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After Odysseus sleeps in Alcinous’ palace, he is led by Alcinous the next day to Phaeacia’s meeting grounds. Meanwhile, Athena disguises herself as a herald and encourages people to come see the stranger who has arrived on their shores. Soon, the assembly seats are filled. Athena makes Odysseus look taller and stronger to the eyes of the Phaeacians in the hope that Odysseus will be shown respect. Alcinous stands and introduces Odysseus to the people, and explains that he has asked for their help. He commands that a ship be prepared by fifty-two young sailors for Odysseus’ return home. Once it is prepared, Alcinous will give them a banquet before their departure. Alcinous also requests that sceptred princes in attendance come to his palace to welcome Odysseus properly.
The sailors prepare the ships and then go to the feast as commanded. Meanwhile, another feast is prepared for Alcinous’ own guests. A dozen sheep, eight boars and a pair of oxen are slaughtered. Demodorus, the blind bard, is led into the hall. After everyone has eaten, he begins to sing a song about the events of the Trojan War. His song causes Odysseus to weep. He tries to hide his tears but Alcinous sees them. Alcinous appears to want to avoid causing Odysseus any more pain. He suggests they engage in a series of games, instead, that will bring the Phaeacians glory when Odysseus speaks of them when he reaches his own land. The herald leads Demodorus away.
Alcinous’ guests and Odysseus move to the meeting grounds, where men like Broadsea, said to be a match for Ares, and Alcinous’ sons, Laodamas, Halius and Clytones prepare to compete. Clytones wins the footrace, Broadsea wins at wrestling, Seagirt wins at jumping, Rowhard at discus and Laodamus at boxing. Laodamus then proposes that Odysseus joins in the games. He admires Odysseus’ physique and clearly thinks he will be a worthy opponent. Broadsea encourages Laodamus to challenge Odysseus, himself. But Odysseus does not wish to compete. He feels weighed down by his troubles and his desire to return home. Broadsea interprets the refusal as a sign of Odysseus’ low character. He suggests Odysseus is little more than a low-level merchant. This angers Odysseus, who calls Broadsea a “reckless fool”. He says the gods could not improve Broadsea’s looks, but “the mind inside is worthless”. Odysseus has been angered and he now accepts the challenge to compete in the games. He picks up a discus, larger than those used by the Phaeacians, and hurls it much farther than any of them. Athena, now disguised as a man, marks his throw and declares it an obvious winner. Having proved himself, Odysseus challenges the Phaeacians in return. He says he will beat them in any sport except running, since his legs have suffered in his adventures. He also boasts of his own skill with a bow. He says only Philoctetes was better with the bow at Troy, though he does not claim to be as great as Heracles, Eurytus or Oechalia.
When Odysseus finishes speaking Alcinous replies. He says Odysseus’ rebuke of Broadsea was justified. He says he wishes to give Odysseus a chance to tell his story. He admits the Phaeacians may not be the best at boxing or wrestling, but takes pride in their ability as sailors. He says they also excel at dancing, warm baths, changes of clothes and bed. He encourages the Phaeacians to dance for Odysseus. Demodocus plays the lyre and nine men get up to dance. The bard now sings a song about an affair between Ares and Aphrodite.
Ares and Aphrodite had an affair in Hephaestus’ mansion. Helios, the sun god, saw this and told Hephaestus that his wife was unfaithful. Hephaestus decided to forge many chains which were strong, but so fine they could not be seen. He hung them from a roof beam over the bed to form a trap. When Ares and Aphrodite next took to the bed to make love, Hephaestus sprung his trap. The chains were dropped like a net upon the lovers, and they were unable to move beneath them. Helios had been keeping watch and told Hephaestus what had happened. Hephaestus returned to find the lovers trapped. He cried out to Zeus that he was treated poorly by his wife because he was crippled. He was determined the lovers would remain trapped until his father was given back the bride gifts. The gods heard his calls and came crowding around to see what had happened. The female gods refrained from coming out of modesty.
The gods who were present make fun of the two lovers. At Apollo’s encouragement, Hermes expressed his own desire for Aphrodite. The gods laughed, but Poseidon asked that Hephaestus release the lovers, promising to pay the price for Ares if he should escape. Hephaestus was eventually persuaded to let them go. Ares sped off to Thrace while Aphrodite left for Cyprus.
After Demodocus finishes this song, Alcinous next asks Halius and Laodamus to dance. They do a complicated athletic dance with a ball between them and Odysseus praises their skill. Alcinous is pleased. He now proposes they prepare parting gifts for Odysseus. He proposes that the peers of the realm each present Odysseus with a cloak, a shirt and a bar of gold. He also asks that Broadsea makes amends. Broadsea willingly agrees to do so. He wishes Odysseus well and presents him with a sword as a gift. Odysseus wishes him well in return.
Alcinous next encourages his wife to prepare a personal gift for Odysseus from them: a chest with a fresh cloak and shirt. He also offers a golden cup for libations. The queen presents Odysseus the gifts. She tells him to be sure to secure them against theft once he leaves them. Odysseus is then bathed. When he is clothed, he sees Nausicaa, who looks at him “wonderstruck” and bids him farewell. Odysseus bids her farewell and expresses his gratitude that she saved his life.
Next, Odysseus carves a strip of loin for the blind Demodocus and expresses his admiration for the bard’s performance. He praises Demodocus’ account of the Trojan War. He now encourages Demodocus to sing of the Trojan Horse and the fall of Troy.
Demodocus begins his song at the point where the Achaeans have boarded their ships to sail away from Troy, while Odysseus’ men await silently inside the horse. The Trojans sit debating what to do with the horse. They could hack it open. They could throw it over a cliff. Or they could let it stand. The third plan is adopted and the Achaean troops eventually emerge from the horse to attack Troy. Demodocus sings of Odysseus’ role, and how he marches to Deiphobus’ house to fight him.
The song leaves Odysseus weeping again. He is heartbroken, Again, no one notices this except Alcinous, who sits beside him. Alcinous asks Demodocus to cease his singing. He points out the pain the story has caused Odysseus. He says that as a guest, Odysseus should be entertained in a manner that makes him as happy as everyone else.
Alcinous turns to Odysseus and asks to be told who he is and where he is from. He will need to know this so that the Phaeacian ships, which can be guided by the minds of their sailors alone, can take him home. He once again falls to boasting about his people’s seafaring ability. He says that Nausithous used to say that their people’s skill thwarted even the attempts of Poseidon to do them harm. Alcinous presses Odysseus to tell his own story: where he has been and how he came to them, and why does stories of Troy upset him so much? Alcinous wonders whether Odysseus lost a family member or a friend at Troy.