The Odyssey - Book 8 (THE PHAEACIAN GAMES)

• As soon as they woke up Alcinous took Odysseus to the place by the ships where the phaeacians hold their assemblies. 
• "They sat down side by side on polished seats of marble"
• Meanwhile Athene went through town disguised as a herald from Alcinous and gave messages to the towns citizens. 
• She told the citizens to follow her to the assembly where the stranger to their city is, she adds that he looks "like an immortal god"
• Her words acted as "inspiration and encouragement" to the Phaeacians. 
• As she said the citizens went to the assembly place and filled up the seats "many eyes were fixed in admiration on Laertes keen-witted son". 
• Athene gave Odysseus divine beauty and made him taller and broader. 
• When they had all assembled Alcinous addressed them saying he does not know Odysseus' name or where he is from but they are to make immediate arrangements for his return to his homelands as he has come begging for help. He asks a crew of 52 to step forward to take him home and the rest of the people to entertain Odysseus back at his (Alcinous') palace. 
• When Alcinous has finished his speech he told the princes to follow him. 
• Alcinous set his squire out to find a minstrel to sing and entertain Odysseus whilst 52 men were chosen as the crew and headed towards the ship. 
• The 52 men set up the ship so it was ready for sail. 
• After all the men inside the palace had a feast the Muse set the bard to sing the famous deeds of the heroes "The Quarrell of Odysseus and Achilles son Pelus". 
• As the minstrel sang Odysseus began to cry so he pulled the purple cloak over his head so the people around him wouldn't see him crying. 
• Whenever the minstrel stopped singing for a moment Odysseus pulled down his cloak, wiped away his tears and made libations to the gods. 
• Nobody realised he was crying apart from Alcinous. 
• Alcinous stands and tells the captains and counsellors that now they have eaten together and listened to the lyre together they will now go outside and try various sports together as he doesn't want Odysseus going home without telling his friends about their wrestling, jumping and running skills. 
• "There is no one who can beat us"
• they were followed out by a mass crowd of people. 
• "There was no lack of fine young men to compete"
• Acroneos
• Ocyalus
• Elatreus
• Nauteus
• Prymneus
• Anchilalus
• Eretmeus
• Ponteus
• Thoon
• Anabesineos
• Eurylaus 
• Amphialus
• Clytoneus 
• The first event was a race. Clytoneus was the quickest. 
• The second event was wrestling, Euryalus won it. 
• Amphialus won the jump. 
• Elatreus was the best at throwing discus. 
• Laodamas (Alcinous' son) was the best at boxing. 
• After they had finished their games Laodamas says he would like to challenge Odysseus as he looks like he has a sports physique. 
• Laodamas then took to the center and told Odysseus that he would like the sports. 
• Odysseus asks Laodamas why he is trying to provoke him asking him for a challenge himself. he makes the excuse up that he only wants to go home. That is all. 
• Euryalus insulted him saying that he is more of a skipped of a merchant crew rather than a games man. 
• Odysseus replies saying that he is no sports man but he will rely on his childhood strength and the skills which he has acquired whilst on his travels and therefore he will join in with their games after all (basically to prove Euryalus wrong). 
• With this he stood up, removed his cloak and picked up the biggest discus- the ones which the Phaeacians never used as it was too heavy. 
• "With one swing he launched it from his mighty hand, and the stone hummed on its course"
• Athene was in the crowd pretending to be one of them, she spoke out saying "the others are all in a bunch, but yours stands right out in the front" "none of the Phaeacians will make as good a throw let alone better"
• Odysseus was happy with her words and then said he would throw them further if any Phaeacian beat him. 
• Alcinous replies to his complaints saying that they don't resent what he says and he is naturally good at throwing discus. But when he is home with Penelope and banqueting, he wants Odysseus to talk about how Zeus has given the Phaeacians certain skills which they have acquired from their fathers.
• The squire went and fetched the lyre for Demodocus and handed it to him. 
• Then the dancing area was created wide enough for Demodocus' performance. 
• As Demodocus played the lyre, boys danced around him, filling Odysseus with admiration. 
•  The bard started singing about Ares and Aphrodite:
• The song is about how Aphrodite is having an affair with Ares in her husbands (Hephaestus) palace. 
• One day the Sun saw the affair taking place and wold Hephaestus who went straight forward to make evil plans against them. He set up a trap on his bed which hung like a spiders web. When he had set up the trap he went to Lemnos. Ares had been watching and saw Hephaestus leaving the house, he then sneaks in with a passionate desire for Aphrodite. Ares told Aphrodite he wanted to go to bed with her immediately. As soon as they got into bed together the netting fell onto them so they couldn't move a limb. There was no escpae for them. The Sun gave Hephaestus the word that they has been caught and so Hephaestus made his way home in anguish. When he saw them trapped under the netting he cried out in anger to the gods. He called Zeus basically bitching about Aphrodite being unfaithful, he calls Aphrodite a "brazen bitch" who is the "slave of her passions". Hermes, Poseidon and Apollo cam up to Hephaestus and laughed at Aphrodite and Ares. They gods said that it may have taken time but Ares will finally pay for his adultery. As Hephaestus undid the netting which covered them, Ares fled to Thrace and Aphrodite to Phapos (in Cyprus). 
• That was the song the minstrel sang to Odysseus. 
• After this Alcinous ordered Halius and Laodamas to dance by themselves as no one else could compete with them. 
• Odysseus turns to Alcinous and says he marvels at the dancers. 
• Alcinous says that Euryalus needs to apologise for what he said to Odysseus and gives him a personal apology as well. 
• Euryalus gave a bronze sword as a gift to Odysseus. 
• he laid the sword in Odysseus' hands and said "I salute you" he apologised if he offended Odysseus and wishes that he gods will grant his successful return home. 
• Odysseus carried all of his gifts back to Alcinous' palaces where Alcinous' sons took them and placed them at their mothers feet.
• Arete told her maid to put a large 3-legged cauldron on the fire and heat up some water. She them brought out a chest filled with the clothing gifts which the people of Phaeacia had made for Odysseus.
• the housekeeper invited Odysseus for a bath. they oiled and bathed Odysseus- it was the first time he had bathed in ages as he didn't have on on Ogygia with Calypso either.  
• After he had had his bath he dressed in a fine tunic and joined the men for wine. 
• Nausicaa was stood by one of the pillars that supported the roof and wished him luck. She also wished that he remembered her when he is back in his own country. 
• Odysseus replies saying he too prays he gets home quickly, but he also wishes the rest of her days in divinity as it was her who gave him back his life. 
• Odysseus went and sat down next to Alcinous waiting for the food to be served to them. 
• Odysseus tells Demodocus to stop playing the tuneful lyre and the bard to stop singing so they can all be merry again. 
• Alcinous asks him where he has actually travelled and where his home is. Who his friends are and who he is.