Arete

Arete was the queen of the Phaeacians on the island of Scheria in Greek mythology, wife of King Alcinous and mother of Nausicaa and Laodamas. In Homer’s Odyssey the shipwrecked Odysseus is told to appeal to her first, because her good will is the surest way to get home.

Family

Arete was both Alcinous’ wife and his niece. Homer tells that Poseidon and Periboea, the youngest daughter of Eurymedon, king of the Giants, had a son Nausithous, who ruled the Phaeacians. Nausithous had two sons, Rhexenor and Alcinous. Apollo killed Rhexenor in his hall, still a bridegroom, leaving one daughter, Arete, whom Alcinous made his wife (Homer, Odyssey 7.54–66). Their daughter was Nausicaa, and they had five sons, two married and three unmarried (Odyssey 6.62–63). Three of them, Laodamas, Halius and Clytoneus, are named at the Phaeacian games (Odyssey 8.117–119); Laodamas is Alcinous’ favourite (Odyssey 7.170–171).

Arete in the Odyssey

Homer says that Alcinous honoured her as no other woman on earth is honoured by her husband, and that her children, her husband and the people all look at her like a goddess when she goes through the city. She is also called intelligent: she settles quarrels even among men (Odyssey 7.66–77).

Odysseus asks for her protection

Nausicaa found Odysseus on the shore and told him to pass by her father’s throne and put his hands around her mother’s knees, if he wished to see his home again; if Arete was friendly to him, he could hope to reach his native land (Odyssey 6.303–315). Athena, in disguise as a girl, gave him the same advice and told him to approach the queen first (Odyssey 7.50–77). Wrapped in mist, he went through the hall, threw his arms around Arete’s knees, and the mist melted from him. He prayed to her as the daughter of Rhexenor, asking the household for help to reach his home (Odyssey 7.139–152).

It was Arete who spoke first once the guests had left, as she recognised the cloak and tunic Odysseus was wearing: she had made them herself with her maids. She asked him who he was and who had given him those clothes (Odyssey 7.233–239). Later, as Odysseus told his story to the Phaeacians, she was the first to speak when he had finished. She asked them what they thought of the man, called him her own guest, and told them not to send him off in a hurry or to cut down the gifts he needed. The old Phaeacian Echeneus supported her, saying that the wise queen spoke to the point (Odyssey 11.335–346). When Odysseus left, he placed a cup in her hand and wished her a good life (Odyssey 13.57–62).

Arete and the Argonauts

In Apollonius of Rhodes the Argonauts land on the Phaeacian island on their way back from Colchis, with a Colchian fleet in pursuit. Medea clasps the knees of Arete and begs her not to hand her over to the Colchians to be taken back to her father, swearing that she left home out of fear, not desire, and is still a maiden (Argonautica 4.1011–1029). That night, in bed, Arete urged her husband to save the girl as a favour to the Minyans, reminding him that Jason was bound by great oaths to make Medea his wedded wife and that fathers can be cruel to their daughters (Argonautica 4.1068–1095). Alcinous answered that he feared the justice of Zeus and the power of Aeetes, and that he would rule that if Medea was still a maiden she should be returned to her father, but if she already shared Jason’s bed he would not separate her from her husband (Argonautica 4.1096–1109).

As soon as he fell asleep, Arete secretly sent her herald to Jason with the ruling, urging him to make Medea his wife at once and not to petition the king (Argonautica 4.1111–1127). The marriage was celebrated that same night in the sacred cave where Macris had once lived (Argonautica 4.1128–1169); Apollonius says that Hera had put the shrewd plan in Arete’s mind (Argonautica 4.1199–1200). When the Colchians learned the ruling had gone against them, they feared their own king’s anger and asked to settle among the Phaeacians (Argonautica 4.1206–1211). When the Argonauts sailed, Arete gave them many gifts and sent twelve Phaeacian maids from the palace with Medea (Argonautica 4.1220–1222).

Arete Sources

Homer, Odyssey 6.62–63, 6.303–315, 7.50–77, 7.139–154, 7.170–171, 7.233–239, 8.117–119, 11.335–346, 13.57–62; Apollonius of Rhodes, Argonautica 4.1011–1029, 4.1068–1222.

See Also: Alcinous, Nausicaa, Poseidon, Odysseus, Athena, Jason, Argonauts, Medea