Penelope does not rule Ithaca as a sovereign or queen during Odysseus’s 20-year absence in the Odyssey. Instead, her role aligns with managing the household and estate under the constraints of Ancient Greek law and custom, particularly the concept of epiklerate.
Odysseus is away for twenty years: ten years fighting the Trojan War and ten more trying to return home. During this long absence, many assume he is dead. Penelope remains on Ithaca but faces great challenges. Suitors invade her home, pressing her to remarry, aiming to seize Odysseus’ estate and political influence. Meanwhile, her son Telemachus is a minor and in danger.
The Odyssey does not describe Ithaca as a kingdom ruled by a king in the modern sense. Instead, governance resembles an aristocratic assembly rather than centralized kingship. This means no single ruler holds absolute power over Ithaca. Penelope’s authority is not political rule but household and estate management pending Odysseus’s return.
The central issue in the narrative centers on inheritance and the legal status of Odysseus’ estate rather than political leadership. In Ancient Greece, a particular legal arrangement called epiklerate governed such situations. When a male head of household (the kyrios) died or disappeared and the male heir was too young or absent, a female relative, the epikleros, became legally bound to the estate. She could not truly own or rule it but was a custodial figure ensuring the estate stayed within the family line.
| Term | Meaning/Role |
|---|---|
| Kyrios | Male head of household, legal authority over estate |
| Epikleros | Female relative attached to an intestate estate lacking a male heir |
| Epiklerate | Legal system where estate passes through marriage by the epikleros |
In Penelope’s case, her son Telemachus is too young to be kyrios. Odysseus’ other male relatives are distant or absent, so Penelope effectively serves as the epikleros. Her role is to guard the estate until a suitable male kyrios emerges, whether that be Odysseus himself or a man who marries her.
The Odyssey portrays Penelope’s situation dramatically to reflect and explore these legal and social realities. She exercises power primarily by delaying marriage to the suitors, using cunning and loyalty to Odysseus. However, she does not wield formal political power or govern Ithaca in a traditional sense. The suitors’ presence reveals the instability and contested control during the prolonged absence, highlighting her limited, unofficial authority.
Historically, women in Ancient Greece rarely held formal political authority. Power was almost exclusively male. Women’s roles were confined mostly to managing the estate and domestic affairs under the authority of a male guardian or husband. Penelope’s role as epikleros aligns with these restrictions. She safeguards her husband’s legacy but does not assume rulership.
In summary, Penelope does not “rule” Ithaca in the classical political meaning during Odysseus’ absence. She manages his estate within a patriarchal legal system designed to transfer property and control through males. Her role is exceptional in its resilience and subtle power but limited by Ancient Greek customs.
- Odysseus is absent from Ithaca for 20 years (10 at war, 10 returning).
- The Odyssey does not depict Ithaca as a kingdom with absolute kingship; governance involves an assembly.
- Penelope functions as epikleros, a woman bound to the estate until a male heir is ready or returns.
- The key issue is inheritance and estate protection, not political rule.
- Penelope’s authority is limited and contested, primarily exercised through household management and delaying suitors.
- Ancient Greek law and society generally prohibited women from official political power.
- The Odyssey dramatizes social and legal realities rather than strictly historical female political rulership.
