The Odyssey Arete Quotes

"Arete, she is called, and earns the name:
she answers all our prayers. She comes, in fact,
from the same stock that bred our King Alcinous.
First came Nausithous, son of the earthquake god
Poseidon and Periboea, the lovely, matchless beauty,
the youngest daughter of iron-willed Eurymedon."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 7, lines 62-67. Athena tells Odysseus that Queen Arete will be the first person he meets in the palace halls. Arete will play an important role in Odysseus’ quest to find his way home after twenty years.

"They gaze on her as a god,
saluting her warmly on her walks through town.
She lacks nothing in good sense and judgment –
she can dissolve quarrels, even among men,
whoever wins her sympathies.
If only our queen will take you to her heart,
then there’s hope that you will see your loved ones,
reach your high-roofed house, your native land at last."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 7, lines 82-89. Athena gives Odysseus some important advice about Arete, queen of the Phaeacians. Arete has the loyalty of all the people, she reveals, as she uses a simile to compare her to a god. If Odysseus can win the queen to his side, then he has hopes of reaching his homeland and family, she tells him.

"Queen,
Arete, daughter of godlike King Rhexenor!
Here after many trials I come to beg for mercy,
your husband’s, yours, and all these feasters’ here.
May the gods endow them with fortune all their lives,
may each hand down to his sons the riches in his house
and the pride of place the realm has granted him.
But as for myself, grant me a rapid convoy home
to my own native land. How far away I’ve been
from all my loved ones – how long I have suffered!"

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 7, lines 172-181. Odysseus flings his arm around Arete’s knees and begs the queen to grant him passage to his homeland and family. He prays for the gods to endow the Phaeacian people with good fortune all their lives.

"Phaeacians! How does this man impress you now,
his looks, his build, the balanced mind inside him?
The stranger is my guest
but each of you princes shares the honor here.
So let’s not be too hasty to send him on his way,
and don’t scrimp on his gifts. His need is great,
great as the riches piled up in your houses,
thanks to the gods’ good will."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 11, lines 381-388. Queen Arete is hugely impressed by Odysseus’ stories from the underworld, which have held the Phaeacians spellbound. She asks all the princes to be generous with their gifts to Odysseus and not be too quick to send him on his way.
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