01/28/2025
Tears…. I remember teaching this story in high school when I was a team-teacher in an English class.
Argos, the faithful dog of Odysseus, remains one of the most iconic symbols of loyalty in ancient literature.
Its story comes from Homer's Odyssey, an eighth-century BC epic poem that chronicles Odyssey's long and perilous journey as he attempts to return home after the Trojan War. After 20 years of absence filled with battles, shipwrecks and constant death threats, Odyssey finally returns to Ithaca, his homeland, but in disguise. No one recognizes him, not even his family or closest friends. But there is a soul that does.
Argos, his old dog, neglected and weak, lying on a pile of dirt, sees him from afar. Her ears stand up, her tail wags softly. Despite being too weak to stand, she finds the strength to recognize the only one she had waited for all those years.
This short but powerful scene appears in Corner 17 of The Odyssey and has remained as one of the most moving moments in all of literature. Argos, forgotten by all but still clinging to hope, finally sees his master once again. And with that small, quiet moment of joy, let go of life, dying in peace.
It is a testament to the eternal love of dogs: they never forget, never stop hoping, and never stop loving. Argos loyalty is timeless, reminding us that even in the earliest stories, the bond between humans and dogs already seemed sacred. For anyone who has ever loved a dog, this scene touches the heart deeply. It's not about greatness or heroism, it's about the quiet power of devotion.
Credits: Engie ena Alvarez
