#phaeakes

If someone reads the Odyssey we notice there are many characters that narrate a story.

We firstly have Phemius, the self-taught singer who sings against his will for the suitors the tales of the heroes of the Trojan War especially their fate after the war

Second we have Nestor, Helen and Menelaus that focus on Odysseus in particular or the events that surrounded him

Then we have Demodocus the blind singer of the Phaeakes who sings the events of the Trojan War

Last but not least Odysseus himself who tells us his own story the infamous Odyssey

All the narrators or storytellers cause something to happen or emotions to their audience. For example Phemius causes Penelope to come down, for us to see and hear her. Helen Menelaus and Nestor introduce us to our hero. Demodocus is causing the reaction of Odysseus that reveals him to his audience and forces him to tell his story. However something differentiates Odysseus from the other narrators within the Odyssey

Odysseus tells his own story

And that shows to his narrative. Odysseus is not just aligning some facts or information he knows. He is telling his own story: traumatic events that happened to him, memories that scarred him, memories that seem pleasing to him...and that shows to "inconsistencies" to his narrative

He speaks positively or negatively in several places showing the ups and downs of his mood as he speaks

Some parts of his narrative he slides over (see for example Ismarus) as if he doesn't want to talk about it or elaborate and extends other parts (see Polyphemus)

Sometimes he speaks positively of himself or his men and at others he berates them depending on how the events of his narration go

Oftentimes he stops to breathe and the Phaeakes encourage him to go on and he does collecting his thoughts

At times he inserts some small information to the story while others he omits it

And the emotions show

He starts by speaking about his homeland. He is nostalgic, positive, dreamlike even

He becomes dryer as we get to the events of the trip

He sometimes needs to stop and collect himself

He is encouraged to speak which means he hesitates

He stops sometimes to possibly enjoy the praise he receives

He waits for people to stop talking or ask him questions and assist his narrative

Homer didn't just give us a flashback story of someone speaking in first person. HE GAVE US A LIVE NARRATION a narrator who appears to speak in real time with all the "flaws" of the conversations such as the fact not all events are given the same severity, the pauses and all.

I believe this is a massive reason why the Odyssey is being retold and loved. Because imagine how lively it was in antiquity to have your narrator pause and speak and think instead of directly singing the whole thing like someone else telling it but instead we see Odysseus live being affected by the emotions of his own narration and adding or omitting details. We can almost imagine him tearing up or being angry or sad or happy or relieved as he speaks!

HOMER YOU WERE A FUCKING GENIUS!

Oh boy here we go! Hehehe (again I am sorry for being so late plus sorry if I make mistakes across the list):

Some Phaeacian Names of the competitors

Acroneus (Ἀκρόνεως) -> Of the edge of the ship or Of the Top of the Mast [ἄκρον = edge, end + ναῦς = boat, ship however also: ἄκρον νεώς can also be the tipmast, the top of the mast or the edge of the ship]

Ocyalus (Ὠκύαλος)= Swift in the sea [ὠκύς=fast + ἅλς=sea/salt]

Elatreus (Ἐλατρεύς) -> Rower or "trice forged" Either from the verb ἐλαύνω which stands for "drive forward" or "lead" and in nautical term can be used as "row" or the word itself that refers to iron trice forged

Nauteus (Ναυτεύς) -> Sailor, Boatman, the One who has/makes a boat From Greek ναῦς "boat"

Prymneus (Πρυμνεύς) -> Of the Stern From Greek πρύμνη or πρύμνια which is the stern of the ship

Anchialus (Ἀγχίαλος) -> Near the Sea [ἄγχι = to touch, to be near to + ἅλς = salt/sea]

Eretmeus (Ἐρετμεύς) -> The One Who Leads the Oars or The One who Traverses with Oars From the Greek verb ἐρετμόω which stands for "to furnish the oars" or "to set rowing" but also "to traverse the sea with oars"

Ponteus (Ποντεύς) -> Of the Sea, The One that Plunges in the Sea or The One that Throws in the Sea From either the Greek word πόντος which stands in general for "sea" or potentially even from the verbs ποντίζω which means "to plunge" or ποντόω which means "to throw into the sea"

Proreus (Πρωρεύς) -> Captain The name is basically a title πρωρεύς who is the one on duty to the front of the ship aka πλώρη or πρώρα, the bow. Alternative of the title could be "shipmaster" or "ship owner" but I think Captain fits the best in this case

Thoon (Θόων) -> Swift, Fast The word being used in Homer and comes from the verb θοάζω which means "to move swiftly"

