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Laertes

Mythology
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

In Greek mythology, Laertes was the aging king of Ithaca and father of Odysseus, known for his loyalty and eventual reunion with his son.

Detailed Definition
Laertes, husband of Anticleia, aged in grief during Odysseus’ long absence but was restored upon his son’s return. He represents paternal devotion and the quiet dignity of aging heroes. Poets reference Laertes to evoke themes of homecoming, filial duty, and the passage of generational authority.
Example
Example in poetry:
Homer’s Odyssey portrays Laertes as Odysseus’s aging father, restored at journey’s end; In later epic fragments, he is a former Argonaut; Ovid references his grief during Odysseus’s absence; Virgil alludes to him as a model of paternal endurance; In allegory, Laertes represents the dignity of age and return.
Additional Notes
Laertes, Odysseus’s father, appears in the Odyssey’s finale, restored to vigor after his son’s return. Students should note his role as symbol of generational continuity and the aging hero. His grief during Odysseus’s absence humanizes the epic’s domestic cost. Later, he represents paternal endurance. Related: Odysseus, Ithaca, nostos (homecoming).
Also Known As
Laertes the Orchard-King Father of Odysseus Husband of Anticlea Ithacan Elder
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