he had an affair
20 years
He is the herald (town messenger) of Ithaca. When Odysseus comes back to Ithaca, his hometown, Telemakhos (Odysseus' son) tells Odysseus not to kill him. Unlike the suitors, he cared for Telemakhos while his father was away and remained loyal to Odysseus. Therefore, he was not killed in Book XXII.
I think its Odysseus's son Telemachus
While Odysseus is away from Ithaca, several of the lords and chiefs are heading over to where Odysseus has built his home because they believe that their King is dead. The begin to try and get Penelope to marry them and anger Telemachus who believes that his father is still alive. Athena eventually comes and tells Telemachus that his father is in fact still alive and then tells him what he must do to get the suitors to leave.
As Odysseus and his men approach Ithaca, they are near the end of their long journey home. However, his crew, unaware of their proximity to Ithaca, opens a bag of winds given to Odysseus by Aeolus, the wind god, which he had instructed them not to open. This release of the winds sends them off course, pushing them far away from their homeland once again. As a result, Odysseus is left frustrated and disheartened, facing more challenges before finally reaching Ithaca.
10 years
Odysseus was in Troy when he was away from Ithaca for 20 years. He was away from Troy for 10 years, and never revealed where he was at during that time.
Argos, Odysseus's faithful dog, symbolizes Ithaca's enduring loyalty and the passage of time during Odysseus's absence. As a representation of fidelity, Argos waits for Odysseus for twenty years, embodying the longing and hope associated with his homecoming. His eventual death upon seeing Odysseus signifies the bittersweet nature of time lost and the changes that have occurred in Ithaca while Odysseus was away. Argos’s condition reflects the decline of Ithaca in Odysseus's absence, highlighting the broader themes of loyalty and the impact of time on relationships and home.
In Homer's "Odyssey," Argos, Odysseus's faithful dog, symbolizes Ithaca as a representation of loyalty, homecoming, and the passage of time. While Odysseus is away for years, Argos remains loyal, embodying the enduring connection to Ithaca despite the absence of its master. His dying upon seeing Odysseus reflects the bittersweet nature of homecoming, highlighting the changes that occur during long absences. Thus, Argos represents both the enduring spirit of Ithaca and the emotional weight of returning to a beloved home after a long journey.
Odysseus weeps in Ithaca when he is recognized by his loyal dog, Argos, who then passes away after waiting faithfully for his return. Odysseus also weeps when he reunites with his son Telemachus and wife Penelope, overwhelmed with joy and relief to be home after his long journey.
Aeolus gives Odysseus a bag of winds, letting only the gentle West wind free. This wind helps blow Odysseus and his crew towards their home in Ithaca while the other winds are trapped within the bag.In the end, this didn't help Odysseus and his men at all. Odysseus had fallen asleep. When in sight of their homeland of Ithaca, the other crew members opened the bag in curiosity and greed. The winds escaped and sent them far away out to sea, far away from Ithaca.When Odysseus returns to ask for help again the second time, Aeolus refuses to intervene, saying that Odysseus has been cursed by the gods.