Aphrodite's Spells Never Last
When I first heard of Odysseus and Penelope, I was thirteen, and I found their love for each other even though they hadn't seen each other for twenty years incredibly inspiring. As an adult, I still ship OdyPed. But as a woman who has been married for almost eighteen years, I have also found that "once you fall in love, you'll always be in love" to be a myth.
This tale is meant to make Odysseus and Penelope's love story more human.
I haven't been able to find out much about Odysseus and Penelope's courtship in the versions of the Iliad and Odyssey that I read, so much of that is taken from other fanfictions that I have enjoyed. Thanks to those writers.
Oh, and I almost forgot. OOOOOOOOO is time change and
XXXXXXXXX is POV change.
Odysseus of Ithaca leaned over the edge of his ship as it sailed closer and closer to Sparta.
As a youth, he'd loved sailing the Aegean Sea. The wind in his face, the faint aroma of salt, and staring down at the deep blue that Poseidon would never allow Odysseus to see the bottom. Even when Poseidon crashed the waves in anger, it hadn't dampened Odysseus's enthusiasm.
But then, what else would a person expect, for the prince of an island kingdom? Especially with all the sea creatures for Odysseus to observe and many ports he and his father traveled to for trading and diplomacy.
But this time, Odysseus wasn't traveling for diplomacy or trading. He had been invited to be one of the suitors of the most beautiful woman in the world. Helen of Sparta.
And he wished the ship would move faster. Odysseus stared at the blue sea again, wondering when land would appear.
It wasn't as if he actually expected to win the elusive Helen's hand, as much as his father would be disappointed to hear him think that. Laertes had made it perfectly clear that he was tired of ruling Ithaca and wished to abdicate in favor of Odysseus. But he'd need a wife to help run the palace and conceive an heir before his father could do such a thing. How many times had he heard his father say it? "I'd like you to find a bride soon, Odysseus….I'd love to retire and live permanently in our little orchard, but I need to know our royal line is secure first…Do you know how useful a wife would be if you were ruling Ithaca, Odysseus…."
But from what Odysseus understood, he was one of several men invited to court the young woman, and he'd studied enough about Sparta to know he wasn't truly the type of man that they would consider ideal. But he had to see just how beautiful this Helen was.
Was she truly a daughter of Zeus, with hair of shining spun gold? Was her skin really so smooth to the touch that a man's finger would slide right off her arm? Were her eyes bluer than Poseidon's sea? Would Helen's beauty truly be so blinding, it almost hurt to look at her? If Odysseus could just answer those questions for himself, this trip would be worth it.
Ever since Odysseus could remember, he'd had questions about everything. Why did Itaca trade with this kingdom and not that one? How did a fisherman know he would catch fish and not a mermaid? How long would it take to travel to Sparta?
Father had said such questions would make him a great king. Better yet, the goddess Athena had taken notice of him, encouraging him to ask even more questions and observe everything he could so that Odysseus could use his mind even more. Someday he might even be known as the smartest man in the world.
Odysseus wanted that. And right now, that meant sailing to Sparta as soon as possible. Not even water in his eyes from Poseidon's sea creatures would change that, he thought to himself as a splash of sea water landed in his face.
OOOOOOOOOO
The sea water had dried hours ago, and that endless sailing was now a distant memory. Odysseus stepped towards King Tyndareus, who was a muscular man with a wide smile. "I am Odysseus of Ithaca. I've brought some of our finest wool for spinning, as my home is known for its sheep and goats." He handed him the gift his father had chosen as he shook the king's hand.
King Tyndareus nodded, but his smile didn't reach his eyes. Odysseus had known the small offering wouldn't be that impressive. Still, the king said. "Thank you, Odysseus. And this is my daughter, Helen."
With that, Helen of Sparta stepped out of the shadows, and Odysseus realized her hair was spun gold, her eyes were as blue as Poseidon's sea, and her beauty was so blinding, it was overwhelming. He wasn't certain about the texture of her skin yet, but just looking at Helen now made this trip worth it.
OOOOOOOOOOO
About a day later, Odysseus wondered if staying in the kingdom of Sparta was worth it. There were six other suitors vying for Helen's hand, and he was already tired of watching the others argue about who should sit next to her, dance with her, or find more treasure to give her father.
"Helen, how would you like to hear about my kingdom?" said Little Ajax, almost jumping into the seat next to her for dinner.
