As the sun rose from the fair sea into heaven, they reached Pylos, city of Neleus. The people were gathered on the shore offering black bulls to Poseidon the earth-shaker — nine companies of five hundred, nine bulls to each. They were tasting the inward meats and burning the thigh-bones when Telemachus and his crew furled sail, anchored, and went ashore.
Athena led; Telemachus followed. “Do not be shy,” she said. “You took this voyage to learn where your father is buried and how he came by his end. Go straight to Nestor and beg the truth — he will tell no lies.” Telemachus answered that he was ashamed to question one so much older. Athena said his own instinct and heaven would prompt him; the gods had been with him from birth until now.
They came to where the Pylians were assembled. Nestor sat with his sons; the company was busy with dinner. When they saw the strangers they crowded round and bade them sit. Peisistratus seated them on soft sheepskins near his father and brother Thrasymedes, gave them portions of the inward meats, and poured wine in a golden cup — handing it to Athena first.
“Offer a prayer to lord Poseidon,” he said, “for it is his feast. When you have prayed and made your drink-offering, pass the cup to your friend. He too lifts his hands to the gods — no man lives without them. Still he is younger and of an age with me, so I give you the precedence.”
Athena was pleased and prayed hard: grace on Nestor and his sons, a handsome return for the hecatomb, and a happy issue for Telemachus and herself in the matter that brought their ship to Pylos. She handed the cup to Telemachus; he prayed likewise. When the outer meats were roasted and portioned, they made an excellent dinner. Then Nestor of Gerenia asked who they were — traders, or rovers with their hand against every man?