Divine Protection and Royal Hospitality — The Odyssey

After Nausicaa goes home, Ulysses walks toward the city. Athena hides him in mist so no one can see or bother him. She appears as a little girl and leads him to King Alcinous's palace. She tells him to go straight in, find Queen Arete first, and clasp her knees when he asks for help. Arete, she says, is the real power in the house.

The palace is dazzling. Bronze walls, silver pillars, gold doors, and gardens that never stop bearing fruit. Ulysses enters while the nobles are making drink offerings to Mercury. He goes to Arete, takes her knees, and the mist falls away. Everyone stares. Old Echeneus scolds the king for leaving a guest in the ashes and orders proper hospitality. Alcinous seats Ulysses, gives him food and wine, and promises a council tomorrow to send him home safely.

Arete notices the clothes Ulysses wears and asks where he got them. He tells a shortened version of his story: Calypso's island, the raft, Neptune's storm, and Nausicaa's kindness at the river. Alcinous offers his daughter in marriage and a rich estate if Ulysses will stay, but Ulysses thanks him and says he only wants to get home. The king promises swift ships anyway. Arete orders a bed made up in the gatehouse, and Ulysses sleeps at last in comfort.