"The silver necklace I found for you makes your eyes even more lovely, Helen," said Patroclus, openly admiring her beauty.
"It's my turn to dance with Helen of Sparta," Big Ajax said as she finished a dance with Agamenon.
OOOOOOOOOOO
"Odysseus, I've heard there are some pearls available off the coast of Crete," said Diomedes, the suitor that he got along with best. "Would you help me find them so I can give another gift to King Tyndareus to help increase my chances?"
The suitors and their hosts were enjoying another feast, and Odysseus let the smoked pork fill his mouth as he paused to answer his friend's question. He'd like to tell Diomedes he and the others suitors were all making fools out of themselves, but he had a feeling none of them cared. Not if they might be allowed to win the hand of the elusive Helen of Sparta.
His friend sighed at the look Odysseus gave him. "I know, I know, you think I'm wasting my time. But if I could just find something worth more than all the other gifts…"
Odysseus sighed. "Diomedes, she's a Spartan princess. Her father is going to choose the strongest of suitors, because Spartans value that above all else. You know who would win if all of us played the games." His hand gestured towards Big Ajax whose was the largest, most muscular man Odysseus had ever seen.
Shrugging, Diomedes said, "Maybe, but I know King Tyndareus is quite impressed with some of the gifts he's been given and clearly plans to reward those suitors accordingly. Menelaus apparently already has some gold stashed away, and I tend to think he's the biggest competitor." He gestured towards Menelaus who was talking to Helen.
Her eyes were shining even bluer than they were the day Odysseus met her and she appeared to be sitting closer to Menelaus than she would any of the other suitors. Would King Tyndareus choose the strongest man for his daughter, or the man Helen clearly preferred?
Father had warned Odysseus about how Aphrodite's spells on erotic love and passion could change the course of a courtship in a moment, but Odysseus hadn't truly appreciated his father's wisdom until now.
Even Helen's sister and cousin, Clytemnestra and Penelope, watched Helen and Menelaus as they whispered and giggled as Odysseus had been told young women did when they noticed one of their friends was under the influence of Aphrodite.
Odysseus felt the smoked pork in his stomach move uncomfortably as he realized things were about to become even more tense in Sparta in the next few days. Visions of fist fights and sword attacks danced through his head.
Taking a big swig of wine, Odysseus hoped to clear the images of friends fighting friends from his mind.
"Please, Odysseus," Diomedes said again as Odysseus tried to decide the king's next move. "Even if Aphrodite has cast a spell on Helen for Menelaus, gifts still speak louder to kings. Help me find some pearls."
"All right," Odysseus said, looking forward to leaving the tense atmosphere of Sparta for a while. Poseidon's sea would be much more enjoyable.
OOOOOOOOOO
Two days later, Odysseus was back in the middle of the tense atmosphere in Sparta.
Diomedes showed King Tyndareus the lovely pearls they'd found. "See, they sparkle in Apollo's light," he said as he laid each pearl on a table for the king to inspect. "And this little one is almost perfectly round," Diomedes held out one about the size of a grape seed, but perfectly smooth.
The king nodded without saying anything. The poor man was clearly stressed.
Agamenon and Patroclus just groaned. "That's nothing," Menelaus said, shaking his head in disbelief at the pearls. "The gold I have stored is much more valuable."
"And when will we actually see this gold?" Big Ajax said, pushing Menelaus out of the way. "King Tyndareus was very impressed with the fine oils I have already presented him, especially considering they were real."
Menelaus didn't seem bothered by Big Ajax forcing him out of the way, as he immediately began walking with Helen.
"Well, the pearls I have found are real, too," Diomedes said, stepping right in front of Big Ajax as Helen and Menelaus wandered around the courtyard. Odysseus appreciated that his friend was unafraid of challenging such a big man, but he was concerned it was a fight Diomedes couldn't win.
And Odysseus had to find a way to relief the tense atmosphere, short of cutting the air into little pieces with his sword. "Would you all like to hear how difficult it was to find these pearls? Diomedes and I had to search every inch of the coast of Crete to find them. A couple we even dove into the sea to find."
The fight in Big Ajax diminished, much to Odysseus's relief. Patroclus, Agamemnon, and Little Ajax turned their attention to Odysseus as well. Even King Tyndareus's eyes perked a bit, while sipping some evening wine. Only Menelaus paid no attention, as his entire focus was on Helen as they wandered around the courtyard.
