the final book was different in that it apparently left behind the genealogical structure of the first four books. book five opened with a nearly 200-line catalogue of the suitors of helen, similar in style to the catalogue of ships in "iliad" book 2. although it is likely that the entire catalogue included twenty-five to thirty suitors, only twelve are attested by name. from argos amphilochus and alcmaeon, the sons of amphiaraus, attempted to win helen, but were perhaps never able to join in the contest because of their punishment for the matricide of eriphyle. ever shrewd, odysseus did not give gifts but simply sent envoys to castor and polydeuces, because he knew that menelaus would ultimately prevail. thoas was not so wise and gave many sheep and cows in the hope of winning helen. from phylace, many gifts were given by podarces and protesilaus, who were cousins in the "catalogue", not brothers as in the catalogue of ships. athenian menestheus gave many gold cauldrons and tripods, confident that he was the wealthiest of all the heroes. ajax wooed helen from salamis, promising to pillage the surrounding lands and give their possession as part of his gift. idomeneus made the long journey from crete himself, aware of helen's beauty only from secondhand accounts.