For Penelope, wife of Odysseus, maintaining a kingdom while her husband fights in the Trojan War is not easy - already aggrieved by the shocking behaviour of her cousin Helen, she must bring up her wayward son, face down scandalous rumours, and keep over a hundred lusty, greedy and bloodthirsty suitors at bay. When Odysseus finally returns home and slaughters the suitors, he also brutally hangs Penelope's twelve beloved maids. What were his motives, and what was Penelope herself really up to?