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Homer · Odyssey §7.1-7.70

Athena Guides Odysseus to the City and Explains the Royal Lineage

Passage 44 of 173 · Greek

Summary

Nausicaa returns home, and Odysseus, guided by Athena in a protective mist, enters the city of Phaeacia. Athena explains the lineage of the Phaeacian royal family to him and emphasizes the importance of Queen Arete.

§7.1ὧς ὁ μὲν ἔνθʼ ἠρᾶτο πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς, §7.2κούρην δὲ προτὶ ἄστυ φέρεν μένος ἡμιόνοιιν.
So he prayed there, the much-enduring noble Odysseus, while the strength of the two mules bore the maiden toward the city.
§7.3ἡ δʼ ὅτε δὴ οὗ πατρὸς ἀγακλυτὰ δώμαθʼ ἵκανε, §7.4στῆσεν ἄρʼ ἐν προθύροισι, κασίγνητοι δέ μιν ἀμφὶς §7.5ἵσταντʼ ἀθανάτοις ἐναλίγκιοι, οἵ ῥʼ ὑπʼ ἀπήνης §7.6ἡμιόνους ἔλυον ἐσθῆτά τε ἔσφερον εἴσω.
And when she had reached the glorious house of her father, she stopped them at the outer gate, and around her her brothers stood, like unto immortals, who then from the carriage loosed the mules and carried the clothing inside.
§7.7αὐτὴ δʼ ἐς θάλαμον ἑὸν ἤιε· δαῖε δέ οἱ πῦρ §7.8γρῆυς Ἀπειραίη, θαλαμηπόλος Εὐρυμέδουσα, §7.9τήν ποτʼ Ἀπείρηθεν νέες ἤγαγον ἀμφιέλισσαι·
But she herself went to her chamber; and for her a fire was kindled by the old Apeiraean woman, the chamber-maid Eurymedusa, whom once well-curved ships had brought from Apeire.
§7.10Ἀλκινόῳ δʼ αὐτὴν γέρας ἔξελον, οὕνεκα πᾶσιν §7.11Φαιήκεσσιν ἄνασσε, θεοῦ δʼ ὣς δῆμος ἄκουεν·
And they had chosen her as a gift of honor for Alcinous, because over all the Phaeacians he ruled, and the people listened to him as to a god.
§7.12ἣ τρέφε Ναυσικάαν λευκώλενον ἐν μεγάροισιν.
She nurtured white-armed Nausicaa in the halls.
§7.13ἥ οἱ πῦρ ἀνέκαιε καὶ εἴσω δόρπον ἐκόσμει.
She it was who kindled the fire for her and prepared supper inside.
§7.14καὶ τότʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς ὦρτο πόλινδʼ ἴμεν· ἀμφὶ δʼ Ἀθήνη §7.15πολλὴν ἠέρα χεῦε φίλα φρονέουσʼ Ὀδυσῆι, §7.16μή τις Φαιήκων μεγαθύμων ἀντιβολήσας §7.17κερτομέοι τʼ ἐπέεσσι καὶ ἐξερέοιθʼ ὅτις εἴη.
And then Odysseus set out to go to the city; and about him Athena shed a deep mist, with kindly thoughts toward Odysseus, lest any of the great-hearted Phaeacians, meeting him, should mock him with words and ask who he might be.
§7.18ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ἄρʼ ἔμελλε πόλιν δύσεσθαι ἐραννήν, §7.19ἔνθα οἱ ἀντεβόλησε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη, §7.20παρθενικῇ ἐικυῖα νεήνιδι, κάλπιν ἐχούσῃ.
But when he was about to enter the beautiful city, then the goddess, flashing-eyed Athena, met him, likened to a young maiden carrying a pitcher.
§7.21στῆ δὲ πρόσθʼ αὐτοῦ, ὁ δʼ ἀνείρετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς· §7.22ὦ τέκος, οὐκ ἄν μοι δόμον ἀνέρος ἡγήσαιο §7.23Ἀλκινόου, ὃς τοῖσδε μετʼ ἀνθρώποισι ἀνάσσει;
And she stood before him, and noble Odysseus questioned her: "My child, would you not lead me to the house of the man Alcinous, who rules as king among these people?
