Arete
Queen of the Phaeacians and a crucial figure in Odysseus' appeal.
Overview
Arete, wife and niece of Alcinous, is presented in Odyssey Books 6–8 as a queen honoured by husband, children and people. Nausicaa instructs Odysseus to clasp Arete's knees first, because winning the queen's goodwill offers the best hope of return. Arete is not a silent observer: she recognises that the stranger's clothing came from her own household and directly questions how he obtained it and who he is. Domestic knowledge exposes the inconsistency, while her courtly authority helps convert a suspicious arrival into accepted hospitality.
Key facts
Appeal to the queen first
Odyssey Books 6–7Nausicaa explicitly tells Odysseus to supplicate Arete first and treats her support as crucial to gaining passage home.
Recognising the household clothes
She sees that the stranger wears clothing made by herself and her attendants and asks him to explain its origin.
Relationships
Story appearances
- The Odyssey HomecomingKey mediator at the Phaeacian court
Following Nausicaa's counsel, Odysseus first appeals to Queen Arete.
Ancient sources
MythWeave distinguishes ancient-source evidence from later adaptations and modern interpretation.