Telemachus is most famous for his journey. He was the Prince of Ithica. He grew up most of his life without a father, because his father Odysseus was forced to fight in the Trojan War. He was raised by his mother, Penelope the queen of Ithica. Since he had no father he grew up a coward and did not believe in violence. When the Trojan war was over, every surviving soldier returned to their homes, except Odysseus and his soldiers. Many people had thought that he had perished during the war so the suitors came, wanting to marry his mother Penelope. Penelope was faithful and always grieved for Odysseus. She was not ready to move on, but the suitors wouldn’t take no for an answer they wanted to be royal and rich. They stayed at their palace while consuming their estate for their sustenance. Telemachus described the suitors as “a disease” because the suitors would consume all of Odysseus’ money for their sustenance. Odysseus meanwhile was being held prisoner by calypso; she loved him too much to let him go. Athena told him to go home because his wife needed him to save her from the Suitors. She led him to Ithica and disguised him as a beggar so he wouldn’t get recognized. He stayed with his faithful servant Eumaeus; who didn’t recognize him. With the guidance of the deity Athena, virgin goddess of reason, intelligent activity, arts and literature, he set sail to Pylos and Sparta. Telemachus didn’t hear anything of his father, only that he lives. So Athena sent him back to Ithica. Telemachus later found the beggar and didn’t recognize Odysseus until Athena touched his father with her gold wand and made him tell Telemachus the truth and kissed his son. Penelope had given in to the pressure of re-marrying because of her family and the suitors. She made a contest of who can draw back Odysseus’ bow and whoever wins gets to wed her. All of the suitors had failed except Odysseus. But the contest ended up in Odysseus and Telemachus killing all of the suitors without mercy. Myth is that Odysseus was put on exile because he murdered all of the suitors and that Telemachus ruled Ithica Another myth is that Telegonus, Odysseus’ son and Telemachus’ half brother was attacked by Telemachus and his father and Odysseus was killed by Telegonus. That they returned to the island of Aeaea (Circe's home), taking with him both Telemachus and Penelope. And they assert that Athena arranged a double marriage, Telegonus marrying Penelope, and Telemachus wedding Circe (Telegonus’ mother).