In Ithaca, Penelope’s suitors discovered that Telemachus was not around. On learning that he had set off on a voyage to meet the neighbouring kings, they panicked. They firmly believed he was seeking outside help to fight them.
They planned to ambush the lad on
his homeward journey. Antinuos, one of the suitors, gathered twenty men and set
sail. He expected Telemachus to sail by the island of Samos. So, he stayed
under cover there, intending to waylay Telemachus’ ship and kill every single
person on board.
Medon, a herald and one of
Penelope’s suitors, disapproved of this shameful act. He was deeply concerned
about Telemachus’s safety. Rushing to Penelope, he revealed the plot to her so
that she might take steps to foil it.
Penelope was distressed when she
heard the news. Already, she was struggling to cope with the brash suitors. She
prayed to Goddess Athene for help. Athene, ever willing to help Odysseus and
his family, sent a vision to Penelope that night. The vision came in the form
of Penelope’s sister, who assured her that Telemachus would safely return home.
Meanwhile, Ulysses was in a deep slumber in the grove that lined the beach of Scheria. The Phaicians who were expert mariners lived here. Alcinous was their wise king and Arête, their queen. Nausicaa was the beautiful and intelligent daughter of the royal couple. Athene chose the young princess to help Odysseus.
At dawn that day, Athene conjured
up a dream in Nausicaa’s sleep. The princess’s bosom friend appeared in the
dream and ordered her to go to the stream and wash the laundry. Nausicaa woke
up, told her parents about her dream, and set off to the stream in a wagon,
lugging her laundry along. A large group of friends and maids accompanied her.
Queen Arête packed a large hamper of snacks and cool wine for them.
Soon, the girls reached the wash
tanks and washed their clothes. After a refreshing bath, and sumptuous lunch,
they tossed a ball around playfully. At one time, when the ball slipped out of
their hands and bounced into the waters, the girls screamed and shrieked.
Odysseus was awakened by the noise. He walked out to see what was happening and
found himself amidst the girls.
Caked with salt and brine from
head to toe, Odysseus made a ghastly sight! Swimming in the oceans for a long
period had weathered his body. On seeing him, the girls were scared. They ran
away and hid themselves behind trees and hillocks of sand. But Nausicaa stepped
forward to look at him closely.
Odysseus admired her courage and
beauty. He wondered how to address her without offending her. Then he spoke up
politely and gently: “Young lady, your parents and brothers must really be
proud of you. I believe you are one of those immortals who dwell the heavens.
I’m a traveller who has wandered into your land. I’ve reached here after
drifting in the ocean for twenty days. I’ve lost all my possessions and would
be grateful if you could provide me with dress and food. I need to reach my
homeland. I pray to the gods to bless you with a good husband.”
Nausicaa pitied the forlorn
traveller, who seemed to be civilized. After he had bathed and dabbed olive oil
over his blistered body and limbs, she provided him with fresh clothing. She
then served him with food and said, “Sir, I don’t want my townsmen to see me in
the company of a stranger. I shall leave ahead of you. Come into the city that
you see in the distance, and ask for the mansion of King Alcinous. He is my
father. He’ll help you.” With that, she climbed on to her wagon and drove away.
Odysseus prayed to Goddess Athene
and waited until the girls were out of sight, before he set off to the city.
The goddess sent down a mist to shroud him. She did not want anybody to see
Odysseus or bother him with questions. As he reached the city limits, she came
down as a maiden and accosted him.
Odysseus asked her, “Young one,
can you please show me the way to King Alcinous’s palace? I’m a stranger in
this country.” Athene agreed and as they walked along, she told him what a
benevolent woman Queen Arête was. She advised him to talk pleasingly and
respectfully to her, so that the queen may help him return home. After guiding
him to the palace, she left.
As Odysseus stood at the threshold
of the royal mansion, he was awed by its grandeur. The walls were made of
bronze, and were coated with blue enamel. The doors were golden and the
doorposts silver. Golden and silver dogs, that never grew old, guarded the
mansion. The wide halls were lit by the torches held aloft by statues wrought
of gold.
The courtyard buzzed with activity. While some maids were grinding the corn into flour, some others were weaving webs and twisting yarn. In the orchard beyond were pear, pomegranate, apple, fig, and olive trees. Plump, ripe fruits pulled down the branches with their weight. The grapes in the vineyard dripped with juice. Every nook and corner of Scheria declared its prosperity.
(To be continued)
Painting: Odysseus before Alcinous, King of the Phaeacians by August Malmström (1829–1901)
