book six

• Phaecians had once neighboured the Cylcopes until Nausithous settled them in Scherie, far away from "ordinary, hard-working people"
• Phaecians are also close to mortal humanity, he build houses, temples and divided up the land for cultivation
• Athene goes to Alcinous' palace and appears to Nausicaa as Dymas, one of her friends and chastises her for being "lazy" and having neglected her clothes
• Athene says that she will go with Nausicaa to wash her clothes at the washing pools the next day
• Nausicaa goes and asks her father for a wagon to wash clothes but does not mention that the real reason is a desire to marriage as she is too "shy" but he understands "completely" and agrees
• The women go, wash the clothes, bathe and rub themsleves with oil, eat and then wait for the clothes to dry
• Nausicaa sings and is compared to Artemis, says she stands out as Artemis does
• Odysseus wakes up at the women give a loud "shriek" as he wonders whether he is in the land of "hostile and uncivilised savages or kindly and god-fearing people"
• Odysseus emerges, covering his "naked manhood" with a leaf and is compared to a lion who hunts down oxen or pursues wild deer
• All the women scatter at the sight of Odysseus but Nausicaa who stands "firm", Athene having put "courage in her heart"
• Odysseus decides against clasping her knees, instead supplicating from a distance. He compares her to Artemis and says the man who can "win" her and take her home as a bride is "most blessed"
• Odysseus compares Nausicaa to a palm tree he saw in Delos by the altar of Apollo
• Odysseus begs for her help, saying if she does the gods may grant her a husband and a home
• Nausicaa agrees to help

  • He speaks with manners so he is not a "bad man or a fool"
  • No man would ever set "hostile feet on Phaecian soil" because of the gods' protection
  • Zeus protects supplicants
• Nausicaa instructs the slaves to feed him, bathe and clothe him and Odysseus refuses to let them bathe him, as he would be "ashamed" to stand "naked" in their presence
• Athene "endowed his head and shoulders with beauty", making him seem taller and sturdier and Nausicaa "gazed at him in admiration"
• Nausicaa says she wishes she could have a man "like him" for her husband
• Nausicaa wishes to avoid a "bad name" by being seen walking with a strange man and think she has chosen a foreigner for a husband rather than a Phaecian
• Nausicaa directs him to a poplar wood sacred to Athene for him to wait for a little bit before making his way to the palace
• Nausicaa tells him to supplicate to her mother if he wants to see the "day of your homecoming"
• They leave and once they reach the grove, Odysseus offers a prayer to Athene so that the Phaecians receive him with kindness and compassion but she does not appear to him in respect for Poseidon