Rheithron

Rheithron is the harbour of Ithaca where the disguised Athena, as Mentes, moors her ship when she visits Telemachus at the start of the Odyssey, and its description anchors the poem's geography in the real-world topography of Trapani, Sicily, according to Samuel Butler's controversial theory.

Location and Description

Rheithron is introduced in Book I when Athena, disguised as Mentes, tells Telemachus where she has left her ship: "As for my ship, it lies over yonder off the open country away from the town, in the harbour Rheithron under the wooded mountain Neritum." The name itself means "with a current in it," suggesting a tidal or river-fed inlet. The harbour is situated away from the town of Ithaca, under Mount Neritum, which is described as a high, forested mountain. This placement indicates that Rheithron is a secondary harbour, distinct from the main port of Ithaca, and is used by visitors who wish to avoid the town's immediate vicinity.

Narrative Significance

Rheithron serves as the landing point for Athena's first intervention in the poem. By mooring there rather than in the main harbour, she maintains her disguise as a visiting Taphian king and avoids immediate detection by the suitors. The harbour's location "off the open country" also allows her to approach the palace discreetly. Later, when Telemachus prepares for his journey to Pylos, he does not use Rheithron but instead secures a ship from Noemon and sails from the main harbour, suggesting that Rheithron is a less frequented, more secluded anchorage.

Butler's Geographical Theory

Samuel Butler, in his preface to this translation, argues that the Odyssey was written entirely at and drawn entirely from the place now called Trapani on the west coast of Sicily. According to Butler, the voyages of Odysseus, once he is within easy reach of Sicily, resolve themselves into a periplus of the island, practically from Trapani back to Trapani. In this framework, Rheithron corresponds to a specific harbour near Trapani, and Mount Neritum corresponds to a local mountain. Butler further contends that the poem was written by a very young woman who lived at Trapani and introduced herself into the work under the name of Nausicaa. The detailed description of Rheithron, with its specific name and location, is thus seen as evidence of the poet's intimate knowledge of the Trapanese coastline.

The Harbour's Role in the Poem's Unity

Rheithron is mentioned only once in the Odyssey, but its brief appearance is crucial for establishing the poem's geographical consistency. The harbour's name and location are given with precision, and it is distinguished from the main harbour of Ithaca, which is later identified as Phorcys' haven. This careful differentiation suggests that the poet had a clear mental map of Ithaca's coastline, a map that Butler believed was based on the real geography of Trapani. The harbour's obscurity also serves a narrative function: it allows Athena to arrive and depart without attracting the attention of the suitors, thus preserving the secrecy of her mission to encourage Telemachus.