How did Odysseus win back his wife Penelope?

Answer 1

Odysseus won back his wife by:

1. Passing the test of strength and skill by stringing his bow and shooting the arrow cleanly through 12 axe handles.
2. Killing the suitors and the disloyal staff.
3. Convincing Penelope that he was indeed her husband, Odysseus.

Penelope set forth a test, a test that no man could win except Odysseus. She brought out his old bow, bow string, arrows, torches and oil. She then placed rings that were attached to poles in the floor She said "If anyone can String this bow and fire an arrow through the rings i shall marry him," or something along those lines. So every man tried and every man failed. Then an old picked up the bow and string he used the torches and the oil on the bow to string it. He then nocked an arrow and fired. Every one kept telling the old man to give up, that it is useless. But when they saw that he had strung the bow, they then saw him fire the arrow through all the rings that were placed. The men turned back to face the old man, but to their demise they saw Odysseus standing before them.