As he listened to him, Odysseus Ulysses could not hold back his tears. He tried to hide them, but Alcinous noticed. The latter then invited the assembly to the games and the most valiant of the Phaeacians sparred among themselves. Euryale insisted, calling the hero a vulgar trafficker. Odysseus Ulysses , in turn, replied that if he was of great beauty, his mind was no less empty.
Then, stung by the remark, the hero took the heaviest of the discs and threw it further than all the Phaeacians had done. Then he challenged them to all the games except the race, because of his exhaustion. Nor did he want to compete with Laodamas out of respect for his host. He said he was the best at javelin throwing and archery, assuring that only Philoctetes, Heracles and Eurytus, who was killed by Apollo when he challenged him, surpassed him in this art.
Alcinous replied that his people did not excel in boxing or wrestling, but rather in sea-faring and running, and that he had always loved feasting, the zither, singing and dancing, new adornments, hot baths and love. Then Demodocus sang the love of Ares and Aphrodite, the trap set by the jealous husband Hephaestus, and the arbitration of Poseidon.
To the twelve kings of Phaeacia, being himself the thirteenth, Alcinous asked that they each give gifts of clothes and gold to the hero. He also ordered Euryale to give a present and apologise. The latter obeyed and offered a well-crafted sword. Then Alcinous asked his wife to prepare a tunic and a scarf while he himself would offer a gold cup. When all presents had been deposited in a chest, Odysseus Ulysses closed the lid with a special knot taught by Circe. Definition Poseidon's son, father of Alcinous.
Term Rhexenor. Definition Alcinous' brother, Arete's father. Term Echeneus. Definition eldest lord in Phaeacia, suggested to the king they seat and feed Odysseus. Term Laodamas. Definition King Alcinous' favorite son. Term Pontonous. Definition herald of King Alcinous, poured wine. Term Demodocus. Definition bard in Phaeacia, inspired by the Muse. Term Laodamas, Halius, and Clytoneus. Definition sons of King Alcinous. Term Broadsea. Definition mocked Odysseus when he didn't want to compete.
Term Hephaestus. Definition god of fire, wife Aphrodite cheated on him with Ares. Term Circe. Definition nymph that held Odysseus captive, like Calypso. Term Polyphemus. Only a worthless idiot would challenge the man who welcomes him to a foreign land.
He would ruin his own good luck. I am no lightweight in any of the sports men practice. I know how to handle a polished bow with skill, and I was always first to pick off a man in the enemy ranks, however many comrades stood with me to shoot at the foe. When we Achaeans fought at Troy only Philoctetes surpassed me. But I count myself the best by far of all the other mortal men on earth, who eat their bread.
Still, I would not claim to compete with Hercules , or Oechalian Eurytus , archers who vied with the gods. And the spear I hurl further than others can shoot an arrow. They all stood silent at his words. Only Alcinous answered, saying: Stranger, since you are not ungracious, but wish to emphasise the skills you possess, and were angered because this man taunted you at the games, making light of your powers, in a way that none would who rightly knew how to speak; come, listen to what I say.
We may not be the greatest boxers or wrestlers, but we run fast in the race, and we are the finest sailors: and ever the feast is dear to us, the dancing and the lyre, fresh clothes, warm baths, and bed. So come, you finest dancers among us Phaeacians, perform for this stranger, so he can tell his friends when he reaches home how we excel not only in swiftness of foot, and seamanship, but in dancing too, and in song. Let someone go quickly, and fetch Demodocus his ringing lyre that is somewhere in the palace.
Then nine elected officials, who organised the games, cleared a space, and marked out a wide arena for the dance. The bard stood in the centre and round him a group of dancers, boys in the first flush of youth, skilled in dancing, and Odysseus marvelled as he gazed at their flashing feet, striking the sacred dancing floor. But Helios , the sun god, who had spied them sleeping together, came to tell him.
When Hephaestus had heard the sour tale, he went to his smithy his heart set on evil, and set up his huge anvil on its block, and forged a net of chains, firm and unbreakable.
When he had spread his net over the bed, he pretended to leave for Lemnos , that well-ordered citadel, dearest of all the islands, to his eyes. Hephaestus has left, for Lemnos no doubt, to visit the barbarously spoken Sintians. As he spoke it seemed a pleasant thing to her to lie with him. So they went to the bed and lay down.
They soon realised there was no escape. Now the great lame god approached, for Helios had kept watch and carried the word, and Hephaestus returned before ever reaching Lemnos.
He came home, troubled in mind, and as he stood in the gateway a terrible anger seized him. And he cried out fiercely to all the gods:. My parents alone are to blame for that: I wish they had never made me! Look how these two usurp my bed and sleep together, while I am filled with pain to see it.
At this the gods came crowding the bronze threshold: Poseidon , Earth-Bearer, Hermes the messenger, and Lord Apollo who strikes from afar.
The slow catch the swift, as Hephaestus here, slow as he is, has netted Ares the swiftest of all the Olympian gods. He has trapped him by cunning, though lame. Ares must pay the fine for adultery. At this, laughter rose from the group of immortal gods. Will I bind you with chains, in the presence of the deathless gods, if Ares shrugs off both chains and debt, and escapes?
Ares headed for Thrace , but laughter-loving Aphrodite to Paphos in Cyprus , where she has a sanctuary and fragrant altar. There the Graces bathed her, and anointed her with such heavenly oil as gleams on the limbs of the gods who live forever. And they dressed her in beautiful clothes, marvellous to behold. This was the song of the famous bard, that delighted Odysseus and the Phaeacians famed for their long-oared ships. Next Alcinous asked Halius and Laodamas to dance by themselves, since no one else could compete with them.
Having taken a lovely purple ball, which clever Polybus had made, one leant back and threw it high towards the shadowy clouds, while the other leapt and caught it again before his feet touched the ground. When they had repeatedly shown their skill at hurling it high, they threw it to and fro as they danced on the rich earth, while the other youths stood round the arena beating time amidst loud applause. This stranger seems a man of the highest discernment.
Twelve illustrious princes rule our land, and I am the thirteenth. Let each of you twelve bring him a fresh tunic and cloak, and a talent of rich gold, and let us all arrange it swiftly, so the stranger may go to his supper with a happy heart having our gifts to hand.
And let Euryalus make amends with a gift and an apology, for his unfortunate words. They praised his speech, and endorsed his thought, and each sent a squire to fetch the gifts.
I will give him this bronze sword with a silver hilt, and a scabbard for it of fresh-cut ivory: it will be of great value to him.
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