§7.24καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ ξεῖνος ταλαπείριος ἐνθάδʼ ἱκάνω §7.25τηλόθεν ἐξ ἀπίης γαίης· τῷ οὔ τινα οἶδα §7.26ἀνθρώπων, οἳ τήνδε πόλιν καὶ γαῖαν ἔχουσιν. §7.27τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη· §7.28τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, ξεῖνε πάτερ, δόμον, ὅν με κελεύεις, §7.29δείξω, ἐπεί μοι πατρὸς ἀμύμονος ἐγγύθι ναίει.
For I come here as a sore-tried stranger from afar, from a foreign land; wherefore I know none of the people who possess this city and land." And the goddess, flashing-eyed Athena, spoke to him in turn: "Then indeed, stranger father, the house which you bid me, I will show you, since it dwells near my noble father.
§7.30ἀλλʼ ἴθι σιγῇ τοῖον, ἐγὼ δʼ ὁδὸν ἡγεμονεύσω, §7.31μηδέ τινʼ ἀνθρώπων προτιόσσεο μηδʼ ἐρέεινε.
But go in silence just so, and I will lead the way, and do not look at any man nor ask questions.
§7.32οὐ γὰρ ξείνους οἵδε μάλʼ ἀνθρώπους ἀνέχονται, §7.33οὐδʼ ἀγαπαζόμενοι φιλέουσʼ ὅς κʼ ἄλλοθεν ἔλθῃ.
For these men do not easily tolerate stranger men, nor do they kindly welcome one who comes from elsewhere.
§7.34νηυσὶ θοῇσιν τοί γε πεποιθότες ὠκείῃσι §7.35λαῖτμα μέγʼ ἐκπερόωσιν, ἐπεί σφισι δῶκʼ ἐνοσίχθων·
Trusting in their swift, fleet ships, they cross the great gulf of the sea, which the Earth-shaker has given them.
§7.36τῶν νέες ὠκεῖαι ὡς εἰ πτερὸν ἠὲ νόημα. §7.37ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασʼ ἡγήσατο Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη §7.38καρπαλίμως· ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα μετʼ ἴχνια βαῖνε θεοῖο.
Their ships are as swift as a wing or a thought." So speaking, Pallas Athena led the way swiftly; and he followed in the footsteps of the goddess.
§7.39τὸν δʼ ἄρα Φαίηκες ναυσικλυτοὶ οὐκ ἐνόησαν §7.40ἐρχόμενον κατὰ ἄστυ διὰ σφέας· οὐ γὰρ Ἀθήνη §7.41εἴα ἐυπλόκαμος, δεινὴ θεός, ἥ ῥά οἱ ἀχλὺν §7.42θεσπεσίην κατέχευε φίλα φρονέουσʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ.
But the Phaeacians, famous for ships, did not perceive him as he went through the city among them; for Athena of the beautiful hair, the dread goddess, did not permit it, she who shed a wondrous mist over him, with kindly thoughts in her heart.
§7.43θαύμαζεν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς λιμένας καὶ νῆας ἐίσας §7.44αὐτῶν θʼ ἡρώων ἀγορὰς καὶ τείχεα μακρὰ §7.45ὑψηλά, σκολόπεσσιν ἀρηρότα, θαῦμα ἰδέσθαι.
And Odysseus marveled at the harbors and the well-balanced ships, and the meeting places of the heroes themselves, and the long, high walls, fitted with palisades, a wonder to behold.
§7.46ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ βασιλῆος ἀγακλυτὰ δώμαθʼ ἵκοντο, §7.47τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη· §7.48οὗτος δή τοι, ξεῖνε πάτερ, δόμος, ὅν με κελεύεις §7.49πεφραδέμεν· δήεις δὲ διοτρεφέας βασιλῆας §7.50δαίτην δαινυμένους· σὺ δʼ ἔσω κίε, μηδέ τι θυμῷ §7.51τάρβει·
But when they had reached the glorious house of the king, then the goddess, flashing-eyed Athena, began to speak to them: "This indeed, stranger father, is the house which you bid me point out; and you will find the heaven-cherished kings feasting at the banquet; but go inside, and do not fear at all in your heart.
