"that, pushing back his rags, he revealed the great scar . . and then the men gazed at it, scanned it, knew it well, broke into tears and threw their arms around their master – " what is the significance of this passage? odysseus is revealing himself to the suitors before killing them. odysseus is revealing himself to eumaeus and philoetius before the massacre to get their support. odysseus is revealing himself to eurycleia, his old nursemaid. odysseus shows his scar to penelope to prove his true identity.