When Hermes arrives at Ogygia, Calypso's island, he finds Odysseus sitting on a bench and weeping for his family. Hermes delivers his message to Calypso about releasing Odysseus. Calypso becomes indignant upon hearing this, but consents because she nows she cannot defy the gods. After Hermes disperses, Calypso tells Odysseus that he is free to leave. With her aid he builds himself a small boat and eagerly sets sail for home.

As this is taking place, Poseidon returns from the land of the Ethiopians and notices Odysseus. He becomes enraged and creates a tempest. Amid the storm, Odysseus' small boat capsizes and breaks apart leaving him clinging to a piece of wood floating in the deep sea. Athene then sees him, and with the aid of a sea nymph, helps him reach the island of Phaeacia. Overly exhausted, he stumbles on shore and falls asleep among some olive bushes.

The shores of Phaeacia

Books VI-VIII The next morining Odysseus is found by Princess Nausicaa and some of her mades while doing the palace laundry near the river. They give him food to eat and clothes to wear and direct him to the city. Odysseus goes to the palace of King Alcinous and Queen Arete, where he is recieved with great kindness and generosity. The king and queen promise to help him to travel to Ithaca. After a couple days of resting there, at a banquet of the Phaecian nobility, Odysseus reveals his true identity and tells the story of his adventures during the nine years after the fall of Troy.