The Phaeacian Hospitality and Nausicaa

Odysseus's reception by the Phaeacians, his encounter with Nausicaa, and his departure from Scheria.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

Meeting Nausicaa

Nausicaa's Dream Athena's Visit Athena appears to Nausicaa in a dream, urging her to go to the river to wash clothes. The Encounter Nausicaa and her maids go to the river. Odysseus wakes and approaches them. The maids flee, but Nausicaa stays. Odysseus's Plea Odysseus asks for help. Nausicaa gives him clothes and directs him to the city.

Arrival at Alcinous's Palace

Odysseus at Court Athena's Guidance Athena guides Odysseus to the palace and advises him to supplicate Queen Arete. The Supplication Odysseus enters the palace, embraces Arete's knees, and asks for passage home. The Phaeacians are impressed. Alcinous's Promise King Alcinous promises to provide a ship. He offers Odysseus his daughter Nausicaa in marriage, but Odysseus declines.

The Games and Banquet

Odysseus Proves Himself The Challenge At a banquet, the Phaeacian prince Laodamas challenges Odysseus to compete in games. Odysseus initially refuses but is goaded by Euryalus. The Discus Throw Odysseus throws a discus far beyond any Phaeacian mark, proving his strength. Demodocus's Song The bard Demodocus sings about the Trojan War, causing Odysseus to weep. Alcinous notices and asks Odysseus to reveal his identity.

Odysseus's Story

Odysseus Reveals His Identity The Narrative Odysseus tells the Phaeacians his name and recounts his adventures from Troy to Calypso. Gifts and Departure The Phaeacians give Odysseus many gifts. They prepare a ship to take him to Ithaca. The Sleep Odysseus falls into a deep sleep as the ship sails. He wakes on the shore of Ithaca.

After the shipwreck on Scheria

Later the same day

The next day

Evening of the banquet