Nausicaa

2.1. Family and Origin

Nausicaa is introduced as the daughter of Alcinous, the benevolent king of the Phaeacians, and Queen Arete, known for her wisdom and influence. Her homeland is the mythical island of Scheria, often associated with the modern-day Corfu Island in Greece. The Phaeacians are depicted as a seafaring people, favored by the gods, living in a prosperous and idyllic society. Nausicaa has several brothers, though their names are not as prominently featured as her own.

2.2. Etymology of Name

The name "Nausicaa" (Ναυσικάα_Nausikáa^{Greek, Ancient} or Ναυσικᾶ_Nausikâ^{Greek, Ancient}) holds a significant meaning in Ancient Greek. It is derived from two Greek words: `ναῦς<sup>Greek, Ancient</sup>` (naus), meaning "ship," and `κάω<sup>Greek, Ancient</sup>` (kaō), meaning "to burn." Thus, her name literally translates to "burner of ships." This etymology, while intriguing, does not directly relate to her actions in the Odyssey, where she is a benevolent figure who helps Odysseus return home via ship, rather than destroying them.

3.1. Arrival at Scheria

After being held captive by the nymph Calypso for seven years and then enduring a shipwreck caused by Poseidon's wrath, Odysseus washes ashore on the coast of Scheria. Exhausted and completely naked, he collapses in a thicket. Meanwhile, Nausicaa, prompted by the goddess Athena in a dream, goes to the seashore with her handmaidens to wash clothes. After finishing their laundry, the maidens engage in a lively game of ball, their shouts waking Odysseus.

3.2. Meeting and Aid

Awakened by the maidens' games, Odysseus emerges from the forest, disheveled and covered only by leaves. His appearance terrifies Nausicaa's handmaidens, who flee in fright. However, Nausicaa, displaying remarkable courage and composure, stands her ground. Odysseus, a seasoned hero, approaches her cautiously, deciding whether to embrace her knees in supplication or simply appeal to her with words. He chooses the latter, eloquently explaining his plight and appealing to her compassion.

Nausicaa, recognizing that Odysseus is no ordinary man despite his wretched state, responds with profound empathy. She instructs her handmaidens to provide him with clothing, food, and wine, and to allow him to bathe in the river. She also advises him on how to approach her parents, King Alcinous and Queen Arete, upon reaching the city. Knowing that rumors might arise if she were seen entering the city with a strange man, she suggests that Odysseus follow her party at a distance, then proceed directly to the palace and appeal to her mother, Queen Arete, whose wisdom and influence are paramount in the Phaeacian court. Odysseus follows her advice, approaches Arete, and successfully gains her approval and the hospitality of King Alcinous.

3.3. Relationship with Odysseus

The encounter between Nausicaa and Odysseus is imbued with a subtle romantic tension, though it never fully materializes into a love affair. Nausicaa is clearly captivated by the hero; she openly expresses to her friends her desire for a husband who resembles Odysseus, and her father, King Alcinous, even offers Odysseus her hand in marriage if he chooses to remain in Scheria. Odysseus, while acknowledging her beauty and kindness by comparing her to the goddess Artemis, remains focused on his journey home to Penelope.

Homer's portrayal of their interaction is often cited as one of the earliest literary examples of unrequited love. Nausicaa also assumes a quasi-maternal role for Odysseus, ensuring his safe passage home. As they part, she poignantly tells him, "Never forget me, for I gave you life." Notably, Odysseus, in recounting his adventures to Penelope, omits any mention of his encounter with Nausicaa, leading some scholars to suggest a deeper, unexpressed feeling for the young princess. Some traditions even suggest that Odysseus himself, rather than his son Telemachus, was the father of one of Nausicaa's sons.

3.4. Departure from Scheria

Nausicaa's role culminates in facilitating Odysseus's departure from Scheria. Having heard Odysseus's epic tale of his travels and tribulations, King Alcinous, at Nausicaa's implicit urging, generously provides Odysseus with a ship and a crew of skilled Phaeacian sailors. These ships are renowned for their speed and ability to navigate without a rudder, guided by thought. This final act of hospitality ensures Odysseus's long-awaited return to Ithaca, marking the end of his arduous journey. The farewell between Nausicaa and Odysseus is brief but poignant, underscoring her lasting impact on his journey.

6.1. Literature and Art

Nausicaa has been a popular subject for artists throughout history. Notable artistic depictions include:

• Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein's Odysseus and Nausicaa (1819)
• Frederick Leighton's Nausicaa (1878)
• Jean Veber's Ulysses and Nausicaa (1888)
• Robert Jackson Emerson's Nausicaa
• William McGregor Paxton's Odysseus and Nausicaä

The character has also sparked literary debate and reinterpretation. In his 1892 lecture "The Humor of Homer," Samuel Butler controversially posited that Nausicaa was the true author of the Odyssey. He argued that the scene of the maidens washing clothes was so realistic and vivid that it could only have been written by a woman, a theory he further elaborated in his 1907 book The Authoress of the Odyssey.

Nausicaa's story has been re-imagined in modern literature:

• James Joyce's 1922 novel Ulysses features a chapter that parallels Nausicaa's encounter with Odysseus, with the character Gerty McDowell serving as a modern counterpart to Nausicaa, who captivates Leopold Bloom.
• William Faulkner named a yacht "Nausikaa" in his 1927 novel Mosquitoes.
• Robert Graves' 1955 novel Homer's Daughter also explores the idea of Nausicaa as the author of the Odyssey.
• The poet Derek Walcott references Nausicaa in his poem "Sea Grapes."

6.2. Music

Nausicaa has inspired several musical compositions:

• In 1907, Hungarian composer Zoltán Kodály set a poem by Aranka Bálint titled "Nausikaa" to music. Kodály, deeply interested in ancient Greece, had planned an opera about Odysseus, and this song is one of the surviving pieces from that project.
• Polish composer Karol Szymanowski completed his symphonic poem cycle Métopes, Op. 29, in 1915. This work depicts Greek mythology, with each movement featuring a female character Odysseus encounters; one of the movements is titled "Nausicaa."
• Australian composer Peggy Glanville-Hicks wrote an opera titled Nausicaa, with a libretto by Robert Graves, which premiered in 1961 at the Athens Festival.
• In 2010, the band Glass Wave released a song titled "Nausicaa," written from the character's perspective.

6.3. Film and Animation

Nausicaa has appeared in various cinematic adaptations of the Odyssey:

• She was portrayed by Rossana Podestà in the 1954 film Ulysses.
• Barbara Bach played her in the 1968 Italian miniseries L'Odissea.
• Katie Carr took on the role in the 1997 miniseries The Odyssey.

Perhaps her most widely recognized modern influence is in Hayao Miyazaki's acclaimed 1982 manga Kaze no Tani no Naushika and its 1984 animated film adaptation, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Miyazaki was indirectly inspired by the Homeric character. He encountered a description of Nausicaa in a Japanese translation of a Greek mythology anthology by Bernard Evslin, which depicted her as a nature-loving figure. Miyazaki incorporated elements from Japanese short stories and animism into his character, creating a protagonist who embodies a deep connection with nature and a desire for peace and understanding.

6.4. Other References

Beyond the arts, Nausicaa's name has been used in various other contexts:

• The asteroid 192 Nausikaa, discovered in 1879, was named in her honor.
• The Nausicaä Centre National de la Mer, one of Europe's largest public aquariums, opened in 1991 in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France.
• The Nausicaans are a tall, strong, and aggressive humanoid species in the Star Trek universe.