book seven

• Nausicaa went to her apartments and was greeted by Eurymedusa, a slave woman who lit a fire and prepared supper
• Athene envelops Odysseus in a "thick mist" and disguises herself as a young girl to guide Odysseus
• Athene tells him the Phaecians are hostile to visitors and tells him to appeal to Arete
• Arete's history

  • same family as Alcinous
  • Eurymedon who was king of the Giants had Periboa as a daughter
  • Periboa slept with Poseidon and had Nausithous
  • Nausithous had two sons, Rhexenor and Alcinous
  • Rhexenor had daughter Arete who married her uncle Alcinous
• Arete looked upon like a "goddess" and a "wise" woman who settles even "men's disputes"
• Odysseus marvels at the splendour of the Phaecian palace, especially gold and silver e.g. dogs made by Hephaestus + also the nourishment "fruit never fails nor runs short"
• Odysseus' mist is broken and he supplicates to Arete, "clapsing" her knees and asking for escort
• Echeneus, an elder, speaks up saying they must show Odysseus xenia and it is "unseemly" not to and Alcinous obeys, giving Odysseus food and drink and ordering libations for Zeus
• Alcinous asks the Phaecians to go home and reconvene tomorrow to entertain Odysseus and sacrifice to the gods. Says they will help him home.
• Alcinous wonders if Odysseus is a god but is confused as the gods always show themselves without disguise and eat with the Phaecians.
• Odysseus refutes the claim he could be a god, saying he has neither the looks or stature of a god, and says he has suffered "woe" and simply wants to satiate his hunger and reach home
• The Phaecians "applaud" Odysseus' speech and retire to their homes
• Arete recognises the clothes Odysseus is wearing and questions him
• Odysseus recounts his journey from Calypso's island, and Arete says her daughter's judgement was "faulty" in not taking him home with her but Odysseus asks her not to "rebuke" Nausicaa
• Arete says she wishes a man like Odysseus would marry Nausicaa but refuses to detain him, saying he will leave tomorrow
• Odysseus is overjoyed and offers a prayer to Zeus to allow Alcinous' fame to never die
• Odysseus retires to a bed the servants prepare