The Phaiakian people are assembled and the feast begins. King Alkinoös sacrifices 12 sheep, 8 pigs ('with shining tusks', l. 60, wild pigs?) and 2 'drag-footed' oxen (eilipodas, "having a rolling gait", epithet of oxen and sometimes women, according to LSJ on Perseus). Among those invited are 'sceptered kings' (l. 41), 'leaders of the Phaiakians and men of counsel' (l. 26) and 52 specially selected young men, 'who have been the finest' (l. 36). The young men are to serve as oarsmen on the ship that will take Odysseus home. The guest of honour, 'Odysseus sacker of cities' (l. 3) is a beggar, who has come from east or west, nobody knows (l. 29). The night's entertainment will be provided by Demodokos, 'the inspired singer' (l. 43). No-one is allowed to excuse themselves. It's interetsing that the epithet 'sacker of cities' comes up in the third line of Book 8. In this idyllic place suddenly the trample of horses can be heard in the distance. Battle cries. Swords clinking. Blood and dust. Demodokos, who is blind but moved by the spirit, chooses to sing of the Trojan War. He sings of 'quarrelling', 'words of violence' and how 'the lord of men, Agamemnon / was happy in his heart' because, according to a prophecy, this would mean that 'now the beginning of evil rolled on' (ll. 75-82). I think there is a little bit too much of 'evil' attached to what was, after all, a story of great heroes. Especially that bit about Agamemnon with a vicious smile on his face. The song makes Odysseus weep (what kind of tears are these? of regret? nostalgia?), which he tries to hide behind his (well, not his really) mantle, but it doesn't escape Alkinoös' notice. To save him from embarrassment, the king announces that now they are going to have contests, so that the stranger, when he gets home, can tell his people how great the Phaiakians are at 'boxing, wrestling, leaping' and 'running' (l. 103).
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AuthorHave studied A219 Exploring the Classical World and A275 Reading Classical Greek at the Open University. Currently studying for a Psychology degree. ImagesPlease click on any image to be taken to its source.
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