Who Is the Dog in The Odyssey? His Secret Importance and Heartbreaking Fate, Explained
They say a dog is a man’s best friend. And there’s no friend more loyal and deserving of that title than Argos the dog in The Odyssey.
In a May interview with Stephen Colbert, director Christopher Nolan described The Odyssey as “the ultimate dog story.” Indeed, in the original myth, Argos plays a pertinent role, becoming an unforgettable symbol of loyalty and devotion. This much remains the same in the film, with Nolan adding an extra layer to their emotional goodbye that isn’t present in the myth, all of which we're going to get into below.
But before we do, please be aware that even if we’re talking about a myth that’s thousands of years old, there are potential spoilers ahead if you haven’t watched The Odyssey yet.
Who Is Argos, And Where Does His Name Come From?
We’re introduced to Argos as a puppy during a flashback sequence in the film. Eumaeus (John Leguizamo) is going through a litter of puppies with Odysseus (Matt Damon), with some unlucky pooches getting lobbed off a cliff before Odysseus comes face-to-face with Argos, who he then chooses as his hunting dog.
Their bond is clearly strong, with the film also showing the dynamic duo in action as they hunt a wild boar together — and in his own way, it seems like Argos is just as talented as Odysseus.
That is what makes Argos’ treatment in the present day all the more heartbreaking, with suitors for Penelope (Anne Hathaway), Odysseus' wife, constantly mistreating him before Odysseus finds him outside dying a miserable death.
As for the name itself, there are a few meanings. The word Argos in Ancient Greek is associated with “shining” and “light,” as well as speed and swiftness. The latter makes a lot of sense given Argos was a quick and nimble hunting dog in his prime. Meanwhile, in modern Greek, the word translates into “slow” and “idle.” It’s important to note that modern Greek came about some time after The Odyssey was written. However, this meaning remains interesting when one considers how Argos was slow to die and patiently waited for his owner.
Why Did Argos Live So Long?
Even today, it is uncommon for dogs to live to 20. So, the fact Argos lived for as long as he did in The Odyssey was, as Eumaeus pointed out, especially remarkable. Some have pointed out that Argos’ extended lifespan can be explained by the fact that he lived during Homer’s ‘Age of Heroes,’ with the argument being that, if Greek heroes during this time can be superhuman in some ways, it wouldn’t be out of the question for dogs to have certain supernatural characteristics too, like an extended lifespan.
However, I prefer the interpretation that Argos lived as long as he did through sheer stubbornness and loyalty as he waited for his beloved master to return home. This quite literal refusal to move on to the ‘other side’, as it were, mirrors how Ithaca as a whole refused to move on from Odysseus’ absence.
How Does Argos Move The Story Forward?
The worst parts of the movie involve the suitors, especially Antinous, being cruel to Argos. He’s kicked, hurt, and thrown onto a pile of dung outside, which, tragically, he’s too weak to move from by the time we catch up with him towards the end of the movie. The fact he is thrown out of his own home echoes the way the suitors have thrown out the memory of Odysseus, taking over his castle and, by extension, the whole of Ithaca with wine and debauchery, as they stretch the goodwill of Zeus’ Law to its absolute limit.
When Argos is abused, Eumaeus and Telemachus (Tom Holland) both step in to defend him, but it doesn’t end well for either of them. Still, in Telemachus’ case, it sparks a chain of events leading to him going on his own journey to find out more about his father. So, if it weren’t for Argos, Telemachus may have never left Ithaca.
The most gutting part of the story is when Odysseus returns home as a beggar and sees Argos dying outside. While in the original myth, Odysseus doesn’t risk compromising his identity, in the movie, he can’t resist petting and comforting the dog, who promptly dies in peace knowing that his master has finally returned and that his gruelling wait is over. Crucially, he is the first to recognise Odysseus, and when Odysseus asks Telemachus to bury the dog, his son then realises that the man he is speaking to is his father.
If it weren’t for Argos’ connection to Odysseus, Telemachus may not have realised the connection, which means that all of the events leading to Odysseus reclaiming his home and getting his happy ending with Penelope may not have happened.
So, when you think about it, Argos plays a pretty crucial role in making the movie’s final act happen. The pair’s mutual love and loyalty are the thing that drives the story forward into its thrilling finale.
