paunch

Now, into the palace. Book 18 gives us a scene that Dr. Winkle describes as “bum boxing”.

Odysseus (the new beggar) is confronted by Irus, the resident beggar of Ithaca. Irus is a “step-and-fetch-it” for the suitors, named after Iris, the messenger goddess. He sees Odysseus as a rival for the scraps and tries to bully him:

“Out of the doorway, geezer, before I throw you out on your ear.”

The suitors, bored and cruel, decide to turn this into a sporting event. They pit the two homeless men against each other, offering a prize that only a haggis-lover could appreciate: a goat paunch stuffed with blood and fat.

When Odysseus strips off his rags to fight, the joke is on Irus. Underneath the tatters, Odysseus is ripped. (Dr. Noe avoids the term “dad bod,” thankfully) . Homer gives us a rare glimpse into Odysseus’s mind here: “Should he knock the man stone cold dead or ease up?” He decides to “ease up” and merely crushes Irus’s jawbone, laying him out flat.

Amphinomus: The “Good” Suitor

After the fight, Odysseus shares a moment with Amphinomus, the one “decent” suitor. He warns him to leave the palace before the King returns. But Homer tells us it is futile: Athena has already “pinned” him. Even the good suitor is guilty by association and fated to die. It is a dark reminder that in the Odyssey, justice is often total and unsparing.

Book 19: The Interview and the Brooch

The tension ratchets up in Book 19. Odysseus and Telemachus remove the weapons from the hall, clearing the stage for the slaughter. Then, Penelope comes down to interview the stranger.

This conversation is a masterpiece of irony. Penelope tells the beggar about her trick with the death shroud for Laertes—weaving by day, unweaving by night . Why tell a stranger this intimate family secret? Dr. Noe suggests she suspects the beggar is Odysseus and is signaling him: “Look how clever I am. I’m just like you”.

Odysseus, maintaining his cover, spins a yarn about meeting Odysseus in Crete. To prove it, he describes what the King was wearing: a purple cloak and a golden brooch depicting a hound clutching a fawn. This is a mini-ekphrasis (a detailed description of art), similar to the Shield of Achilles in the Iliad. The detail convinces Penelope, and she weeps.

The Scar: A Recognition Scene

Penelope orders her old nurse, Eurycleia, to wash the beggar’s feet. This leads to the most dangerous moment for Odysseus.

As Eurycleia washes him, she feels a scar on his thigh—a souvenir from a boar hunt on Mount Parnassus when Odysseus was a teenager . She knows immediately. “You are Odysseus!” she starts to cry out.

Odysseus’s reaction is violent. He grabs her by the throat with one hand and pulls her close with the other. “If you betray me… I will not spare you,” he hisses . It is a shocking display of ruthlessness, proving that nothing—not even the love of his old nanny—will stand in the way of his revenge. Eurycleia, loyal to the bone, swears silence.

The Dream of the Geese & The Gate of Horn

The episode concludes with Penelope’s strange dream. She tells the beggar she dreamed of 20 geese feeding at her trough, which were then killed by a giant eagle. In the dream, she wept for the geese.

Why weep for the suitors (the geese)? Dr. Noe argues this complexity makes Penelope human. She hates the suitors, but she also enjoys the attention. She is conflicted.

She then introduces the famous concept of the Two Gates of Dreams:

She fears her dream of Odysseus’s return came through the Gate of Ivory. To settle the matter, she announces she will hold a contest the next day: the Trial of the Bow. Whoever can string Odysseus’s bow and shoot through 12 axe heads will win her hand.

Sponsors

This deep dive into the psychology of Ithaca is brought to you by:

Next Week: How to Tell a Joke

We ran out of time for Book 20 (the classic “bait and switch”), but next week we are taking a break from the Odyssey.

We will be joined by Dr. Michael Fontaine of Cornell University to discuss his new book, How to Tell a Joke: An Ancient Guide to the Art of Humor. It promises to be a funny one—or at least, as Dr. Winkle says, “It better be funny”.

The Gustatory Parting Shot

Dr. Winkle takes us out with a quote from John Gunther, reminding us that before you box a beggar or string a bow, you should probably eat:

“All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast.”

Valete!

Resources for the Language Learner:The Moss Method and Latin: Want to read the Aeneid alongside Kirk Summers’ students? Dr. Noe’s self-paced programs take you from Neophyte to Erudite. Visit mossmethod.com.

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