# Endnotes explained — Philoctetes

> Chapter companion for Philoctetes by Sophocles.

## What happens

This chapter provides explanatory endnotes for the play, clarifying references to mythological figures, events, and traditions such as Philoctetes' serpent bite, Phoenix, Odysseus' recovery of Achilles' arms, the story of Sisyphus, Heracles' funeral pyre, Lemnos as the island of Hephaestus, the judgment of Odysseus over Ajax for Achilles' arms, and Odysseus' feigned madness detected by Palamedes.

## Character check-ins

### Philoctetes

Referenced in the note about the nymph by whose guardian serpent he was bitten.

### Phoenix

Mentioned as a figure in the endnotes.

### Odysseus

Referenced in notes about rescuing Achilles' body and arms, his reputed father Sisyphus, and his feigned madness.

### Heracles

Mentioned in the note about kindling his funeral pyre on Mount Oeta.

### Achilles

Referenced in notes about the recovery of his body and arms and the judgment over his arms.

## Key lines

> The nymph by whose guardian serpent Philoctetes was bitten. See l. 1326 .

A nymph's guardian serpent was responsible for biting Philoctetes, as referenced at line 1326.

_Explains the origin of Philoctetes' wound._

> According to the tradition that Ovid followed ( Met. 13 284) Odysseus rescued the body and arms of Achilles from the fray,

In the tradition used by Ovid, Odysseus saved the body and weapons of Achilles from battle.

_Highlights a variant myth about Odysseus' role after Achilles' death._

> Sisyphus, the reputed father of Odysseus, ordered his wife to leave his body unburied and so obtained leave from Pluto to return to earth in order to punish her impiety.

Sisyphus, said to be Odysseus' father, instructed his wife not to bury him, which allowed him to get permission from Pluto to return to Earth to punish her disrespect.

_Clarifies the myth of Sisyphus' return from the underworld._

> For kindling the funeral-pyre of Heracles on Mount Oeta.

For lighting the funeral pyre of Heracles on Mount Oeta.

_References the event of Heracles' cremation._

> Lemnos was the island on which Hephaestus fell when hurled from heaven ( Il. I 593) and Moschylus on the east coast seems to have been an active volcano in historic times.

Lemnos is the island where Hephaestus landed after being thrown from heaven, and Moschylus on its east coast was likely an active volcano in ancient times.

_Provides geographical and mythological context for Lemnos._

> The omitted lines are: Who judged Odysseus of thy father’s arms More worthy than the hapless Ajax.

The missing lines refer to the judgment that deemed Odysseus more deserving of Achilles' arms than unfortunate Ajax.

_Indicates a textual omission concerning the contest for Achilles' armor._

> Odysseus to escape service feigned madness but was detected by Palamedes, who laid the infant Telemachus in front of the plough which he was driving with a yoked ox and ass.

To avoid military service, Odysseus pretended to be insane, but Palamedes exposed the ruse by placing the infant Telemachus in the path of his plow, which Odysseus steered away.

_Recounts the story of Odysseus' attempted draft evasion._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/philoctetes_se/chapters/endnotes
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/philoctetes_se
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