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Book Six Of Homer's The Odyssey

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Book six of The Odyssey begins with Athena travelling to the Phaeacians’ city to speak to Nausicaa. Nausicaa is the daughter of King Alcinous, who rules the Phaeacians. This, of course, makes her a princess. Athena wants to talk to Nausicaa because she can help Odysseus. She can help Odysseus because he washed ashore near Alcinous’s palace, where Nausicaa lives. Athena communicates to Nausicaa through a dream, and she tells Nausicaa that she needs to start thinking about marriage, and that she needs to have nice clothes when she gets married. Athena tells her to go to the stream and wash her wedding linens. Athena’s real reason for telling Nausicaa to go to the stream is that Odysseus is at the stream, and he needs help. Next morning, …show more content…

After they finish washing the clothes, they set them out to dry. Next, they bathe and rub olive oil into their skin. After they finish bathing, they start playing games on the bank of the river. Their shouting wakes Odysseus, who was sleeping nearby. Because Odysseus is naked, all of Nausicaa’s maids are intimidated, and they flee. However, Nausicaa stays because of the courage that Athena gave her. Odysseus pleads with Nausicaa, and she agrees to help him. Nausicaa decides to let Odysseus bathe in the river and give him food and clothing. Nausicaa wants her maids to help Odysseus bathe, but Odysseus declines the offer because he does not want the maids to have to see him naked. After he bathes, he rubs olive oil into his skin and puts on the clothes that Nausicaa gave him. Nausicaa then has her maids give Odysseus food and water. At first, Nausicaa wants Odysseus to go back into town with her, but she realizes that her going into town with an unknown man may cause gossip. Instead, she tells him to go back to town by himself, and wait for the girls at her father’s estate. She also tells him to then go to the palace and beg the queen for mercy. The chapter ends with Odysseus at Nausicaa’s father’s estate, praying to Athena that the Phaeacians will show him mercy and

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