I really need to figure out how to invent time! Book VII begins with Athene, in one of her disguises, coming to Odysseus as he stands outside the city. She places a mist around him to ward off the townspeople along the journey to King Alkinoös house. He asks for this young girl, Athene, to help lead in the correct direction through the city. She agrees and along the way tells him of the heritage of the king and queen and how he actually must win the praise of Queen Arete, for she is the one looked upon as a god by the people. I find it interesting that we learn Arete is a descendant of none other than Poseidon, he would have been her great-Grandfather. I was also struck by the need for Athene to create a mist around Odysseus as he entered into the city. When we first read of the mist, it says for fear some one of the great-hearted Phaiakians, meeting him, might speak to him in a sneering way and ask where he came from. as they are walking she tells Odysseus But go on in silence the while I lead the way for you, and do not give any of these people your eye, neither ask them questions, for they do not have very much patience with men from the outlands, nor do they lovingly entertain the man come from elsewhere; | Arete in Celsus Library, Ephesus, Turkey Photo by: Nikater This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported, 2.5 Generic, 2.0 Generic and 1.0 Generic license. Source: Wikimedia Commons |
Two images depicting Odysseus hiding his weeping during the storytelling of the Muse. Illustrations of Odyssey Artist: John Flaxman (1755–1826) Date: 1810 This work is in the public domain in the United States, and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years or less. Source: Wikimedia Commons Odysseus at the court of Alkinoös Artist: Francesco Hayez (1791–1882) Date: 1814-1815 This work is in the public domain in the United States, and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years or less. Source: Wikimedia Commons | As Odysseus begins his plea to Queen Arete, he clasps her knees and then moves to sit on the floor next to hearth amongst the ashes. Echeneos, the eldest among the Phaiakians speaks to the king for allowing this stranger to be seated on the floor and not share in a drink to Zeus. ''Alkinoos, this is not the better way, nor is it fitting The queen recognizes the cloth worn by Odysseus, for it was one she had made herself. She questions his story about coming over the seas to arrive in their country. Odysseus must use his diplomatic skills to tell of his meeting Nausikaa. He starts by sharing his plight being held captive by Kalypso and how she offered him immortality, yet he just wanted to go home. Finally, she sets him upon a raft and sends him on his way where he meets the wrath of Poseidon and is driven from his raft clinging to life. He praised Nausikaa's behavior as host, Alkinoös felt it still was not proper that she had not brought Odysseus herself to her parents. "Hero, do not for my sake find fault with your blameless daughter. Am I the only one that finds this strange? Alkinoös is so moved by Odysseus' above statement that he wants to marry Nausikaa off to him, yet they do not even know Odysseus' name. Sure strange man that met my daughter alone in the woods, while you happened to be stark naked, it is all good, I don't need your name, go ahead, marry her. After Alkinoös has offered up his daughter all turn in to sleep the night away to prepare for Odysseus to be conveyed on his way home tomorrow. Book VIII begins with the new fingers of Dawn, the town is assembled to hear the story of this stranger and the time for a sacrifice and festival is upon us. First Alkinoös sends fifty-two men off to prepare a ship for Odysseus to sail home in. A large sacrifice is made with twelve sheep, eight pigs and two oxen. A Muse is on hand to provide the entertainment. This Muse decides to sign about a famous quarrel between Odysseus and Achilleus. This tale brings tears to Odysseus, which he must hide, he has no desire to show weakness in front of the Phaiakians. |
King Alkinoös seems to understand the concept of xenia, after he was reminded by the elder, and has gone all out, tried giving away his daughter, sacrificed many animals, prepared a ship, offered a gift and still had no idea who this stranger was. Amazing he can have spent so long entertaining and talking to this man and never thought to ask his name, even after the immediate needs were addressed.
Thus concludes what might have been day one of the storytellers entertainment. Would you have come back tomorrow for the rest of the story? Hanging in the air is the question, tell me your name?
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Quotes from: The Odyssey of Homer, Translated and with an Introduction by Richmond Lattimore
ISBN: 978-0-06-124418-6; Publisher: Harper Perennial Modern Classics (2007)
[Notice: Original posting 2014-03-06 at Plethora of Books Blog: http://bookchallenges.weebly.com]
Tags: Odyssey; Read-Alongs