Anabesineus (Ἀναβησίνεως) -> The One that Gets in the Ship Potentially from the verb ἀναβαίνω which means "to climb up" or "to ascend" or in this case "climb up the ship" given that the word ναῦς is also within the text

Amphialus (Ἀμφίαλος) -> Of the Two Seas [ἀμφί = two, of two sides + ἅλς= sea/salt]

Euryalus (Εὐρύαλος) -> Of the Wide Sea [εὐρύς = broad, wide + ἅλς = sea/salt]

The sons of Alcinous himself:

Laodamas (Λαοδάμας) -> The Tamer of People [λαός = people/army + δαμάω/δαμάζω = to tame, to beat, to subdue]

Halius (Ἅλιος) -> Of the Sea from the Greek word ἅλς aka "sea/salt"

Clytoneus (Κλυτόνηος) -> Renounced for his Ships [κλυτός = renounced, famous + ναῦς = boat, ship]

And one or two names of fathers of the participants as an extra

Polyneus (Πολύνηος) -> The One who Has Many Ships [πολύς = much + ναῦς = ship]

Tecton (Τέκτων) -> Builder, Carpenter τέκτων means "builder" and sometimes more specifically "Woodworker" or better "Carpenter"

Naubolus (Ναύβολος) -> The One who Strikes Ships or Ship's Net The word ναῦς = ship already visible. Now the word βόλος can come from the verb βάλλω aka "to throw" or sometimes "to strike". The word "βόλος" sometimes seems to be the fishing net

Bonus

Alcinous (Ἀλκίνοος) -> Of Powerful Mind [ἀλκή = strength, power + νοῦς = mind]

Arete (Ἀρήτη) -> The One who Prays, The Prayed For, The Prayer/Curse from the verb ἀράομαι which means both "to pray" and "to curse"

Nausicaa (Ναυσικάα) -> Burner of Ships, The One Who Burns Ships [ναῦς = ship, boat + κάω (καίω) = to burn]

~~~

So as you see the vast majority of names have something to do with ships or ship-making or the sea in general with some exceptions of the main couple of the royal family like Alcinus, Arete and their son Laodamas, the rest of them do have something to do with the world of the sea or ships. [Now there are some names like "Euryalus" that have alternative meanings such as "of the wide floors" meaning some temple complex or palace but for obvious reasons I chose not to disclose it]

I guess that needs to be left up for interpretation as on what kind of style they should have but yes definitely from the bronze age and therefore mycenean times for Greece. They definitely have greek names and greek customs according to Homer's writing style and they do not seem to have any sort of language barrier with Odysseus so they do wink at Greek tradition and so in a different type of Greek kingdom

At the same time their story of origin not only by a Greek god but also effectively from a different land before they end up to Scheria makes me think there is room to add some elements to it (for instance the mini-series Odisea added some Iberian elements to it like the headpiece of "Lady of Elche") so I would say that overall they have mycenean style (so they also created a sense of closeness and trust to Odysseus) and have Greek customs and Greek language but one can think of adding one or two elements from other lands like Iberian peninsula or illyrian tradition to them to signify their travels

*Also, I like how you're a musician. I also like creating music so hearing that you are one makes me happy inside <3*

A volcano? Honestly I cannot remember that dear Anon. I know several mentions that speak on the fate of Scheria after the curse of Poseidon and some speak that the island gets surrounded by rocks so that the ports cannot be usable anymore. Or that they get isolated. I do not remember a source mentioning a volcano.

In the Odyssey we hear on the Phaeakes that they are ready to offer a sacrifice to Poseidon to prevent this from happening but doesn't elaborate much whether the sacrifice worked or not.

Hmm that's an interesting question given how Odysseus is encouraged to beg Arete first in order to get the help that he needs. I wouldn't necessarily go that far given how the Phaeakes do not seem to have massively different culture than the one Odysseus got used to so women play an important part but I wouldn't necessarily call it "matriarchy". On the other hand given how Odysseus also names that culture as different than his own as well (or at least the people inside it) I wouldn't be able to completely say "no" either.

I tend to be a bit more moderate as to say that Arete is of noble blood that has deeper roots thus her position is well-respected and her husband holding less power or influence than her (which might also be backed up by the fact that Nausicaa still seems to have similar expectations for her role as the rest of Greek kingdoms in Homer aka be tidy and proper and get a husband eventually) but I wouldn't say it is entirely wrong to assume that Arete has more political power as well given how the Phaeakes are a different tribe (although as I said before Homer doesn't seem to exclude them from the same system or political context as the rest of Greek kingdoms). So it might be indeed an indicator of political power as well although as I said tend to lean more to bloodline reasons rather than that I definitely see where your thoughts come from!