Odyssey Book 13

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Odyssey Book 13

• Theres No Place Like Home!

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Previously in Homers Odyssey

• Odysseus had just finished telling his tales to
  King Alcinoos and Queen Arete after the war and
  insisted that he not have to retell adventures
  with Calypso.

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Gifts to Odysseus

• Everyone is in awe of his stories.
• King Alcinoos assures Odysseus that he is in good
  hands and he and his men give Odysseus gifts.
  (These gift are given the next morning)
• Gold, bronze, a great cauldron, a great basin,
  well-made clothes, and many other gifts.
• King Alcinoos praises Odysseus which convinces
  the men to give gifts (It is hard for a single
  man to give freely for nothing.)

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A Day of Preparation

• Alcinoos packs the ship with all the gifts so as
  not to hinder the rowers
• An ox is sacrificed and everyone eats, but
  Odysseus cant wait to start on the voyage.
• He asks to begin (requesting a libation) and asks
  for them to pray that his journey is safe and
  that he returns to a home that is faithful
• Return to my wife at home blameless
• What about Odysseus? Calypso? Circe?
• Alcinoos agrees and requests that wine be poured
  so everyone can pray to Zeus. (Pontinoos is the
  server/herald)

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Odysseus and Arete

• Odysseus holds out his wine and thanks Arete by
  toasting to her happiness and long life
• Arete sends Odysseus with escorts and gifts to
  his homeward bound ship
• A well-washed mantle and tunic, a stout chest,
  bread, and red wine.
• Odysseus is met with a soft blanket so that he
  may sleep during the long journey

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Homeward Bound!

• Odysseus sleeps for the entire journey
• The Phaeacians do not want to wake him so they
  take him and all of his stuff and leave him to
  sleep on Ithaca
• The harbor of Phorcys
• Smooth waters, an olive tree, and a shadowy
  cavern sacred to the Naiades
• The Phaeacians sail toward home.

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Poseidons Wrath

• Poseidon was outraged that the gods had allowed
  Odysseus to return home so easily
• He complains to Zeus (his brother) and speaks of
  his embarrassment at the fact that mortals are no
  longer under his wrath or consequences
• Poseidon requests that the Phaeacians are
  punished for always offering safe transport to
  their visitors.
• Zeus allows Poseidon to turn the Phaeacian ship
  into stone once they are in viewing distance of
  Scheria. This fulfills a prophecy.
• Poseidon also wishes to turn surround Scheria
  with mountains.
• Wise Alcinoos knows about the prophecy and
  prepares a large sacrifice to Poseidon in hopes
  that he will change his mind about the mountains.

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Why is this Unusual?

• For the first time in both books, we see Zeus,
  the commander of hospitality, allow for a group
  of people who went far beyond their duty to help
  a visitor to be punished.
• Why?
• No matter how good your people are, if you insult
  a god, youre in trouble!
• Zeus fulfilled his role as a brother and god
  first before he considers the mortals.

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Odysseus Wakes Up

• And doesnt recognize where he is because Athene
  spread mist everywhere
• She does this so that no one recognizes himthis
  gives her time to give him the plan
• Odysseus thinks that the Phaeacians have dropped
  him off somewhere
• He is angry with them and hopes that Zeus
  punishes them for their lack of hospitality

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Athene Saves the Day (Again)

• Athene comes to Odysseus dressed as a feeder of
  sheep Odysseus begs to know where he has landed
• Athene explains to Odysseus that he is in Ithaca.
  Here we get an idea of his homeland
• Poor for horses, producers of food and wine, good
  for goats and cows, rainy, lots of forest

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Odysseus Tells a Lie

• Cunning Odysseus decides to lie to the sheep
  feeder
• He tells a story of how he had to flee because he
  killed the son of Idomeneus, Ortilochos who was a
  strong, swift man who wanted Odysseus gold from
  the war.
• He says that after other journeys, he and his men
  landed on Ithaca and that his men left him
  grieving in his heart

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Athene is Pleased with Cunning Odysseus

• Athene, a clever immortal, is pleased with her
  cunning mortal. She praises Odysseus for his
  extemporaneous speaking
• She then reveals herself and tells Odysseus of
  the suitors inhabiting his home

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Odysseus Gets Risky

• After Athene reveals herself to him, Odysseus
  doubts that Athene is really who she says she is.
  He is angry at all the troubles he has been
  through and gives Athene a Where were you then?
  speech
• Odysseus doubts he is in Ithaca
• Athene is truly devoted to Odysseus. Even in his
  anger she views him favorably And so I cannot
  forsake you when you are wretched, because you
  are polite, ready-minded, and of steadfast
  though.
• Athene reveals Ithaca to Odysseus and explains
  her absences. She didnt want to upset Poseidon.

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The Plan

• Athene reveals the cave to Odysseus who rejoices
  in seeing the Naiades.
• They hide Odysseus gifts from the Phaeacians in
  a nook and cover it with a rock.
• They both sat down at the base of the holy olive
  tree and talked about destruction for the
  presumptuous suitors.
• Athene tells of Penelopes loyalty
• Odysseus is glad that his fate is not like that
  of Agamemnon

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The Plan

• Odysseus realizes that with Athene he will be
  able to conquer the suitors. Athene, in all her
  war glory, gets a little graphic
• Some the suitors who devour your livelihood
  shall splatter the immense ground with their
  blood and brains.
• Athene instructs Odysseus to go to his swine
  shepherd and ask him of all things.
• Meanwhile, Athene plans to go to Sparta to tell
  Telemachos to come home
• She tells Odysseus that his son went to find him
  and Odysseus wonders why Athene does not tell him
  that his father is alive. Athene explains that
  it is to help Telemachos gain glory (oh, the
  pains of growing up!)

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Odysseus Transformation

• Athene assures Odysseus of his sons safety
• Turns Odysseus into an ugly old man
• She shriveled his flesh, ruined his blond hair,
  marred his eyes, and dressed him as a vagabond

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And they part

• When they had made this plan, the two of them
  parted.
• And she went to godly Lacedemon after the child
  of Odysseus.