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{{Short description|Character from Greek mythology}}
{{About|the Homeric character|the film and manga series|Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (disambiguation){{!}}Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind|other uses|Nausicaa (disambiguation)}}
{{About|the Homeric character|the manga series and films|Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (disambiguation){{!}}Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind|other uses|Nausicaa (disambiguation)}}
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[[Image:1878 Frederick Leighton - Nausicaa.jpg|thumb|''Nausicaa'', [[Frederic Leighton, 1st Baron Leighton|Frederic Leighton]] {{c.|1878}}]]
[[File:Odysseus and Athena at the meeting with Nausicaa, Attic red-figured amphora from Vulci, 440 BC, Staatliche Antikensammlungen, Munich (8957437815) cropped glare reduced white bg.png|thumb|Nausicaa (second from right) with Athena and Odysseus. Detail of an Attic red-figured amphora from Vulci ({{Circa|440 BC}})]]


'''Nausicaa''' ({{IPAc-en|n|ɔː|ˈ|s|ɪ|k|i|ə}};<ref>{{dict.com|Nausicaa}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/nausicaa|title=Nausicaä|work=[[Collins English Dictionary]]|publisher=[[HarperCollins]]|access-date=12 May 2019}}</ref> {{lang-grc|Ναυσικάα|Nausikáa}}, or {{lang|grc|Ναυσικᾶ}}, {{transl|grc|Nausikâ}} {{IPA-grc|nau̯sikâː|}}) also spelled '''Nausicaä''' or '''Nausikaa''', is a character in [[Homer]]'s ''[[Odyssey]]''. She is the daughter of King [[Alcinous]] and [[Arete (mythology)|Queen Arete]] of [[Scheria|Phaeacia]]. Her name means "burner of ships" ({{wikt-lang|grc|ναῦς}} ‘ship’; {{wikt-lang|grc|καίω|κάω}} ‘to burn’).<ref>{{cite book|last=Shipley|first=Joseph T.|title=The Origins of English Words: A Discursive Dictionary of Indo-European Roots|location=Baltimore, Maryland|publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press|year=2011|page=160}}</ref>
'''Nausicaa''' ({{IPAc-en|n|ɔː|ˈ|s|ɪ|k|ɪ|ə}};<ref>{{dict.com|Nausicaa}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/nausicaa|title=Nausicaä|work=[[Collins English Dictionary]]|publisher=[[HarperCollins]]|access-date=12 May 2019}}</ref> {{langx|grc|Ναυσικάα|Nausikáa}} {{IPA-grc|nau̯sikáaː|}}, or {{langx|grc|Ναυσικᾶ|Nausikâ|label=none}}, {{IPA-grc|nau̯sikâː|}}), also spelled '''Nausicaä''' or '''Nausikaa''', is a character in [[Homer]]'s ''[[Odyssey]]''. She is the daughter of King [[Alcinous]] and [[Arete (mythology)|Queen Arete]] of [[Scheria|Phaeacia]]. Her name means "burner of ships" ({{wikt-lang|grc|ναῦς}} 'ship'; {{wikt-lang|grc|καίω|κάω}} 'to burn').<ref>{{cite book|last=Shipley|first=Joseph T.|title=The Origins of English Words: A Discursive Dictionary of Indo-European Roots|location=Baltimore, Maryland|publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press|year=2011|page=160}}</ref>


==Role in the ''Odyssey''==
==Role in the ''Odyssey''==
[[File:Nausicaa and her Maidens brought to Odysseus food and wine.gif|thumb|left|Nausicaa and her maidens bringing food and wine to [[Odysseus]]. Illustration by [[W. Heath Robinson]].]]
[[File:Nausicaa and her Maidens brought to Odysseus food and wine.gif|thumb|left|[[W. Heath Robinson]]: ''Nausicaa and Her Maidens Brought Him Food and Wine'' (date unknown)|276x276px]]