Had Aphrodite cast a spell on both of them?
It didn't matter right now. Odysseus needed to keep everyone else's attention on his story. "I had to wrestle a mermaid for that one," he pointed to the little round pearl. His voice grew with excitement as he expanded what happened a bit.
Another thing Athena had encouraged Odysseus to do besides asking questions about everything was observe people's reactions based on the information he gave. And Odysseus found the easiest way to do that was to exaggerate, or even outright lie, about what had happened.
Would any of them believe he'd wrestled a mermaid?
Diomedes rolled his eyes, knowing exactly what had happened as they searched for the pearls. Big and Little Ajax's eyes grew large. "Truly?" said Big Ajax.
"Oh, yes," Odysseus said, delighted he'd both captured their attention and fooled them so completely. "Mermaids love pearls, you know. But all I had to do was grab her fin in the right place, and she fell."
Agamenon and Patroclus moved closer, clearly to hear more of the story, although they didn't say anything. Odysseus wanted to laugh at how gullible these men were proving to be.
Tyndareus nodded and smiled, looking much happier than he had earlier. He even offered Odysseus wine from his own supply. So, Odysseus kept talking. "And I grabbed the shell and the tiny pearl that was inside and swam as fast as Hermes to the surface."
Odysseus's grin widened as Penelope and Clytemnestra became interested in his tale as well, as their eyes darted between Helen and Menelaus and Odysseus.
OOOOOOOOOO
A couple of hours later, the others had gone upstairs, but King Tyndareus kept pouring more wine for Odysseus. "I can't thank you enough for what you did tonight," he said. His speech was a bit slurred, showing the effects of the wine, but the tone in his voice betrayed his sincerity. "Things have been stressful for the last few days, but I truly thought it would break into a fight tonight."
Taking a swig of wine, Odysseus nodded. "It concerned me, too." Once again, the image of Diomedes trying to take on Big Ajax flashed through his mind, and he shuddered.
"But what about next time?" Tyndareus said, drinking even more wine. "Or the time after that? I know as a Spartan King, I should encourage the men to fight to see who is strongest, but with Helen, it's so much more complicated. Did you know she's already been kidnapped once before, when she was only twelve? Now, no matter who wins in the end, the others clearly won't accept defeat. And we would destroy all our allies in the process."
The king's face crumpled, as if he had more weight to carry than Atlas. And he swallowed more wine, as if hit had all the answers.
Odysseus paused, understanding for the first time why King Tyndareus hadn't simply said Big Ajax would wed Helen. Or even Menelaus. Athena would be disappointed if he hadn't noticed that complication right away. He would never be known as the smartest man in the world if he missed those kinds of details.
But then he focused on that part about allies…
Grinning, Odysseus said, "What if you used the fact that we're all supposed to be allies to your advantage? All the suitors here would take an oath, that we would always be allies against anyone who would take Helen after she were wed, be it someone in this group or any outsider. These allies would fight whoever comes between her and her husband. If they refuse the oath, they will have to leave Sparta tomorrow, before Helen's husband is chosen." Perhaps Athena wouldn't be that disappointed in him, after all.
King Tyndareus grinned. "That just might work." With that, both men finished their wine.
OOOOOOOOOO
The next day, King Tyndareus ordered all suitors to take the oath. Menelaus, Patroclus, and Diomedes did so eagerly. Agamenon and Odysseus himself did so calmly. Yet both Big and Little Ajax complained and grunted about why such an oath was necessary, but Tyndareus made it clear why he was king of Sparta.
"You will take this oath now, or I will use my sword to escort you out of my kingdom immediately," he said with a thunder worthy of Zeus. "Or perhaps I'll decide my sword is more useful than exile…Or muscle," Tyndareus said, staring at Big Ajax's muscles without fear.
They both took the oath.
OOOOOOOOOO
After oath was settled, the men still competed for Helen's attention, but the atmosphere was more relaxed and almost playful. Helen still clearly preferred Menelaus, as her eyes would grow bluer in his presence, she would often giggle, and Odysseus thought he almost saw their noses touch once while they were dancing.
But now, Helen was dancing with Diomedes and Patroclus waited his turn. Meanwhile, Big and Little Ajax spoke to King Tyndareus again. Odysseus saw the king eye his sword, just in case.
