Argos (dog)

In Homer's the Odyssey, Argos is Odysseus' faithful dog. After twenty years struggling to get home to Ithaca, Odysseus finally arrives on his homeland. In his absence, reckless suitors have taken over his house in hopes of marrying his wife Penelope. In order to secretly re-enter his house to ultimately spring a surprise attack on the suitors, Odysseus disguises himself as a beggar, and only his son Telemachus knows his true identity. As Odysseus approaches his home for the first time in twenty years, he finds Argos lying neglected on a pile of cow manure, infested with lice, old, and very tired. This is a sharp contrast to the dog Odysseus left behind; Argos used to be known for his speed and strength, and his superior tracking skills. Argos recognizes Odysseus at once, and he has just enough strength to drop his ears and wag his tail but cannot get up to greet his master. As soon as Odysseus passes by (but not without shedding a tear for his beautiful dog lying in manure) and enters his hall, Argos dies. This is important because if Argos lived, he would undoubtedly give away Odysseus' disguise and ruin his plan to kill the suitors. The simplicity of the relationship between Argos and Odysseus allows their reunion to be immediate and sincere. Unlike his relationship with his wife Penelope, Odysseus does not need to worry about how twenty years apart has affected his relationship with Argos. His relationship with his dog, however strong, is much simpler and easier to continue than any relationship with his family or friends awaiting his return.

Argos was also the name of one of the 'hellhounds', the dogs of the underworld, brother of Cerberus.

Excerpt from the Odyssey

 * As they were talking, a dog that had been lying asleep raised his head and pricked up his ears. This was Argos, whom Odysseus had bred before setting out for Troy, but he had never had any enjoyment from him. In the old days he used to be taken out by the young men when they went hunting wild goats, or deer, or hares, but now that his master was gone he was lying neglected on the heaps of mule and cow dung that lay in front of the stable doors till the men should come and draw it away to manure the great close; and he was full of fleas. As soon as he saw Odysseus standing there, he dropped his ears and wagged his tail, but he could not get close up to his master. When Odysseus saw the dog on the other side of the yard, dashed a tear from his eyes without Eumaeus seeing it, and said:


 * "Eumaeus, what a noble hound that is over yonder on the manure heap: his build is splendid; is he as fine a fellow as he looks, or is he only one of those dogs that come begging about a table, and are kept merely for show?"


 * "This hound," answered Eumaeus, "belonged to him who has died in a far country. If he were what he was when Odysseus left for Troy, he would soon show you what he could do. There was not a wild beast in the forest that could get away from him when he was once on its tracks. But now he has fallen on evil times, for his master is dead and gone, and the women take no care of him. Servants never do their work when their master's hand is no longer over them, for Zeus takes half the goodness out of a man when he makes a slave of him."


 * So saying he entered the well-built mansion, and made straight for the riotous pretenders in the hall. But Argos passed into the darkness of death, now that he had seen his master once more after twenty years.


 * Homer, Odyssey, Book 17