In Book Six of the ''Odyssey'', [[Odysseus]] is shipwrecked on the coast of the island of [[Scheria]] (Phaeacia in some translations). Nausicaä and her handmaidens go to the seashore to wash clothes. Awakened by their games, Odysseus emerges from the forest completely naked, scaring the servants away, and begs Nausicaä for aid. She gives Odysseus some of the laundry to wear and takes him to the edge of the town. Realizing that rumors might arise if Odysseus is seen with her, she and the servants go into town ahead of him, but first she advises him to go directly to Alcinous's house and make his case to Nausicaä's mother, Arete. Arete is known as wiser even than Alcinous, and Alcinous trusts her judgment. Odysseus follows this advice, approaching Arete and winning her approval, and is received as a guest by Alcinous.<ref>{{cite book |title=[[Mythology (book)|Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes]] |last=Hamilton |first=Edith |author-link=Edith Hamilton |year=1999 |orig-year=1942 |publisher=Grand Central Publishing Hachette Book Group USA |location=New York }}</ref>
In Book Six of the ''Odyssey'', [[Odysseus]] is shipwrecked on the coast of the island of [[Scheria]] (Phaeacia in some translations). Nausicaä and her handmaidens go to the seashore to wash clothes. Awakened by their games, Odysseus emerges from the forest completely naked, scaring the servants away, and begs Nausicaä for aid. She gives Odysseus some of the laundry to wear and takes him to the edge of the town. Realizing that rumors might arise if Odysseus is seen with her, she and the servants go into town ahead of him, but first she advises him to go directly to Alcinous's house and make his case to Nausicaä's mother, Arete. Arete is known as wiser even than Alcinous, and Alcinous trusts her judgment. Odysseus follows this advice, approaching Arete and winning her approval, and is received as a guest by Alcinous.<ref>{{cite book |title=[[Mythology (book)|Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes]] |last=Hamilton |first=Edith |author-link=Edith Hamilton |year=1999 |orig-year=1942 |publisher=Grand Central Publishing Hachette Book Group USA |location=New York }}</ref>

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[[File:Nausikaa und Odysseus (Tischbein).jpg|thumbnail|right|''[[Odysseus]] and Nausicaä'', by [[Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein]]]]


During his stay, Odysseus recounts his adventures to Alcinous and his court. This recounting forms a substantial portion of the ''Odyssey''. Alcinous then generously provides Odysseus with the ships that finally bring him home to [[Homer's Ithaca|Ithaca]].
During his stay, Odysseus recounts his adventures to Alcinous and his court. This recounting forms a substantial portion of the ''Odyssey''. Alcinous then generously provides Odysseus with the ships that finally bring him home to [[Homer's Ithaca|Ithaca]].


Nausicaä is young and very pretty; Odysseus says she resembles a goddess, particularly [[Artemis]]. Nausicaä is known to have several brothers. According to [[Aristotle]] and [[Dictys of Crete]], she later married Odysseus's son [[Telemachus]], and had a son, [[Poliporthes]].
Nausicaä is young and very pretty; Odysseus says she resembles a goddess, particularly [[Artemis]]. Nausicaä is known to have several brothers. According to [[Aristotle]] and [[Dictys of Crete]], she later married Odysseus's son [[Telemachus]], and had one or two sons, [[Poliporthes]] or/and [[Persepolis (mythology)|Persepolis]].


Homer gives a literary account of love never expressed (possibly one of the earliest examples of [[unrequited love]] in literature). Nausicaä is presented as a potential love interest for Odysseus: she tells her friend that she would like her husband to be like him, and her father tells Odysseus that he would let him marry her. But the two do not have a romantic relationship. Nausicaä is also a mother figure for Odysseus; she ensures his return home, and says "Never forget me, for I gave you life". Odysseus never tells [[Penelope]] about his encounter with Nausicaä, out of all the women he met on his long journey home. Some suggest this indicates a deeper level of feeling for the young woman.<ref>Powell, Barry B. ''Classical Myth''. Second ed. With new translations of ancient texts by Herbert M. Howe. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1998, p. 581.</ref>
Homer gives a literary account of love never expressed (possibly one of the earliest examples of [[unrequited love]] in literature). Nausicaä is presented as a potential love interest for Odysseus: she tells her friend that she would like her husband to be like him, and her father tells Odysseus that he would let him marry her. The two do not have a romantic relationship, however, and she marries Telemachus in some versions. Nausicaä is also a mother figure for Odysseus; she ensures his return home, and says "Never forget me, for I gave you life". Odysseus never tells [[Penelope]] about his encounter with Nausicaä, out of all the women he met on his long journey home. Some suggest this indicates a deeper level of feeling for the young woman. According to some versions, the father of one of Nausicaa's sons was Odysseus himself rather than his son Telemachus.<ref>Powell, Barry B. ''Classical Myth''. Second ed. With new translations of ancient texts by Herbert M. Howe. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1998, p. 581.</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
⚫
Nausikaa und Odysseus (Tischbein).jpg|alt=|[[Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein|Tischbein]]: ''Odysseus and Nausicaa'' (1819)

⚫
1878 Frederick Leighton - Nausicaa.jpg|alt=|[[Frederick Leighton]]: [[Nausicaa (Leighton)|''Nausicaa'']] (1878)

