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Book 7 Odyssey summary
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Book 7 Summary: The Palace of Alcinous Odysseus prays in Athene’s grove as Nausicaa reaches the city
When Nausicaa arrived home, her brothers were waiting for her and helped her to
unharness the mules and unpack the clothing from the cart and bring it indoors
Nausicaa retires to her rooms where Eurymedusa, Nausicaa's old nurse maid, had lit
a fire for her
When Odysseus set off for the main town, Athene shrouded hm in mist to keep his
identity secret from anyone he may pass on the journey
Athene came to meet Odysseus in the disguise of a young girl carrying a pitcher of
water and Odysseus asks her for directions to the palace
Athene, in disguise, tells Odysseus that he must follow her to the palace, and she
begins to lead the way, with Odysseus following
As they walked, Odysseus gazed in wonder at the city’s buildings and ports
When they reached the palace, Athene tells Odysseus to find the queen, Arete
(respected by the whole of Scherie, in particular her family. Arete was the daughter
of Rhexinor and married her uncle, Alcinous son of Nausithous) weaving by the fire,
as she is considered a wise woman and as a result, she can help him return to Ithaca
Athene left for Athens
Odysseus made his way into the palace and marvelled at its beauty and just stood
for a while, drinking it all in.
o Outside the courtyard is an orchard
o The fruit from it never runs short even in the winter
o A beautiful vineyard where grapes dry in the sun for wine
o Beautiful beds of vegetables are off to one side
o The palace was decorated in silver and gold all over
o The Phaeacians are skilled at sailing and weaving
Odysseus, found the princes feasting but paid them no mind, and the mist fell from
him
Odysseus found the queen and laid himself at her feet stating that he comes as a
suppliant to the king and asks for help; an escort to Ithaca
Arete, in xenia, tells Odysseus that he should not sit in the ashes of the fire and lets
Odysseus sit upon a silver chair and is given wine to drink and some food to eat.
Odysseus sat next to the favourite son of Alcinous
Alcinous then listened to what Odysseus had to say
A maid then came out to wash Odysseus’ hands with water from a beautiful silver
pitcher, and is then presented with bread
Everyone then drank in offering to Zeus, the god of xenia
Odysseus eats his supper while the guests go home to get more people to listen to
Odysseus’ story
Odysseus expresses his desire to see Ithaca again and make is way home to his wife
and son
Arete asks Odysseus who he is
Odysseus begins to tell everyone about Ogygia and Calypso and how he ended up on
Scherie
He then tells everyone about how he found Nausicaa by the river and how she gave
him help
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