2nd+Athena's+Princes+Bk+8

The Odyssey of Homer: Book VIII Main Characters of Book VIII
 * Odysseus
 * Alcinous [[image:odysseus_weeping.gif width="515" height="344" align="right" caption="Odysseus weeps as Demodocus sings about the Trojan War."]]
 * Athena
 * Demodocus
 * Pontonous
 * Laodamas

** What's Happening? **
Athena, disguised as Alcinous' herald, goes throughout the town telling the people to come to the assembly ground because Odysseus has arrived. She then changed Odysseus' appearence so that he would prevail in the tests and competitions that he would later be asked to compete in. Alcinous tells his people that Odysseus is in need of a ship and a crew to return to Ithica. He then calls on blind Demodocus, the singer and musician to please Odysseus. He was a man that the Muse greatly admired, and so his skills were so great. Alcinous then prepared a great feast for his people and Odysseus to share. Demodocus sings of the Trojan war, and Odysseus breaks down into tears.

Afterwards, Odysseus is invited to compete in a series of contests. Odysseus refuses at first. After a footrace, wrestling, jumping, the dicus throwing, and boxing, Alcinous' son Laodamas then invites Odysseus to compete once again. Euryalus then taunts and mocks Odysseus. After this, Odysseus rises to compete. Odysseus picks up a stone heavier and bigger than the others had thrown. He throws it much farther then the rest. Athena, now disguised as a different man, declares Odysseus to be the winner of the contest.

Another feast takes place after the tournament. The young Phaeacians sing and dance. Demodocus sings another song, this one about the love between Ares and Aphrodite. Then the Phaeacians give gifts to Odysseus. After the feast, Odysseus asks Demodocus to sing of the story of the Trojan horse, causing Odysseus to once again cry. At the end of book eight, King Alcinous questions Odysseus: Who is he, where is he from, etc.

**Phaeacians ** The Phaeacians lived on the island of Scheria. Scheria is the in the Ioanian Sea near the coast of Epirus. The Phaeacians were known for being great sailors. The island of Scheria is about 80 miles away from Ithica. []

[|Phaeacian Ships] The Phaeacian ships were known for being very fast. It took 52 people to make the ship that the Phaeacians were going to use to take Odysseus home. This ship had both oars and a sail. These ships were made out of wood and the most common types of wood used were fir, cedar, and pine. The ship could have been steered with either one large oar and a sail or many smaller oars. The sailing ships of the Trojan War manly had ships with many smaller oar because they are much older and were used at the time of the Trojan War. []

People gathering for the Feast

**Ancient Greek Feasts** The typical feast of Ancient Greeks had two parts. The first part was just food and the second part was drinking. During the second part the people had entertainment. The entertainment of the Phaeacian feast that Odysseus attended was the Olympic style games and the poet. Only men could come to the feasts. The only women allowed to come to the feasts were those who traveled with the entertainment.



**Athletic Competitions** The games of the Phaeacians were before the Ancient Greek Olympics, but they competed in many of the same games. They competed in wrestling, boxing, discus, jumping (most likely high jump), and a foot race. The games that were in the Ancient Greek Olympics that the Phaeacians competed in were the javelin throw, horse races, and chariot races.

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Major Developing Themes

Within book VIII there are many themes that are being mentioned. The first theme that is mentioned in this book is the theme of hospitality. This is shown in many ways. One way that this theme is show is when the counsel of Phaeacian provided a ship and crew for Odysseus. This act of hospitality would allow Odysseus a ride home. Hospitality was also shown when they invited Odysseus to Alcinous’ palace for a feast and also when Odysseus was invited to the banquet. The last example of hospitality was when Euryalus gives Odysseus a sword. Another theme that is shown in book VIII was justice of the gods. Justice of the gods, was shown in the song that the poet song. In this song Posiden releases Ares free but he must pay his debts to the deathless gods. Also in this book, faithfulness is shown when Nausicaa wants to marry Odysseus. Odysseus stays faithful to Penelope and does not marry Nausicaa. The last theme that was shown was sacrifice. Although it may not have been emphasized in this book it is highly likely that there was a sacrifice to the gods at the feast that was held at Alcinous’ palace. In the Greek religion it was traditional to offer some kind of sacrifice to the gods. After offering sacrifice the Greeks would eat the rest of the meat of the animal.