The Odyssey - Book 7 (THE PALACE OF ALCINOUS)

• Odysseus prayed in Athene's grove as Nausicaa traveled to the city. 
• When Nausicaa entered the palace her brothers "looking like immortals" unharnessed the mules from her cart and carried the clothes indoors for her. 
• She went to her own apartment where Eurymedusa (her waiting woman) had lit a fire for her. 
• Eurymedusa had been brought by a ship from Aperaea and was selected as a prize for Alcinous.
• Eurymedusa nursed Nausicaa at home and lit fires/ prepared her meals for her. 
• Odysseus then began to head towards the town. 
• Athene "enveloped him in a thick mist" so a "high-headed" Phaeacian would insult him by asking who he was. 
• As Odysseus was about to enter the town Athene, in the disguise of a young girl carrying a pitcher, stopped infront of him. 
• Odysseus asked Athene if she knew the way to the Alcionous' house as he is a stranger in Phaeacia. 
• Athene replied saying she'll show him as it is close to her fathers house. She told him that he is to follow her but not say a word and ask no questions as the people in Phaeacia has little affection for strangers and "they do not welcome visitors with open arms"
• Athene quickly led the way and Odysseus quickly followed behind. 
• "The Phaeacians, those famous seamen failed to observe him as he passed them by on his way through the town" because Athene shed a magic mist around "her favourite" in concern for his safety. 
• As they walked Odysseus was admiring the settings- "harbours with their trim ships" "meeting place of the sea lords" "long and lofty walls surmounted by palisades" "presenting a wonderful sight". 
• When they reached the palace Athene told him that he will find princes whom are favourites of Zeus feasting. She told him to go straight in as there will be no worries. As it is "the bold man who always succeeds in his in his enterprises even if he comes from far away" 
• She goes on to tell him that Nausithous (the son of Poseidon and Periboea) became the king of the Phaeacians. Nausithous has two sons, Rhexenor and Alcionous. Apollo killed Rhexenor with his silver bow, not long after Rhexenor married- he did not have a son but he had a daughter; Arete. Alcionous married Arete. 
• She tells Odysseus that if he becomes friends with Arete then he can hope to see his friends again in Ithaca. 
• Athene then left Scherie and went to Marathon (Athens) and entered the palace of Erechtheus. 
• Odysseus approached Alcinous' palace "his heart was filled with varied emotions and he kept on stopping before he reached the bronze threshold"
• Alcinous' palace: "The interiors of the well built mansion was guarded by golden doors hung on posts of silver which were set in the bronze threshold". 
• Hephaestus has made the palace. 
• "Golden statues of youths, fixed on solid pedestals, held flaming torches in their hands to light the banqueters in the hall by night"
• There were woven tapestries on the walls as "the Phaeacians' extraordinary skill in handling ships at sea is matched by the dexterity of their womenfolk at the loom, for Athene has given them outstanding skill in beautiful crafts and fine intelligence"
• Outside the entrance to the courtyard there was four acres of pear and pomegranates, apples, "luxuriant olives" and sweet figs. In the same area there was a fruitful vineyard.
• Odysseus entered the palace where councellors and captains were pouring libations from their cups to Hermes. "It was their custom to pour the last cup to him before retiring to bed"
• Odysseus walked straight up the hall- still wrapped in the magic mist which Athene has wrapped around him until he reached Arete and Alcinous. 
• Odysseus threw his arms around Arete's knees and at the same time his magic mist went away and the sight of this mysterious man made the banqueters silent. "They stared at Odysseus in amazement while he made his petition". 
• Odysseus talks to Arete saying that he comes as a suppliant to her husband and that he wishes them happiness for life and that they are honoured by all. Then he asks if he can have an escort back to his own country as soon as possible as he has lived through many hardships far from his friends and home. 
• The silence was broken when the lord Echeneus (a Phaeacian elder "rich in the wisdom from his forefathers") made his counsel heard. He tells Alcinous that it is unlike his "royal ways" to let a stranger "sit in the ashes at the hearth" whilst he has guests around him waiting for his lead. He tells Alcinous that Odysseus should get up and sit on one of the silver chairs whilst the squires fetch more wine to make more libations to Zeus. And of the housekeeper should fetch Odysseus a meal . 
