Escape to the Phaeacians
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Odysseus spent seven years captive on Calypso's island until he was released at the urging of Hermes. Poseidon then wrecked Odysseus' raft but he survived with help from a sea nymph and washed ashore on Scherie, the island of the Phaeacians. There, Nausicaa helped him seek the hospitality of her parents, King Alcinous and Queen Arete. Odysseus remained for several days, taking part in games and listening to the blind singer Demodocus, who performed poems about the Trojan War until Odysseus revealed his true identity while reliving his role in the Trojan Horse stratagem.
Escape to the Phaeacians
- 2. Odysseus spent seven years in captivity on Calypso's island, Ogygia. Calypso falls deeply in love with him (Odysseus). She is persuaded to release him by Odysseus' great-grandfather, the messenger god Hermes. When Poseidon finds out that Odysseus has escaped, he wrecks the raft but, helped by a veil given by the sea nymph Ino.
- 3. Odysseus swims ashore on Scherie, the island of the Phaeacians. He sees the young Nausicaa, who has gone to the seashore with her maids to wash clothes after Athena told her in a dream to do so. She encourages him to seek the hospitality of her parents, Arete and Alcinous, or Alkinous.
- 4. He remains for several days, takes part in a pentathlon, and hears the blind singer Demodocus perform two narrative poems. the first is an otherwise obscure incident of the Trojan War, the "Quarrel of Odysseus and Achilles“ the second is the amusing tale of a love affair between two Olympian gods, Ares and Aphrodite.
- 5. Finally, Odysseus asks Demodocus to return to the Trojan War theme and tell of the Trojan Horse, a stratagem in which Odysseus had played a leading role. Unable to hide his emotion as he relives this episode, Odysseus at last reveals his identity. He then begins to tell the story of his return from Troy.