Who assists Odysseus in cleansing himself and enhancing his appearance before he meets Penelope?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

First, consider the context: before Odysseus meets Penelope, he is restored and prepared within the palace, with assistance from trusted members of his household and divine guidance. 
Option 1: 'Eurycleia, using a special Trojan herb' aligns with the scene where Eurycleia, the old nurse, tends to Odysseus’s washing and cleansing as part of his concealment and preparation to appear respectable when presenting himself to Penelope. The reference to a Trojan herb fits the trope of sacred or potent agents used in cleansing rites. 
Option 2: 'Eurynome, and Athena bestowing added grace' introduces Eurynome, who is Penelope’s maid rather than the nurse who bathes Odysseus, and pairs her with Athena’s blessing to improve his grace. While Athena undoubtedly aids Odysseus, Eurynome’s role is not the primary agent of cleansing or redefining his appearance in this moment, making this option less accurate as a description of the cleansing act itself. 
Option 3: 'Hermes, who lends him golden armor' is inaccurate on two counts: Hermes does not lend Odysseus golden armor to prepare for Penelope’s recognition, and the act described is about cleansing and appearance, not armor; this option confuses the domain of divine intervention with gear rather than social preparation. 
Option 4: 'Phemius, who anoints him with sacred oils' assigns Phemius, the court poet, a role in anointing with sacred oils. Phemius has no involvement in Odysseus’s cleansing or appearance alterations, so this choice is historically and narratively implausible. 
Overall, the strongest match to the described cleansing before meeting Penelope is the nurse who tends to Odysseus and the notion of a cleansing agent, which points toward Option 1 as the best-fitting choice. 
Nevertheless, note how Option 2 could be tempting if one emphasizes divine aid but misattributes the physical cleansing agent and the exact person responsible for cleansing. The other options deviate more clearly from the canonical actions and characters involved in Odysseus’s preparation sequence.

6(A) - Exploring Novels and Literature The Odyssey XXIII

Who assists Odysseus in cleansing himself and enhancing his appearance before he meets Penelope?

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