We are in Scheria, where the Phaiakians live. The book starts with a brief history of the Phaiakians, who seem to be peace-loving people. They used to live "near the Cyclopes" in a different place called Hypereia, but because of their "overbearing" neighbours, were forced to migrate to Scheria, "far away from men who eat bread" (l. 8). This last bit may be a device to introduce any kind of unbelievable element to the story, e.g. "it all happend in a far away place, where people have three ears". I'm not sure how much ink has been spilled over the next passage on settling down in a new land (ll.6-10), but I guess everybody who is anybody in Homeric studies has felt obliged to comment. As I have come to Homer with no or very little previous knowledge (mainly based on the Odyssey Study Guide in "Resources" in the blog sidebar), the only thing I can say is that everything seems to have been well-organised. The story continues in the bedchamber of the Phaiakian princess, Nausikaa, where Athene finds her asleep with her two handmaidens. All three of them have been endowed with beauty by the Graces (Kharites), with Nausikaa especially looking like an immortal goddess. She is the daughter of the Phaiakian king, Alkinoös (not to be confused with Antinoös) so it's no surprise that her surroundings are also very pretty ("ornate chamber", l. 15, thalamos polydaidalos in Greek, the adjective polydaidalos meaning high-skilled [workmanship], esp. connected to metal working; Homer is obsessed with metal!). Now Athene's idea this time is to persuade Nausikaa, posing as her best friend, to go on a washing trip. Her argument is that as Nausikaa is soon to be married (although the lucky man hasn't been picked yet), she should make a point of wearing clean clothes (!). She hastens to add it's not because there is any shortage of suitors, though. It turns out there is quite a bit of washing to be done - to be carried by mules and wagon to the washing place, which is some distance away. Nausikaa, being a princess, has to think of the attire of her attendants as well.
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Odysseus makes a raft with Kalypso handing him the tools and the material. At the same time, it is made clear that Odysseus is the one to make it: he has both the mental skills to design it and the craftsmanship to build it. I think Kalypso is needed to explain where Odysseus got some of the things from, e.g. the cloth to make the sail. I'm sure many people have written pages about Odysseus' raft-making skills, and there must be similar episodes in other epics, but I find it difficult to comment further. On the other hand, in an oral culture these things may be important to include (although it is more poetry than instruction manual, I think). Kalypso gives some parting gifts to Odysseus: clothing, wine and water and a bag full of food. I wonder how all this (not the clothes though, as Odysseus is wearing them - but they will be a problem too a bit later) can stay on the raft. Even if you tie them to the beams, won't the food get soaked, the skins bashed about and burst? It's well-meaning, I'm sure, but Kalypso is not a very practical woman. She lives in her own little world on her own little island with her own little toys. Minus one from now on.
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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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