There was a measure of disbelief in Penelope. She thought perhaps some man or god meant to trick and/or taunt her. The idea that her husband could be lost for 10 years after a 10 year war, and then still would mean to come back, and would actually arrive back was very unlikely.
Odysseus isn't recognized when he first arrives home because he is disguised as a beggar. He purposely chooses to wear a disguise so that he can trick Penelope's suitors. When he confronts Penelope herself, he remains in this disguise to test whether she has forgotten about him, etc., though it is not certain whether Penelope was fooled at all or simply playing a sort of game with Odysseus.
Odysseus returns to Ithaca in disguise as part of his own plan to test the loyalties of the men and women of Ithaca.
saying that his bed is in the hall.
Athena disguises herself as a mortal so that may be treated as a mortal, giving advice to other men, as opposed to a god giving orders. In this way, she is better able to test mortals. It is also more fun for her, and it amuses her to become a mortal. It is a way for the gods to show their power, by behaving subtly.
Many Greek gods go into disguise when interacting with mortals. Zeus often had love affairs with mortal women and often disguised himself. When the Greek gods wished to test mortals, they would disguise themselves as well, for example in the myth of Baucis and Philemon. Sometimes the gods disguised themselves as mortals, and sometimes as beasts.
Penelope set the test of stringing Odysseus's bow to identify the one suitor who could successfully complete this task, as it required great strength and skill. By setting this test, Penelope hoped to reveal the true identity of her husband, Odysseus, who she suspected might be among the suitors in disguise.
Odysseus isn't recognized when he first arrives home because he is disguised as a beggar. He purposely chooses to wear a disguise so that he can trick Penelope's suitors. When he confronts Penelope herself, he remains in this disguise to test whether she has forgotten about him, etc., though it is not certain whether Penelope was fooled at all or simply playing a sort of game with Odysseus.
While he was dressed as a beggar, he saw one of the maids consorting with Penelope's suitor. Odysseus suggested that Penelope test which of her maids are faithful to her and not her suitors.
Penelope was talking to Odysseus and told her maid to move Odysseus' bed so this beggar (odysseus) could stay the night. (Odysseus' bed was made from an oak tree and would be almost impossible to move.) Therefore, Odysseus got really mad and thought she was living with another man who was very strong and could move it. Penelope then knew for sure that this was Odysseus.
"This was her way of putting her husband to the test." Penelope does not believe that it is really her husband who has returned. She thinks that a God or something else may be pretending to be Odysseus. Since he constructed the bed himself of course he would know that it was built into a tree truck and essentially cannot be moved. The test is her passively saying that the bed is going to be moved, if Odysseus would not have questioned the moving of the bed then it would of lead her to believe that it indeed was not Odyssues. The "test" was a way for her to find out if it was truly Odyssues.
Penelope
Odysseus tells her so directly. Penelope then tests Odysseus, and he passes her test, confirming his identity.
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.
Penelope gives the suitors the test of stringing Odysseus's bow to find out who is truly worthy of her and to stall for time, hoping that Odysseus will return. It also allows her to further test the suitors' qualities and intentions towards her and her home.
Odysseus returns to Ithaca in disguise as part of his own plan to test the loyalties of the men and women of Ithaca.
To tell her how there bedchamber is set up.Only Penelope and Odysseus know and a few servants bc Odysseus built it himself.
The test was to string Ulysses bow and shoot it threw 12 firing hoops