Jean Veber - Ulysses and Nausicaa, 1888.jpg|[[Jean Veber]]: Ulysses and Nausicaa (1888)

Robert Jackson Emerson - Nausicaa - ABDAG004609.jpg|alt=|''Nausicaa'' by Robert Jackson Emerson
</gallery>


==References==
==References==
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==Sources==
==Sources==
{{Commons}}
* ''Portions of this material originated as excerpts from the public-domain 1848 edition of the ''[[Lemprière's Bibliotheca Classica|Classical Dictionary]]'' by [[John Lemprière]].''
* ''Portions of this material originated as excerpts from the public-domain 1848 edition of the ''[[Lemprière's Bibliotheca Classica|Classical Dictionary]]'' by [[John Lemprière]].''

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline|Nausicaa}}


{{Characters in the Odyssey}}
{{Characters in the Odyssey}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Princesses in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Princesses in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Women in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Characters in the Odyssey]]
[[Category:Characters in the Odyssey]]
[[Category:Phaeacians in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Phaeacians]]
[[Category:Characters in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Women of Odysseus]]

Latest revision as of 18:41, 23 November 2024

This article is about the Homeric character. For the manga series and films, see Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. For other uses, see Nausicaa (disambiguation).
Nausicaa (second from right) with Athena and Odysseus. Detail of an Attic red-figured amphora from Vulci (c. 440 BC)

Nausicaa (/nɔːˈsɪkɪə/;[1][2] Ancient Greek: Ναυσικάα, romanized: Nausikáa [nau̯sikáaː], or Ναυσικᾶ, Nausikâ, [nau̯sikâː]), also spelled Nausicaä or Nausikaa, is a character in Homer's Odyssey. She is the daughter of King Alcinous and Queen Arete of Phaeacia. Her name means "burner of ships" (ναῦς 'ship'; κάω 'to burn').[3]

Role in the Odyssey

[edit]
W. Heath Robinson: Nausicaa and Her Maidens Brought Him Food and Wine (date unknown)

In Book Six of the Odyssey, Odysseus is shipwrecked on the coast of the island of Scheria (Phaeacia in some translations). Nausicaä and her handmaidens go to the seashore to wash clothes. Awakened by their games, Odysseus emerges from the forest completely naked, scaring the servants away, and begs Nausicaä for aid. She gives Odysseus some of the laundry to wear and takes him to the edge of the town. Realizing that rumors might arise if Odysseus is seen with her, she and the servants go into town ahead of him, but first she advises him to go directly to Alcinous's house and make his case to Nausicaä's mother, Arete. Arete is known as wiser even than Alcinous, and Alcinous trusts her judgment. Odysseus follows this advice, approaching Arete and winning her approval, and is received as a guest by Alcinous.[4]

During his stay, Odysseus recounts his adventures to Alcinous and his court. This recounting forms a substantial portion of the Odyssey. Alcinous then generously provides Odysseus with the ships that finally bring him home to Ithaca.

Nausicaä is young and very pretty; Odysseus says she resembles a goddess, particularly Artemis. Nausicaä is known to have several brothers. According to Aristotle and Dictys of Crete, she later married Odysseus's son Telemachus, and had one or two sons, Poliporthes or/and Persepolis.

Homer gives a literary account of love never expressed (possibly one of the earliest examples of unrequited love in literature). Nausicaä is presented as a potential love interest for Odysseus: she tells her friend that she would like her husband to be like him, and her father tells Odysseus that he would let him marry her. The two do not have a romantic relationship, however, and she marries Telemachus in some versions. Nausicaä is also a mother figure for Odysseus; she ensures his return home, and says "Never forget me, for I gave you life". Odysseus never tells Penelope about his encounter with Nausicaä, out of all the women he met on his long journey home. Some suggest this indicates a deeper level of feeling for the young woman. According to some versions, the father of one of Nausicaa's sons was Odysseus himself rather than his son Telemachus.[5]

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Nausicaa". Dictionary.com Unabridged (Online). n.d.
  2. ^ "Nausicaä". Collins English Dictionary. HarperCollins. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  3. ^ Shipley, Joseph T. (2011). The Origins of English Words: A Discursive Dictionary of Indo-European Roots. Baltimore, Maryland: The Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 160.
  4. ^ Hamilton, Edith (1999) [1942]. Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes. New York: Grand Central Publishing Hachette Book Group USA.
  5. ^ Powell, Barry B. Classical Myth. Second ed. With new translations of ancient texts by Herbert M. Howe. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1998, p. 581.

Sources

[edit]
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