Telemachus is a central character in Homer's Odyssey. He is the son of Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, and Penelope. When Odysseus left for the Trojan War, Telemachus was just an infant, so he grew up largely without his father

. In the Odyssey , Telemachus's story begins with him as a young man struggling to deal with the suitors who have overrun his father's palace, seeking to marry his mother and claim Odysseus's throne. Guided and encouraged by the goddess Athena, Telemachus embarks on a journey to find news of his father, visiting King Nestor in Pylos and King Menelaus in Sparta. Through these travels, he gains maturity, courage, and experience

. Eventually, Telemachus reunites with Odysseus, who has returned home in disguise. Together, they devise a plan to defeat the suitors. Telemachus shows bravery and loyalty by standing with his father in the violent reclaiming of their household

. Symbolically, Telemachus's journey represents his transition from youth to adulthood and his readiness to assume his role as a prince and rightful heir in ancient Greek society

. In later mythological tradition beyond the Odyssey , Telemachus is said to have married the sorceress Circe after Odysseus's death

. In summary, Telemachus is the son of Odysseus and Penelope, a prince of Ithaca who grows from a passive youth into a courageous and loyal young man, playing a key role in the narrative of the Odyssey as he seeks his father and helps reclaim his family’s home