The Palace of Alcinous — Odysseus enters the Phaeacian court
Book 7 of The Odyssey by Homer
So Odysseus prayed there in the shadow of the grove, while the girl drove on into the town. When Nausicaa reached her father's house and drew up at the gate, Athena turned her mind to another device. She wrapped Odysseus in a thick mist, so that no Phaeacian might see him as he walked through the city and taunt him or ask him who he was. For these people were proud sailors and had little love for strangers, trusting in the swiftness of their ships and the favour of Poseidon. As Odysseus set out for the town, Athena came to meet him in the guise of a young girl carrying a pitcher, and she stood before him and he addressed her.
Odysseus asked the girl to show him the way to the house of King Alcinous. Athena, still in her disguise, answered readily that she would lead him there, for the king's house was close by her own father's. She bade him follow in silence and look at no man nor question any, for the Phaeacians were not overfond of strangers and cared only for their ships. She led him through the streets while the mist held fast about him, and no man saw him as he passed among the people.
When they reached the splendid palace of Alcinous, Athena told Odysseus to go boldly in and fear nothing, for a bold man fares best in every enterprise, even among strangers. He should seek out the queen first — Arete was her name — and clasp her knees, for if she looked upon him with favour, there was hope of his seeing his friends and his own country again. With these words the goddess departed. Odysseus stood before the palace and marvelled at it before crossing the threshold of bronze. The doors were golden, and the doorposts on either side were of silver set upon a threshold of bronze. The lintel overhead was of silver and the door-handle of gold. On either side of the door there stood gold and silver dogs, fashioned by Hephaestus with cunning skill, to guard the palace of great Alcinous — immortal dogs that never grew old. Within, seats were ranged along the wall from the threshold to the inner chamber, covered with fine woven fabrics, and upon them the Phaeacian chieftains sat to eat and drink, for their feasting never ceased.
