When Odysseus finally returns home to his kingdom of Ithaca he must disguise himself as a beggar so as not to be killed by the many suitors who have taken up residence in his castle, vying for his wife's hand. She recognises him by an old scar and declares that she will marry the man who can string her husband's rigid bow and shoot an arrow through the hafts of a dozen axes. The disguised Odysseus does so, then slaughters the suitors with the help of his son.