BOOK VII – ODYSSEUS AND KING ALCINOUS
Summary
As Odysseus approaches the palace, he is welcomed by Athena disguised as a
young girl, who provides him with information concerning the King and Queen.
There is a great feast taking place in the palace and Odysseus enters, and
kneeling before Queen Arete, he begs aid in order to return to his home.
The King and Queen advise Odysseus that they will assist him and he is duly
fed and welcomed. The King does not interrogate the stranger, putting this off until he has had a good night’s sleep.
The next day, Odysseus has a private audience with the King and Queen and he
recounts his story since leaving Troy, until his detention by the nymph Calypso on the island of Ogygia.
The Queen notices that Odysseus is wearing some of her son’s clothes and so
Odysseus tells of his encounter with Nausicaa.
King Alcinous promises to provide Odysseus with a ship and crew.
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