V.The Phaeacian World- Artistic Culture

 The Phaeacians had great achievement in the field of art and performance.

Songs

In the Book Eight of The Odyssey, Homer develops the role of a talented bard named Demodocus in order to highlight the importance of the professional singer in the Phaeacian civilization. In The Odyssey, Demodocus is described as a famous and divine singer who is honoured and respected by all Phaeacians; He is particularly loved by Muse the goddess of music (De Jong, Narratological Commentary on the Odyssey, 191).

Demodocus the bard is singing during the feast.

Dance

The Phaeacians are very good dancers. In Book Eight, Homer vividly illustrates an interesting Phaeacian dance with a purple ball:

“After showing [the ball- throwing skill] at this high play, [the dancers] began tossing the ball quickly to and fro as they moved in their dance on the bountiful earth…” (Homer, Odyssey, 103-104).

Their artistic achievement is even approved and praised by the heroic Odysseus (Homer, Odyssey, 104), who has traveled in many places and must have seen many dances. Ultimately, the poet explores the Phaeacians’ superior place in the skills of singing and dancing.

This Roman relief shows two Phaeacian dancers.