"Look at that hair," Menelaus said, eying Helen as she danced. "And the way her legs move." Helen's smooth legs wiggled as the minstrel's music filled the air. He sighed. "If only I knew she would be mine." He took a swig of wine, as if the drink had all the answers, and munched on a piece of cheese.
"Brother, I know she's quite the sight to behold, but have you thought of the other things you'd need a queen to do for you?" Agamenon said carefully. "She'd need to be a hostess, and a steady council in time of trouble. Not to mention diplomatic skills." Odysseus nodded as he munched on an olive. He remembered all the things his father advised him to look for in a potential wife.
"And who is to say Helen cannot do all of those things?" Menelaus said, pushing his face into his brother's. "She's sweet. Besides, you have seemed just as eager to win her hand a I am in the past few days."
Agamenon shrugged. "I'm rethinking now that the competition for Helen isn't so fierce. She's gorgeous but I need more than that in a queen. Most of all I need someone I can trust in case I get called away." His eyes darted towards Helen's sister and cousin as he spoke. "I recommend you use your head, too, Menelaus. Aphrodite's spells may feel good, but they never last." Then he popped an olive in his mouth.
Odysseus opened his mouth to say something, whether in favor of Agamenon or Menelaus he wasn't certain. Agamenon's advice sounded good, especially for a man Odysseus had dismissed as not very clever. But ignoring Aphrodite's spells completely also didn't sit right with him, as much as Odysseus had always favored Athena.
But before he could do so, Menelaus wacked his brother across the face. Soon the brothers were fist-fighting, although it seemed more friendly than what Odysseus and King Tyndareus had feared would break out a few days ago.
Still, Odysseus stared as they bruised each other's faces and took turns pushing each other. Their wine, olives, and cheese lay forgotten on the table.
"Don't worry about them," Penelope said softly, speaking directly to him for the first time. "I'm surprised it's taken them this long to start wrestling. They do it every other day when we don't have guests." Odysseus remembered that he'd heard Agamenon and Menelaus had been staying at Sparta for the last few years. "Furthermore, I don't think you need to take Agamenon's advice to his brother seriously. He tends to use a lot of reverse psychology. You know, saying one thing but meaning the opposite. Especially with regards to his brother." She played with her braid of dark hair as she spoke.
Agamenon used reverse psychology? The man he'd dismissed as gullible because he'd believed Odysseus's mermaid story? There was clearly more to the man than he'd originally thought, and he apologized to Athena for dismissing Agamemnon so quickly.
But what was even more fascinating was that Penelope understood that right away. Granted, she knew both men well, but that insight on human behavior was extremely clever. The smartest man in the world would benefit from marrying a clever woman, after all.
Odysseus had mentally dismissed the idea of marrying another Spartan besides Helen. Spartan women were supposed to be very athletic and unwomanly. Helen was the exception because she was said to have been conceived by Zeus. Studying Penelope and her cousin Clytemnestra, Odysseus decided Clytemnestra may be a bit unwomanly, with her broad shoulders, muscular- looking legs, and a small chest.
But although Odysseus had seen Penelope a few times in the last several days, he suddenly saw her with new eyes tonight. She had thin, womanly arms, an adorable chest, and the smile she was wearing now made her face brighter than Helen's. Father, Odysseus thought to himself, I may yet find a bride here after all.
OOOOOOOOOOOOO
XXXXXXX
Helen's face was bright that night after everyone went to bed. "It was nice to see Menelaus and Agamenon wrestling a bit tonight. I was afraid they wouldn't do it anymore because of all the other suitors. But it's so…exciting to see their bodies move like that."
Penelope nodded in agreement. It was nice that the brothers hadn't completely abandoned their favorite way of communicating just because everyone else was here. She had to chuckle at poor Odysseus's reaction to their wrestling, though. He clearly thought the brothers would start an all-out war. At the same time, it was rather sweet that he cared so much.
"Did you remember you were supposed to be dancing with Diomedes, though sis?" Clytemnestra said, in the same teasing voice Penelope had used every time they discussed Helen and Menelaus. "Your eyes were on the two brothers, or rather one particular brother the entire time. I'm surprised Diomedes didn't get stepped on, for all the attention you paid to him."
Helen laughed and threw a pillow at her sister. "I had to make certain Menelaus was all right."
