The Odyssey Summary. The measure is approved, and Alcinous invites the counselors to his palace for a feast and celebration of games in honor of his guest. King Alcinous pointed out that Nausicaa hadnt escorted him to the palace, as a good host should have done. There, a blind bard named Demodocus sings of the quarrel between Odysseus and Achilles at Troy. The next morning King Alcinous addressed an assembly of his people: "My guest's name is still unknown to me, but I have promised him passage home. 1. Nausicaa, being hospitable, provides clothes, food and drink to Odysseus, and then directs him to the palace of King Alcinous. Nausicaa, however, stood firm, and Ulysses set himself to consider whether he should go boldly up to her and embrace her knees, or speak to her from a respectful distance. He is met by Pallas in the form of a young virgin, who guides him to the palace, and directs him in what manner to address the queen Arete. To entertain the banqueters, Alcinous summoned his minstrel, Demodocus. She then questions the stranger herself (7.237ff. At lines 251-315, Nausicaa instructs Odysseus on how to = 6.313-15 Nausicaa). Whilst the servants were fetching the wagon and the mules and preparing them, Nausicaa fetched all of the clothes and linen which she was going to wash. At the assembly, Alcinous proposes providing a ship for his visitor so that the man can return to his homeland. The princess Nausicaa returns to the city and Ulysses soon after follows thither. The palace and gardens of Alcinous described. Therefore prepare our fastest ship. ), although she does not really warm up to him until a 145 On the whole he concluded that this would be the most prudent course; and having adopted it, he began by asking Nausicaa to inform him whether she was a goddess or no. ), while Arete simply listens and observes, all the time allowing her husband to ramble on. T he Odyssey is an ancient Greek epic poem by Homer that tells the story of Odysseuss ten-year struggle to return home to The palace of King Alcinous Edit Following Nausicaa 's orders, Odysseus sought to enter the palace of King Alcinous and plead for mercy from the queen, Arete , so he could make his way home. She did indeed ask me to follow her with her servant women, but I refused out of fear and shame, Alcinous Greek mythology Britannic . The first person he meets is Nausicaa, daughter of Alcinous and Arete, the Phaeacians' king and queen. Nausicaa held Odysseus' hand as if they had always been best-girlfriends as they strolled to the dock. Odysseus defended Nausicaa by attributing that fault to himself: Your majesty, surely, dont fault your flawless girl for this. Both Arete and Alkinoos arranged for servants to escort Odysseus in parade to the ship. The most important value at the core of The Odyssey is hospitality, a social custom common to nearly all pre-modern societies and essential to ancient Greek social structure. O. and men CANNOT touch Helios' cattle or O. will return alone, a broken man, and on a stranger's ship 2. When all is done, let the crew join me and my nobles for a banquet at the palace." She then involves him in a mist which causes him to pass invisible. In Book 7 Alcinous quickly accepts Odysseus and his suit (7.167ff., 311ff. When O. returns he will deal with the suitors and then he will go to the Greek mainland and carry an oar until a traveler asks if the oar is a fan for winnowing grain (separating the grain) Alcinous told Nausicaa that it was fine to go, he told his servants to get her a "fine high-sided wagon with a hood to it". Like all epic poems, The Odyssey is a cultural document that embodies the values of the society that created it, providing insight into ideas of heroism and virtue during the poets day. The Phaeacian king, Alcinous, asks him to spend another day with them so they can furnish him with gifts, then asks if he met any of his fellow warriors among the shadows.