Steve Link

In Greek mythology, Argos (or Argus) is the faithful dog of Odysseus, the hero of the Odyssey. The story goes like this: Odysseus, king of Ithaca, leaves his home to fight in the Trojan War, a conflict that lasts ten years. After the war, his journey back takes another decade due to various trials and divine interventions. Meanwhile, back in Ithaca, his loyal dog Argos waits for him. Argos was a strong, swift hunting dog in his youth, trained by Odysseus himself. But as the years pass—twenty in total—Argos grows old and neglected. Odysseus’s palace is overrun by suitors vying for his wife Penelope’s hand, believing Odysseus dead. These suitors disrespect the household, and poor Argos is left to lie on a pile of dung, infested with fleas, a shadow of his former self. When Odysseus finally returns to Ithaca in disguise (as a beggar, thanks to Athena’s help), he sees Argos. The old dog recognizes his master instantly, despite the disguise. Too weak to get up, Argos wags his tail and pricks his ears, showing his joy and loyalty after two decades of waiting. Odysseus, moved but still undercover, can’t acknowledge him openly without blowing his disguise. He sheds a tear in secret. Moments later, Argos, having seen his master return at last, dies peacefully, his purpose fulfilled. It’s a short but gut-punching moment in the Odyssey, highlighting themes of loyalty, endurance, and the passage of time. Argos’s story sticks out because it’s one of the few times Odysseus shows raw emotion, and it contrasts the dog’s faithfulness with the disloyalty of the suitors.