Book 23 in short: The bed

Eurycleia tells Penelope that Odysseus is home, but she cannot believe it. She tests him by ordering the bed to be moved. Odysseus protests that this is impossible, because he built it round a living olive tree. Only the two of them know this, and she accepts him.

They tell each other of their years apart. Next morning Odysseus leaves the town with his son and the two herdsmen.