Who is the first person that Odysseus meets when he returns to Ithaca?

When Odysseus returns to Ithaca, the first person he meets is his faithful swineherd, Eumaeus. Eumaeus welcomes him warmly, not recognizing him at first, and offers him shelter and food. This encounter highlights the themes of loyalty and hospitality in the epic. Odysseus, disguised as a beggar, uses this opportunity to gather information about the situation at home.