Omen Birds in Homer's Oddeyssey

Omen birds are an important theme in the Odyssey. They are important prophecies. Omen birds play a much stronger part in Ithaca and in Telemachus's story than in the Odyssey. In The Odyssey, omen birds foretell the killing of the suitors, Odysseus's homecoming, and reassure Telemachus that his house will remain powerful. <Tab/>In The Odyssey, when the Telemachy is starting and Telemachus first addresses the suitors, and says "If you …showed first 75 words of 410 total…

…showed last 75 words of 410 total…it for a bird of omen. In all Ithaca there is no house more royal than yours. Yours is the power for all time." (Book 15, lines 529-534). This omen reassured Telemachus that his house would not fall apart. <Tab/>Omen birds show up many times in The Odyssey. They serve as warnings and directions. People who pay attention to omen birds are successful, but people who ignore them get into trouble.