The Odyssey book 23 notes

Penelope doesn't believe tha tit is really him at first because she had been without him for so long and she thought the gods were playing a trick on her. I also agree with Heidi in that it's almost like the little girl who cried wolf. She had been hearing fabricated stories about her husbend for so long that when he actually was there standing before her it was almost too much for her so take in. She finally realizes that it is in fact him when he begins to talk about his bed and how he made it.