Penelope << puh NEHL uh pee >>, in Greek mythology, was the wife of Odysseus (Ulysses in Latin), king of Ithaca. She became famous for her faithfulness to her husband. After the birth of their son, Telemachus, Odysseus left on an expedition against Troy. He did not return for 20 years, but Penelope remained faithful to him. Her story is told in the epic poem the Odyssey.
Many nobles from Ithaca and neighboring islands courted Penelope, claiming that Odysseus would never return, but she refused to remarry. For three years, she held suitors off by a trick. She said that she must first weave a shroud for her father-in-law, Laertes. Each night she unraveled what she had woven that day.
After a maidservant revealed Penelope’s deception, she promised to select the suitor who could string and shoot Odysseus’ great bow. Each suitor tried and failed. A beggar, who had come to the palace and was given shelter, asked to try. He easily strung and shot the bow. The beggar was Odysseus in disguise. With the bow, he killed the suitors. Odysseus regained his kingdom and was reunited with Penelope.
