Book 3 contains the third, fourth, and fifth day, which bring Telemachus' visit to Nestor (1–485) and his voyage to Sparta (486–97); cf. Appendix A.

1–485 Telemachus' stay with Nestor takes the form of an *(overnight) ‘visit’ type-scene: he (ii) arrives and (iii) finds the person he is looking for (doubled: 4–33); (iv) is received (by the Pylians in general: 34–5, and by Nestor's son Pisistratus in particular: 36–64); (v) is given a meal (65–7); (vi) converses with his host (68–385); is given (viii) a bed (396–401); (vii) a bath (464–9), and (x) an escort to his next destination (announcement: 324–6, acceptance: 368–70, execution: 474–85).

The visit to Nestor invites comparison with the visit to Menelaus (4.1ff.); the technique of juxtaposition †. The narratees may observe the following differences between the two households: simplicity versus luxury (Nestor's palace and the objects in it are hardly described at all, whereas Menelaus' palace evokes the admiration of Telemachus and the riches of its interior are repeatedly pointed out), and warmth versus tension (Nestor's family personally takes care of Telemachus; cf. 34–64n.; Menelaus' possession of one of the most beautiful women of his time is overshadowed by haunting memories of the past).