OdysseyOdyssey Bks. VII-IXBks. VII-IX

WHERE WE LEFT OFFWHERE WE LEFT OFF

Odysseus has left Kalypso, and been Odysseus has left Kalypso, and been shipwrecked by Poseidon on the island of shipwrecked by Poseidon on the island of Phaiakia – NausikaaPhaiakia – Nausikaa

Telemakhos is happily staying with Menelaos Telemakhos is happily staying with Menelaos and Helen in Spartaand Helen in Sparta

Penelope is still holding off the suitors, but Penelope is still holding off the suitors, but barelybarely

Poseidon is still angry, Athena is still helpingPoseidon is still angry, Athena is still helping

The PhaiakiansThe Phaiakians

a race where “the only things they trust are the a race where “the only things they trust are the racing ships Poseidon gave”racing ships Poseidon gave”

11stst thing Odysseus hears thing Odysseus hears: “they do not care for : “they do not care for strangers in this neighborhood”strangers in this neighborhood”

11stst thing Odysseus sees thing Odysseus sees: “high rooms…bronze-: “high rooms…bronze-paneled walls…lapis lazuli…doors were paneled walls…lapis lazuli…doors were golden…bronze plated…silver upon silver…golden…bronze plated…silver upon silver…golden handles…boys of gold…”golden handles…boys of gold…”

Phaiakian Palace vs Phaiakian Palace vs Greek PalaceGreek Palace

Menelaos’ PalaceMenelaos’ Palace = “a-glitter everywhere, as = “a-glitter everywhere, as though with fiery points of sunlight, lusters of though with fiery points of sunlight, lusters of the moon”the moon”

Nestor’s PalaceNestor’s Palace = a “great house”, a “famous = a “great house”, a “famous hall”hall”

Phaiakian wealth in material things, Greek Phaiakian wealth in material things, Greek wealth in animals, land, the wealth in animals, land, the oikosoikos

““We don’t take too kindly to We don’t take too kindly to strangers around here.”strangers around here.”

Odysseus supplicates AreteOdysseus supplicates Arete this is very strangethis is very strange

NOBODY MOVESNOBODY MOVES this is very strangethis is very strange

Where is the love?Where is the love? no one seems aware of the law of no one seems aware of the law of xeniaxenia it takes an elder to move Alkinoos to actionit takes an elder to move Alkinoos to action

Why no Xenia?Why no Xenia?

To offer solace would require an To offer solace would require an understanding of miseryunderstanding of misery

Phaiakia is a utopian society, with no war, Phaiakia is a utopian society, with no war, hunger, pain, or sufferinghunger, pain, or suffering

The Phaiakians cannot relate to Odysseus’ The Phaiakians cannot relate to Odysseus’ suffering, thus they don’t know that he IS suffering, thus they don’t know that he IS sufferingsuffering

This is why Odysseus can’t stay (as we shall This is why Odysseus can’t stay (as we shall see)see)

Arete, Queen of PhaiakiaArete, Queen of Phaiakia Seemingly the most Seemingly the most

important person in Phaiakiaimportant person in Phaiakia ““no lady in the world, no no lady in the world, no

other mistress of a man’s other mistress of a man’s household, is honored as our household, is honored as our mistress is, and loved…no mistress is, and loved…no grace or wisdom fails in grace or wisdom fails in her…supposing, then, she her…supposing, then, she looks upon you kindly, the looks upon you kindly, the chances are that you shall chances are that you shall see your friends under your see your friends under your own roof, in your father’s own roof, in your father’s country.” (pg. 113)country.” (pg. 113)

Arete, Queen of PhaiakiaArete, Queen of PhaiakiaAfter After xeniaxenia finally occurs, Arete finally occurs, Arete

takes the lead, questioning takes the lead, questioning Odysseus about his identityOdysseus about his identity

She ends the evening’s She ends the evening’s conversation by sending maids conversation by sending maids to make up Odysseus’ bedto make up Odysseus’ bed

Why does Odysseus go to her Why does Odysseus go to her first?first? Nausikaa and Athena tell Nausikaa and Athena tell

him to: “as soon as you are him to: “as soon as you are safe inside, cross over and safe inside, cross over and go straight through into the go straight through into the megaron to find my megaron to find my mother.”mother.”