Penelope didn't believe that excuse for a moment. "I thought you just said it was exciting to see them fight," she said in the same teasing voice.
All three of them through their heads on the bed and laughed at that.
Penelope loved the way the three of them teased each other; it made her cousins' company enjoyable. And that was important, especially considering she often felt lacking compared to Helen and Clytemnestra. Helen was unearthly beautiful, catching the attention of men from all corners of the world. And Clytemnestra was the perfect Spartan woman, winning all the discus throws that proved she would bear healthy children. Once, she almost ran faster than Penelope's father, the champion runner.
Penelope had participated in all the Olympics but had yet to win anything. And no man except her father, Icarius, had ever noticed her.
OOOOOOOOOOOOO
Yet the next day, Odysseus clearly noticed something about Penelope, as he immediately sat next to her during their first meal.
She didn't understand his attention at all, especially as he launched into a long-winded story about his first boar hunt while she munched on her bread. "… And the mountain of Parnassus was so steep, I practically climbed a wall…" Penelope dipped her bread in oil and let the soft taste fill her mouth instead of focusing on Odysseus's yarn. "… And I caught the boar even before the hounds, so even they bowed to me." She suspected he thought his voice sounded normal, but his tone was off a bit.
A wide grin spread across his face, like he expected Penelope to bow to him as well. But she couldn't stop herself from laughing. "Do you really think people believe these tales? Hounds bowing? And there was the one about you wrestling a mermaid several days ago, too."
Odysseus's mouth dropped.
"Most people seem to believe them," he said finally. "Everyone here accepted my mermaid story."
Penelope shook her head, still chuckling. "I think you'll find not as many people believe your yarns as you think. I knew your mermaid tale was false. If you truly had encountered a mermaid, you wouldn't have returned to Sparta so quickly. And hounds bowing?" she shook her head in disbelief. "Besides, your voice got a bit higher when you spoke of the mermaid, and it did today when you spoke of the hounds." She popped another piece of bread in her mouth.
"Well, I've never met anyone who told me my tales were false," Odysseus said, his eyes becoming bigger as he looked at her. "You must be unreasonably clever."
Penelope smiled. "My father says I am."
"Then he is clever, too," he said, moving his body a bit closer to her. They picked up a piece of bread and dipped it in the oil at the same time, their hands brushing against each other. His was warm.
"But I did climb a mountain in a boar hunt once," Odysseus said, after swallowing the bread. "And I did kill the boar." He lifted his leg from under the table. "See? Here is the scar."
Penelope felt a strange urge to touch the scar, but she resisted, as that was forward and foolish. "And I did dive into the sea to find some of those pearls. Ask Diomedes. So not all of my "yarns' were lies." He almost glowed with pride, like Helen did when Menelaus spoke of her beauty.
Penelope sipped her wine. "I find the best lies often have a bit of truth in them."
Odysseus's eyes grew again as he stared at her, just as he had done when she'd told him his stories were false. "I do, too. And that's what Athena tells me."
OOOOOOOOOO
Odysseus's eyes were still big and focused on Penelope as they danced together that evening. She let the minstrel fill her soul with his music, moving her body with great delight; it was a nice feeling to be doing more than watching Helen dance with her different suitors.
"So, I know everyone has been focusing on Helen in the last week, but you must have had other suitors yourself," Odysseus said softly, so not to interrupt the music. "You're everything Agamenon said a man should look for in a wife. You're friendly, so you'd be a good hostess, you're clever, so you'd be good council, and you know how to tell a lie, so you must be trustworthy."
Penelope's heart skipped a beat. What was he saying? "Didn't I tell you last night not to pay attention to Agamenon? He usually says the opposite of what he means."
"Perhaps, but I still think it's good advice, especially as my father said something similar to me." Another wide grin spread across his face, like he expected her to fall at his feet.
Instead, Penelope performed a more complicated dance move. "I am still waiting for a suitor, actually," she said as their bodies brushed against each other. "Men have always flocked to Helen. Besides, I'm not strong like a Spartan woman should be, and some don't think me capable of bearing many children. My favorite hobby is weaving, not preparing for the Olympic Games."
Odysseus almost stopped dancing. "That cannot be true."
