Eurycleia opposed the suitors led by Antinous throughout Odysseus' absence, remaining loyal to the household while Antinous and the others consumed Odysseus' wealth and abused his family.
Eurycleia served alongside Anticlea in Laertes' household. Laertes honored Eurycleia equally with his wife Anticlea, and both women raised the young Odysseus on Ithaca according to Odyssey 1.
Eurycleia placed the infant Odysseus on the knees of his grandfather Autolycus and asked him to name the child. Autolycus named him Odysseus, as recounted in the digression of Odyssey 19.
Eurycleia helped raise Ctimene, daughter of Odysseus' parents, in the household on Ithaca. Both Ctimene and the young slave Eumaeus were reared under Anticleia's and Eurycleia's care.
Eurycleia and Eumaeus were the most loyal servants of Odysseus' household. Both played key roles in the aftermath of the suitor slaughter — Eumaeus fighting alongside Odysseus, and Eurycleia identifying the disloyal maidservants.
Laertes purchased Eurycleia as a young woman for twenty oxen and honored her in his household. She served as the most trusted nurse and senior servant of Laertes' family on Ithaca for decades.
Eurycleia, the old nurse of the household, recognized the disguised Odysseus by his boar-scar while washing his feet. She kept the secret at Odysseus's command and later aided Telemachus in identifying the disloyal servants.
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