The Blind BardThe Blind Bard Bk. VIII opens with a bard Bk. VIII opens with a bard

singing of “the clash between singing of “the clash between Odysseus and Akhilleus”Odysseus and Akhilleus”

The bard’s name is The bard’s name is DemodokosDemodokos

Could this be Homer?Could this be Homer? Notice the power of the songNotice the power of the song

““Odysseus with massive Odysseus with massive hand drew his rich mantle hand drew his rich mantle down over his brow, down over his brow, cloaking his face with it, cloaking his face with it, to… miss the secret tears to… miss the secret tears that started to his eyes.” that started to his eyes.” (pg. 127)(pg. 127)

The GamesThe Games

THE PENTATHLONTHE PENTATHLON RunningRunning WrestlingWrestling BroadjumpBroadjump DiscusDiscus BoxingBoxing

PanhellenismPanhellenism Lack of epic distance – the OlympicsLack of epic distance – the Olympics

Demodokos ReduxDemodokos Redux

The third song is of the Trojan HorseThe third song is of the Trojan Horse Odysseus unconsolableOdysseus unconsolable Only after revealing his pain over Troy does Only after revealing his pain over Troy does

he reveal his namehe reveal his name Then we get to the trials and tribulationsThen we get to the trials and tribulations

Adventure 1: The Adventure 1: The KikonesKikones

Odysseus and his men sack IsmarosOdysseus and his men sack Ismaros For the first time, greed proves their undoingFor the first time, greed proves their undoing Odysseus and his men get thumped pretty good (lost Odysseus and his men get thumped pretty good (lost

six men per ship)six men per ship)

LESSON #1LESSON #1

The point is, ladies and The point is, ladies and gentleman, is that greed -- for gentleman, is that greed -- for lack of a better word -- is bad. lack of a better word -- is bad.

Greed is wrong. Greed is wrong.

Greed doesn’t work.Greed doesn’t work.

Adventure 2: The Lotus-Adventure 2: The Lotus-EatersEaters

Adventure 2: The Lotus-Adventure 2: The Lotus-EatersEaters

““Those who ate this Those who ate this honeyed plant, the honeyed plant, the Lotos, never cared to Lotos, never cared to report, nor to return: report, nor to return: they longed to stay they longed to stay forever, browsing on forever, browsing on that native bloom, that native bloom, forgetful of their forgetful of their homeland.” (pg. 148)homeland.” (pg. 148)

LESSON #2LESSON #2

(Keep this in mind when we meet Kirke)(Keep this in mind when we meet Kirke)

Adventure #3: The Adventure #3: The KyklopesKyklopes

Completely unculturedCompletely uncultured ““They neither plow, nor sow by hand, nor till They neither plow, nor sow by hand, nor till

the ground, though grain…grows untended, the ground, though grain…grows untended, and wine-grapes, in clusters, ripen in heaven’s and wine-grapes, in clusters, ripen in heaven’s rain.”rain.”

Greed is, again, bad.Greed is, again, bad. The whole episode can be summed up in the The whole episode can be summed up in the

following clip:following clip:

AFTERMATHAFTERMATH

Once he blinds himOnce he blinds him:: Odysseus lies to Polyphemos, but can’t leave well Odysseus lies to Polyphemos, but can’t leave well

enough aloneenough alone ““My name is My name is ούτιςούτις” ” = = nobodynobody

By taunting Polyphemos, Odysseus makes By taunting Polyphemos, Odysseus makes Poseidon mad at himPoseidon mad at him

This is why Poseidon wants to destroy himThis is why Poseidon wants to destroy him Not even a great offering to Zeus can keep Not even a great offering to Zeus can keep

Odysseus out of troubleOdysseus out of trouble

What Have We LearnedWhat Have We Learned

Women rule the roost on Phaiakia (and Ogygia Women rule the roost on Phaiakia (and Ogygia and Aiaia and Ithaka).and Aiaia and Ithaka).

Greed is bad.Greed is bad. Drugs are bad (or are they?).Drugs are bad (or are they?). Blinding Kyklopes is bad.Blinding Kyklopes is bad. Xenia is the highest law of the land, and Xenia is the highest law of the land, and

seperates men from beasts (or Kyklopes).seperates men from beasts (or Kyklopes). Even the gods cannot overcome fate.Even the gods cannot overcome fate.