In
Greek mythology, 'Alcinous'
Greek (sometimes with the diacritical mark 'Alcinoüs'; also
transliterated as 'Alkínoös') was a son of
Nausithous, or of
Phaeax (son of
Poseidon and
Corcyra), and father of
Nausicaa,
Halius, and
Laodamas with
Arete. His name literally means "Mighty mind."
He was King of the
Phaiakians, in the island of Drepane which traditionally was thought to be modern
Corfu but which modern scholars believe to have not existed, and welcomed both
Odysseus who had been shipwrecked on his shore and the
Argonauts. Much of the Odyssey is Odysseus telling of his adventures to King Alcinous.
Also King Alcinous' daughter fell in love with Odysseus. After Alcinous granted safe passage for Odysseus back to
Ithaca,
Poseidon wrapped the city with a mountain mass. His palace was guarded by golden dogs who never slept, constructed by
Hephaestus.
Homer's description of the Garden of Alcinous, from the
Odyssey, is one of the oldest textual descriptions of a garden.
Quotes
External links
★
JC Loudon (1835) on the Garden of Alcinous