Arete in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Arete

7 passages from 2 ancient authors that tell of Arete, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. Arete was the queen of the island of Scheria in Greek mythology, wife of Alcinous, and mother of Nausicaa and Laodamas. She was also the niece of her ... For the story in one place, read our article on Arete.

Homer (5)

Homer, Odyssey 7.133–239Odysseus before Arete and AlcinousOdysseus passes through the hall unseen and clasps the knees of Arete, begging her and her husband for help in reaching home, and sits down in the ashes of the hearth. The old lord Echeneus tells Alcinous to raise the stranger to a seat, and Alcinous does so and promises him a ship. After the meal Arete recognises the cloak and tunic and asks him who he is and where he got them.
Homer, Odyssey 8.370–453The dance; gifts for the strangerHalius and Laodamas dance a ball dance, and Odysseus praises their skill. Alcinous bids the twelve kings of the Phaeacians each give a cloak, a tunic and a talent of gold, and Euryalus offers a bronze sword with a silver hilt by way of apology, which Odysseus accepts. Arete has a chest brought, and Odysseus ties the lid with a knot that Circe once taught him, and then goes to the bath.
Homer, Odyssey 7.1–77Athena guides Odysseus to the palaceNausicaa reaches home, and Odysseus walks to the city, where Athena in the shape of a young girl with a pitcher meets him and offers to show him Alcinous' house. She covers him with a mist so that no Phaeacian sees him, tells him of the line of Alcinous, and tells him to approach the queen Arete first.
Homer, Odyssey 13.1–121Farewell to the Phaeacians; the voyage homeThe Phaeacians sit spellbound until Alcinous promises that Odysseus shall be sent home and that the elders will add more gifts, a tripod and a cauldron each. Next day, after a sacrifice to Zeus and a feast, Odysseus prays that Arete and her family be happy and then goes aboard. He sleeps as the ship flies over the sea, faster than a falcon, and the Phaeacians lay him on the shore of Ithaca with his gifts before dawn.
Homer, Odyssey 11.333–384Alcinous asks for moreThe Phaeacians sit spellbound, and Arete is the first to speak, praising the stranger and bidding them not to hurry his departure or stint their gifts. Echeneus and Alcinous agree, and Alcinous urges Odysseus to go on with the story and to tell of any of his companions he saw in Hades. Odysseus says that he is willing to go on, and speaks of the woes of his comrades.

Apollonius Rhodius (2)

Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 4.982–1123Medea appeals to Arete on DrepaneArgo comes to the Phaeacian island of Drepane, but a Colchian fleet follows. Medea begs Arete and the heroes for protection, and Arete urges Alcinous to protect her. Alcinous declares that, if she is already Jason's wife, he will not give her up, and Arete sends word to Jason.
Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 4.1124–1227The marriage of Jason and Medea in Macris' caveJason and Medea are married that night in the sacred cave of Macris, with the Golden Fleece spread on the couch. At dawn Alcinous declares his judgement that the marriage stands, the Colchians ask to stay on the island, and the Argonauts leave with gifts from Alcinous and Arete.