Odysseus in disguise as a poor beggar meets with Eumaeus a swine herder when he reaches Ithaca. Eumaeus shows a great deal of affection towards a person that isn't even his child but, why is this so? This swine herder on Ithaca has been a part of Telemachus life since he was born. Arguably, Eumaeus is the most loyal person in Ithaca towards his king's family. He helped to raise Telemachus and has seen him grow while Odysseus was gone. Telemachus, in a way acted as a father figure that he could reach out to. Eumaeus as as stayed so loyal because he would have to shelter and purpose to do without the king's family and just be like any other beggar. He acted in this father like way when he first saw Telemachus because he has not seen him in a
