The Phaeacians assist Odysseus in returning to Ithaca, although he is initially unaware of the fact. Poseidon then punishes the Phaeacians for the act of extended hospitality in helping the traveler home. Their ship is turned to stone in the eyesight of their population. This is a shocking turn of events.
The Phaeacian leadership was immediately welcoming of Odysseus despite his hesitation in revealing his name. The king even made suggestions of marriage between Odysseus and his daughter, effectively giving the future kingdom to Odysseus. However, the townspeople were more skeptical, and as a rule were “not too keen on foreigners.” They ended up assessing Odysseus correctly, at least in light of the subsequent punishment by Poseidon.
This sets up an interesting look at the theme of hospitality. Examples abound of good and bad hospitality throughout The Odyssey. Hospitality is a value highly praised and something that is of utmost importance in Odysseus’ return home. It would seem like this value would be highly praised by the gods, but here, a god, Poseidon, punishes an entire people and way of life because of an act of great kindness.
This results in an entire shift in the way the Phaeacians treat visitors going forward. Alcinous tells his people to “stop helping visitors to travel onward” and suggests a sacrifice of 12 hand-selected bulls to Poseidon. The reader is never told if these sacrifices appease Poseidon and is therefore left to assume that the Phaeacians will never again offer the gift of hospitality.
On the flip side of hospitality, Odysseus’ lack of transparency regarding his identity with both the Phaeacians and Eumaeus, his swineherd, is interesting. On one hand, withholding his name is an obvious form of protection, especially in light of what happened with Agamemnon. Yet, on the other hand, Odysseus doesn’t simply just withhold his identity, he lies about his story. With Eumaeus, Odysseus weaves a misleading tale that contains elements of truth. It makes one wonder what Eumaeus thinks of this after Odysseus has revealed himself. Disguise and deception are different beasts. Did Odysseus really need to enter the realm of lies to keep Eumaeus off his scent or would simply showing up as a traveling beggar have been enough?
It matters because it throws all of Odysseus’ stories into question. If he so easily lies to Eumaeus (and subsequently to his own wife and father), can he be trusted at any other point in the story? Perhaps this is why Emily Wilson translates the description about Odysseus at the beginning of Book 9 as the “lord of lies.” This is right before he narrates his adventures.
It’s also interesting that one of Odysseus’ first thoughts in Ithaca is that he has been deceived by the Phaeacians. “Those Phaeacian lords were not so trustworthy!” And this, after being so kindly treated and returned to his homeland. He quickly discovers they were trustworthy although it doesn’t appear that he ever finds out about the tremendous cost they incurred from Poseidon to help him.
