Queen Arete and King Alcinous - "The Odyssey" Book VII - By Homer

Stephen Alexander Beach 

Book VII picks up with Athena shrouding Odysseus in a mist as he goes to the king's palace. It is here that we meet Queen Arete. [Now arete means "excellence" in Greek and is where the word for virtue developed from. It certainly must not be a coincidence that she is named thusly since the way she is described fully fits her name.] "Arete, she is called, and earns the name: she answers all our prayers. ... They gaze on her as a god, saluting her warmly on her walks through town. She lacks nothing in good sense and judgment - she can dissolve quarrels, even among men, whoever wins her sympathies." 1

Lines 90 - 155 describe the majesty and grandeur or Alcinous' palace that Odysseus experiences. Then he makes his way into the hall where there is a feast going on and throws himself at the queen's feet. "And then, the moment he flung his arms around Arete's knees, the godsent mist rolled back to reveal the great man." 2 They receive their again, as suppliant's rights and guests are sacred from Zeus, and offer him a seat and food and wine. Athena had made Odysseus looks bigger and more intense to them all and so they wonder if he is a god come down among them. "...But if he's one of the deathless powers, out of the blue, the gods are working now in strange, new ways. Always, up to now, they came to us face to face whenever we'd give them grand, glorious sacrifices - they always say beside us here and shared our feasts. Even when some lonely traveler meets them on the roads, they never disguise themselves." 3 

Odysseus assures them that he is not a god, but that he just wants to go home. He wants to die in peace at home, something everyone can relate to. "'But you, at the first light of day, hurry, please, to set your unlucky guest on his own home soil. How much I have suffered ... Oh just let me see my lands, my serving-men and the grand high-roofed house - then I can die in peace.' All burst into applause, urging passage home for their newfound friend, his pleading rang so true." 4

Now Arete recognizes the clothes that Odysseus is wearing as she made them herself. So she questions him, and he has to give a short recounting of the events that brought him to them and how their daughter took care of him. They are impressed with Odysseus and offer their daughter's hand in marriage to him, or to take him home the next day on one of their ships. Alcinous likewise shows himself to be virtuous like his wife. Indeed, he says, "'I'm hardly a man for reckless, idle anger. Balance is best in all things.'" 5 Then they go off to sleep. 

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1 - 60, 85

2 - 168

3 - 235 - 240

4 - 260

5 - 353