Odysseus: Novel Summary: Chapters 13-14

Chapter 13: Finished with his story, the Phaiakians offer Odysseus a ride home on their ships that are blessed by Poseidon so that they travel faster than any normal ship. The Phaiakians sail him to Ithaca very quickly, and leave him asleep on the shore. Poseidon is angry that the Phaiakians have helped an enemy of his, and so he turns their boat to stone, but spares their city because Zeus tells him to. When Odysseus wakes up, he thinks that he is not in Ithaca, but Athena appears to him in a disguised human form and tells him that he is. Odysseus lies to her when she asks him who he is and where he comes from. She then reveals himself to her, and praises and chastises him for his artful lying. Athena explains that Poseidon's anger kept her from helping him more than she had. Odysseus sets up in a nearby cave, and Athena helps him become more deceptive by changing his appearance so he can travel in Ithaca unrecognized.
Chapter 14: Odysseus travels to the home of Eumaios, who was a loyal servant and pig shepherd for Odysseus. Eumaios offers him food and a place to stay, and proves his loyalty to the disguised Odysseus. Odysseus lies to Eumaios when asked who he is and where he comes from. He pretends to be a veteran of the Trojan War, on the Trojan side, who had troubles in Egypt. He even pretends that he has heard news that Odysseus has died. Eumaios doesn't quite believe Odysseus, but still treats him well, sharing what food and comfort he has. Odysseus asks for some clothing in a tricky way, by telling a story, and Eumaios willingly gives it to him and lets Odysseus sleep in his bed, while he sleeps with his pigs.