Odysseus proves his identity to Penelope by recounting a secret about their bed that only he would know, as it was constructed by him and is immovable. This knowledge convinces Penelope that the man before her is truly her husband, Odysseus, and not an imposter.
First, Odysseus told Penelope that he is Odysseus. But Penelope wanted to make sure that it was the real Odysseus and not one of the suitors. So she gave him a challenge. ANd the challenge is: in their master bedroom...there was a bed and all 4 of the legs of the bed looked like a tree stump. And only 1 of the legs were a real tree. ANd only Odysseus and Penelope knew that. SO odyseus answered by saying pretty much that you are crazy and I can move that. SO therefore i is the real Odysseus!!!!
He tells her how he built their bed.
She told him that she would move his bed. The bed was made from a living olive tree that Odysseus had planted; nobody but Odysseus and Penelope knew this. Odysseus was outraged as moving it would have damaged the bed greatly, and would be near to impossible. He tells her about the history of the bed and what it actuallly is, how it got in their house, and how their house was built around that tree.
Penelope, still not quite sure that the beggar was indeed her husband, tested him. She ordered her maid to make up Odysseus' bed and move it from their bedchamber into hall outside his room. Odysseus was initially furious when he heard this because one of the bed posts was made from a living olive tree - he himself had designed it this way, and thus it could not be moved unless done by a god; he told her this, and since only Odysseus and Penelope knew this, Penelope accepted that he was her husband. She came running to him, hoping that he would forgive her. He forgave her, because he could understand why she had tested him and because he had passed the test.
Penelope tests Odysseus identity by cleverly suggesting that they move their bed to another room so that she can get used to Odysseus, whom has been away for so long. The test is that the bed is unmovable since it is built into the trunk of a tree, but only Odysseus and Penelope know that.
Athena disguised Odysseus as a beggar, in order to carry out his plan to kill the suitors, and therefore he is unrecognizable to Penelope as Odysseus.
Further, even after Odysseus reveals himself to Penelope, it has been 20 years since she last saw him, and she is scared that he may be an impostor.
Finally, Odysseus pretends to be a beggar, crafting wonderful stories about his past life which included meeting with Odysseus before the war of Troy.
Penelope orders the removal of her marriage bed. Odysseus knows it cannot be removed as one of the 'legs' is a growing tree which he himself planted when he built the bed. He reminds Penelope that only he, she and one maid have ever entered the room.
Penelope finally is convinced that it is Odysseus when Odysseus tells her how their marital bed was made from the trunk of an olive tree.
She asks him to move the bed in there bedroom to test him. Only Odysseus knows that there bed and house was centered around an olive tree because he built it.
Odysseus tells her so directly. Penelope then tests Odysseus, and he passes her test, confirming his identity.
Because, he has to prove to her that he is indeed Odysseus.
Penelope's final test for Odysseus is to ask him to move their bed, which Odysseus built himself and knows cannot be moved because it is constructed from an olive tree trunk that is part of the structure of their home. Odysseus passes the test by revealing this secret detail, allowing Penelope to finally recognize him as her husband.
Odysseus proves his identity to Penelope by revealing a secret detail about their bed, which only he would know. He explains that he built their bed from an olive tree trunk still rooted in their home, making it impossible to move. This intimate detail convinces Penelope of his true identity as her husband.
Penelope was suspicious of Odysseus because she wanted to make sure he was truly her husband returned home and not an imposter trying to deceive her. She devised a test using their marriage bed to see if Odysseus would pass her test and prove his identity.
Odysseus wishes to test Penelope's faithfulness. Furthermore, by remaining hidden from Penelope, he can take care of his business with the suitors, and reveal himself when he is ready. Odysseus wishes to come back to Penelope a man, having dealt with all the problems in their house first.
Athena helps Odysseus disguise himself before he reveals himself to Penelope, so that he can observe her interaction with the suitors. She also helps him defeat and kill Penelope's suitors before he plans to meet his wife and answer her questions about his identity.
He tells her about their bed and how its made out of the olive tree and immovable. Only something that Odysseus and her knew.
Penelope doubts Odysseus is home due to his disheveled appearance and the possibility of him being an imposter. She tests him with a secret about their bed to confirm his identity.
The Odyssey is Homer's epic of Odysseus' 10-year struggle to return home after the Trojan War. While Odysseus battles mystical creatures and faces the wrath of the gods, his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus stave off suitors vying for Penelope's hand and Ithaca's throne long enough for Odysseus to return. The Odyssey ends as Odysseus wins a contest to prove his identity, slaughters the suitors, and retakes the throne of Ithaca.
Odysseus' wife was Penelope, daughter of Icarius and Periboea.
Penelope doesn't immediately embrace Odysseus when he returns after his long journey because she is cautious and skeptical about his true identity. She tests him to confirm his identity and ensure that he is indeed her husband. Additionally, she has been deceived in the past by impostors claiming to be Odysseus, so she wants to be absolutely certain before welcoming him back.