• Alcinous listened to Echeneus and fetched Odysseus out of the hearth and sat him on a "tall polished chair" from which he moved Laodamas (his favourite son) out of. 
• A maid came over to Odysseus and poured some water into a bowl for Odysseus to wash his hands with, and then pulled over a wooden table to put some bread and some delicacies on for Odysseus to eat. 
• Alcinous told his squire (Pontonous) to mix a bowl of wine and fill all of the cups of the company as they will be making drink offerings to Zeus. 
• When they had made their offerings Alcinous addresses the company, telling them that he wants a gathering of the elders to entertain Odysseus by sacrificing to the gods. 
• They will then take up the matter of how they will ensure Odysseus a safe and speedy journey back home under their escort. 
• He says they will keep him safe and guard him all the way home until he sets foot in Ithaca again, then it is up to Fate and Destiny. 
• Alcinous then suspects that Odysseus may be one of the immorals who has come down from heaven, he gets confused as they have never used disguise before, they have always shown the Phaeacians their true identities. 
• Odysseus quickly dismisses Alcinous' thoughts about him being an immortal in disguise. "I have neither the looks of stature of the immortal gods who live in heaven, but those of a human being". 
• Odysseus insists Alcinous leaves him to eat alone as he can not ignore his stomach like he can ignore his heart. He says he will be "contempt to breathe again" when he has reached his homeland of Ithaca where he will truly be at home. 
• All of the men applauded Odysseus' speech and agreed that he should be escorted home. 
• After they had all made their libations they retired to their homes leaving Odysseus sitting next to Arete and Alcinous whilst the maids cleared the dishes away. 
• Arete asked him lots of quesions first- "who are you? Where do you come from? And who gave you all of those clothes? Didnt you say you came here from wandering over the seas?"
• He tells Arete that he couldnt possibly tell her all of the problems which the gods have given him as there are so many (drama queen!) so he will only stick to her questions. He says "the awesome goddess with the braided hair" (Calypso) kept him on Ogygia, when Zeus struck his ship with a lightening bolt, killing all of his crew, and getting oDysseus to wash up on the Ogygia shore. 
• He explains how Calypso let him go due to Zeus and for 17 days he sailed smoothly across the dea, but on the 18th Poseidon made the winds go against him which stopped him travelling in the right direction, and made him fall off his raft. Then he explains how he swam the coastline and that is how he ended up on their island. 
• He then says how he slept under the bush covered in leaves as he was so exhausted from his journey, and then when he awoke he asked for the princess' help. He explains how Nausicaa gave him lots of bread and wine, bathed him in the river and provided him with the clothes which they see him standing in. 
• Alcinous tells Odysseus that on one hand Nausicaa's judgement was wrong as she should have brought him home with her maids. 
• Odysseus defend Nausicaa, telling Alcinous that she told him to follow her maids but he backed away as he was suspicious of the judgement which people would form of him and he didnt want Alcinous to become protective etc. 
• Alcinous replies "my friends, I am not one to take offence for no good reason"
• He continues to say that he would much rather a man like Odysseus stay and become his son-in-law married to his daughter. "I would give you a house and riches" if he was willing to stay- basically he is trying to convince Odysseus to marry Nausicaa. 
• "But none of us Phaeacians will detain you" 
• He then says that he will let Odysseus leave with one of his best ships and some of his best men tomorrow. 
• "Odysseus' patient heart was filled with happiness as he listened", he prayed to Zeus that Alcinous will accomplish all that he has promised and that his fame will never die. And that he will be able to return home to Ithaca. 
• Whilst Alcinous and Odysseus were talking Arete instructed one of her maids to make a bed up for Odysseus. As soon as they had finished making up Odysseus' bed they invited him to retire. 
• "The prospect of sleep seemed very sweet to him"
• "So the long suffering good Odysseus slept there in and echoing portico on a wooden bed. Alcinous lay down for the night in his room at the back of the lofty palace with his wife, who shared his bed"