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In the '' Odyssey'' by Homer, Demodocus (; grc-gre, Δημόδoκος, ''Demodokos'') is a poet who often visits the court of Alcinous, king of the Phaeacians on the island of
Demodocus first appears at a feast in the hall of Alcinous, after he approved that
In the '' Odyssey'' by Homer, Demodocus (; grc-gre, Δημόδoκος, ''Demodokos'') is a poet who often visits the court of Alcinous, king of the Phaeacians on the island of Scherie
Scheria or Scherie (; grc, Σχερία or ), also known as Phaeacia () or Faiakia was a region in Greek mythology, first mentioned in Homer's '' Odyssey'' as the home of the Phaeacians and the last destination of Odysseus in his 10-year journe ...
. During Odysseus
Odysseus ( ; grc-gre, Ὀδυσσεύς, Ὀδυσεύς, OdysseúsOdyseús, ), also known by the Latin variant Ulysses ( , ; lat, UlyssesUlixes), is a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer's epic poem the ''Odyssey''. Odysse ...
' stay on Scherie, Demodocus performs three narrative songs.
Description
Demodocus first appears at a feast in the hall of Alcinous, after he approved that Odysseus
Odysseus ( ; grc-gre, Ὀδυσσεύς, Ὀδυσεύς, OdysseúsOdyseús, ), also known by the Latin variant Ulysses ( , ; lat, UlyssesUlixes), is a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer's epic poem the ''Odyssey''. Odysse ...
should be provided with a ship for a safe passage home. During the feast Demodocus sings about the disagreement between Odysseus and Achilles at Troy. Everyone enjoys the singing except for Odysseus who bursts into tears because of the pain and suffering of which the song reminds him. Odysseus would raise his cup and pour libations to the gods every time there was a pause in the singing but when Demodocus began again Odysseus would pull his cloak over his head to hide his tears. Only Alcinous noticed Odysseus' weeping and stopped the feast and suggests that everyone go outdoors to participate in athletic contests.
The games end with dancing and another song from Demodocus. This time he sang of the love between Ares
Ares (; grc, Ἄρης, ''Árēs'' ) is the Greek god of war and courage. He is one of the Twelve Olympians, and the son of Zeus and Hera. The Greeks were ambivalent towards him. He embodies the physical valor necessary for success in war b ...
and Aphrodite. Hephaestus was Aphrodite’s husband and found out about the affair because Helios
In ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, mythology, Helios (; grc, , , Sun; Homeric Greek: ) is the deity, god and personification of the Sun (Solar deity). His name is also Latinized as Helius, and he is often given the epithets Hyper ...
told him that he had seen Ares and Aphrodite lying together. Hephaestus sets up an inescapable trap over his bed. When Ares and Aphrodite go to bed, they are snared in the trap and caught by Hephaestus. At dinner, after the sun had gone down, Odysseus asks Demodocus to sing his third song. Odysseus cut off a sizable piece of pork from his own portion and told a herald to bring it to Demodocus. Demodocus was grateful and began to sing. He sang of the Trojan horse and the sack of Troy. Again, Odysseus weeps uncontrollably and is able to hide it from everyone except Alcinous who ends the singing and asks Odysseus who he really is.
Demodocus is described as blind: "The squire now came, leading their favorite bard, whom the Muse loved above all others, lhough she had mingled good and evil in her gifts, robbing him of his eyes but granting him the gift of sweet song."Homer. ''Odyssey'', 8.62–67, (translated by E.V. and D.C.H. Rieu).
Namesake
* 11429 Demodokus, Jovian asteroidReferences
{{DEFAULTSORT:Demodocus (Odyssey Character) Mythological Greek epic poets Characters in the Odyssey Musicians in Greek mythology