Penelope shrugged. "I am afraid it is, but I don't mind waiting as long as it takes to find a suitor. I can help my cousins find theirs, and weaving will always pass the time. Especially as Father is quick to admire my cleverness." The minstrel's music grew louder, almost as an answer to her comment.
Brushing his hand against hers, Odysseus answered as well. ""You're not only clever but you're extremely patient. I hate waiting."
Penelope laughed as Odysseus wrinkled his nose rumpled his beard at the very thought of waiting for anything. "Sometimes we don't have a choice," she said. Then her heart skipped a beat as he took her hand in his. What was happening between them?
OOOOOOOOOOO
Penelope still didn't know what was happening between her and Odysseus later that night, but her cousins were still eager to discuss it. "So, it looks like you have yourself a suitor, Penelope," Helen said with the same teasing voice they always used on her. "He's not bad looking."
Penelope thought of Odysseus with his brownish red hair, curly beard, and dark blue eyes. Helen was right; he wasn't bad looking, especially when his eyes got bigger when he stared at her. Then she shook her head. It mattered not. "He's not my suitor, Helen. He's one of yours."
"A suitor who has paid me almost no attention since he's arrived," Helen said, hitting her cousin playfully with a pillow. "And he has spent the whole day with you."
Penelope smiled as she thought of the day she and Odysseus spent together. But then she shook her head sharply, her hair flying all over her face. "That doesn't mean anything."
Clytemnestra grinned. "I think it means that Aphrodite has cast a spell on you and Odysseus just like she's cast a spell on Helen and Menelaus. Perhaps we'll have two weddings soon."
Penelope felt her face warm. Was she feeling the beginnings of erotic love? There was no way it could happen that fast, could it?
"I do think you should both be careful, though," Clytemnestra said more seriously, her eyes darting between her cousin and her sister. "A lot of times Aphrodite's spells don't last."
Penelope ignored the way her stomach twisted at her cousin's words. There was no reason to worry. "That's what Agamenon said last night, too, and you know as well as I do that, he always says the opposite of what he means." She flopped down on the bed as she talked.
Clytemnestra sighed. Penelope knew her cousin didn't always agree with her about Agamenon's reverse psychology. "That may be, but I still think what he said might be true." Then she flopped her head down onto the bed as well.
"Then I suggest you worry more about Helen." Penelope said in a more serious voice. "She's the one with all the suitors after her. Odysseus only spent one day with me."
OOOOOOOOO
Odysseus may have only spent one day with Penelope, but apparently it was enough for her father to be concerned enough to eat their first meal with all the guests. Icarius didn't like crowds or eating with strangers, and Penelope had expected he would eat alone until Helen's suitors left.
"I've been spending the last week studying Sparta's battle strategy," Father said causally, although his eyes pierced right into Odysseus. "We have to be ready to attack enemies at any time, I'm certain all of you are aware."
Father should not have worried, though, as Odysseus spent the rest of their first meal taking with his friend, Diomedes. And Penelope was left to eat her bread in peace. After all, this was what she wanted, wasn't it?
OOOOOOOOOO
But later that day, Penelope didn't have peace when Odysseus suggested they walk around the courtyard. Especially as Father insisted on coming with them.
"Your hair looks very smooth," Odysseus said softly, staring at her in the same way he had yesterday. He lifted his hand as if he wished to touch it, but Father stomped his feet in the background.
"I've been thinking since you said your favorite hobby is weaving, that perhaps my suitor's gift to Helen would be a better present for you," Odysseus said a few moments later. "I presented her and King Tyndareus with Ithacan wool, you see."
Penelope couldn't help but gasp in delight at obtaining brand-new wool, and she knew her eyes sparkled brighter than Helen's. "I would like that."
"I had a feeling you would," Odysseus grinned again, with that expression that made her feel as if he expected her to bow to him. But this time she didn't care as much. "And Ithaca is full of goats and sheep, just waiting to be sheered for your special weaving."
Lost in her daydreams of all the weaving she could do in such a place, Penelope almost didn't see her father until he was directly in front of both of them. "She doesn't need any of your wool, Ithacan. And what you brought was a gift for Tyndareus and Helen."
Father apparently understood the implications of Penelope accepting a suitor's gift and refused to consider it. What surprised her was how crushed her heart felt. And not just because of the wool. Perhaps Clytemnestra was right, and Aphrodite had cast a spell on her. Either way, she wanted Odysseus as her suitor.