θαρσαλέος γὰρ ἀνὴρ ἐν πᾶσιν ἀμείνων §7.52ἔργοισιν τελέθει, εἰ καί ποθεν ἄλλοθεν ἔλθοι.
For a bold man is better in all deeds, even if he should come from elsewhere.
§7.53δέσποιναν μὲν πρῶτα κιχήσεαι ἐν μεγάροισιν· §7.54Ἀρήτη δʼ ὄνομʼ ἐστὶν ἐπώνυμον, ἐκ δὲ τοκήων §7.55τῶν αὐτῶν οἵ περ τέκον Ἀλκίνοον βασιλῆα.
First of all you will find the queen in the halls; Arete is her name, and she is sprung from the same ancestors who begot Alcinous the king.
§7.56Ναυσίθοον μὲν πρῶτα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων §7.57γείνατο καὶ Περίβοια, γυναικῶν εἶδος ἀρίστη, §7.58ὁπλοτάτη θυγάτηρ μεγαλήτορος Εὐρυμέδοντος, §7.59ὅς ποθʼ ὑπερθύμοισι Γιγάντεσσιν βασίλευεν.
First Nausithous was begotten by Poseidon, the Earth-shaker, and Periboea, the fairest of women in form, the youngest daughter of great-hearted Eurymedon, who once ruled over the proud Giants.
§7.60ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ὤλεσε λαὸν ἀτάσθαλον, ὤλετο δʼ αὐτός·
But he destroyed his reckless people, and was destroyed himself.
§7.61τῇ δὲ Ποσειδάων ἐμίγη καὶ ἐγείνατο παῖδα §7.62Ναυσίθοον μεγάθυμον, ὃς ἐν Φαίηξιν ἄνασσε·
And with her Poseidon mingled and begot a son, great-hearted Nausithous, who ruled among the Phaeacians.
§7.63Ναυσίθοος δʼ ἔτεκεν Ῥηξήνορά τʼ Ἀλκίνοόν τε.
And Nausithous begot Rhexenor and Alcinous.
§7.64τὸν μὲν ἄκουρον ἐόντα βάλʼ ἀργυρότοξος Ἀπόλλων §7.65νυμφίον ἐν μεγάρῳ, μίαν οἴην παῖδα λιπόντα §7.66Ἀρήτην· τὴν δʼ Ἀλκίνοος ποιήσατʼ ἄκοιτιν, §7.67καί μιν ἔτισʼ, ὡς οὔ τις ἐπὶ χθονὶ τίεται ἄλλη, §7.68ὅσσαι νῦν γε γυναῖκες ὑπʼ ἀνδράσιν οἶκον ἔχουσιν.
The former, while yet childless, silver-bowed Apollo smote, a bridegroom in his hall, leaving only one daughter, Arete; her Alcinous made his wife, and he honored her as no other woman on earth is honored, of all those who now keep house under their husbands.
§7.69ὣς κείνη περὶ κῆρι τετίμηταί τε καὶ ἔστιν §7.70ἔκ τε φίλων παίδων ἔκ τʼ αὐτοῦ Ἀλκινόοιο
So she has been honored from the heart and is still honored, both by her dear children and by Alcinous himself."

Notes

  1. §7.2μένος ἡμιόνοιιν — The subject "strength of the mules" (μένος ἡμιόνοιιν) is a Homeric periphrasis for "the mules in their strength" carrying the maiden.
  2. §7.10γέρας ἔξελον — The verb ἔξελον is the 3rd person plural aorist of ἐξαιρέω (without augment), taking αὐτὴν as direct object and Ἀλκινόῳ as dative of advantage.
  3. §7.22οὐκ ἄν ... ἡγήσαιο — The combination of the negative οὐκ with ἄν and the optative ἡγήσαιο expresses a polite request ("would you not lead me...?").
  4. §7.30σιγῇ τοῖον — The neuter pronoun τοῖον is used adverbially here to qualify σιγῇ, meaning "just so in silence" or "strictly in silence."
  5. §7.64τὸν μὲν ἄκουρον ἐόντα — The circumstantial participle ἐόντα with the adjective ἄκουρον means "being without a son (to succeed him)" when Apollo struck him down.

Cite this passage

Homer, Odyssey §7.1-7.70. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:7.1-7.70

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