Scheria

Sharia (Greek Σχερίη Scherie or Σχερία ) In Greek mythology, the home of the Phaeacians. In Homer's Odyssey, Sharia is the last stop of the wanderings of Odysseus, on which he reports the Phaeacians of his previous experiences which bring him home to Ithaca after.

Odysseus on Sharia

After Odysseus has left with a raft the island of Calypso and with favorable winds and 18 -day journey on the sea Sharia is already near, he suffered through a storm sent by Poseidon shipwreck. Because of the heavy seas and the rocky coast of Sharia Odysseus arrives only with great difficulty to an estuary on land. Nausicaa, daughter of Alcinous, the Lord of Sharia, Odysseus met on the beach and shows him the way to the palace of her parents. Odysseus goes, encouraged by Athena and protected in the city through a mist, to the palace of the splendor of which he is very impressed. He manages to win the favor of Alcinous and Arete ago by his wife, so that they absorb the stranger friendly and convince the rest of the Phaeacians, be hospitable to behave towards Odysseus. Alcinous promises to bring the Greek hero on a fast phaiakischen ships in its homeland. In honor of the guest festivals are celebrated and organized games in which Odysseus, irritated by the suspicion of phaiakischen athletes Eurylaos he was a seafaring traders and shopkeepers, betting games are alien to his skill in the discus throw demonstrates.

Since Odysseus obviously wearing a deep pain in itself, is by reason of his appearance and his body for a significant heroes and Alkinoos repeatedly noted that Odysseus songs of the blind singer Demodocus his tears can not hold back on the fighting at Troy, the Phaeacians urge him to divulge his entire identity. Then Odysseus gives his name, his home and reported extensively about his experiences after the destruction of Troy ( Odyssey, 9th-12th vocals). Finally, Odysseus is richly Alkinoos and the twelve other kings Scherias brought to Ithaca, where they settle him asleep. In the main hall, among others, the precious throne was the Alkinoos and a brazen tripod, was sacrificed to the. In the courtyard of the palace was a large garden, all year progressed, the variety of fruits on the apples, but also figs and vines. In the garden sprang from two sources - one was for the palace, the other determined for the other Phaeacians.

Poseidon, who was during these events at the Aithiopern remarked Odysseus return home only when the ship of the Phaeacians on the return trip was. Sealing off the coast Scherias he turned it into a rock and anchored it to the seabed. Partial order was fulfilled an ancient prophecy: Because they would bring any stranger into his home, one day will be a phaiakisches ship to stone. From the realization of the other part of the prophecy, the capital will round enclosed by a high mountain, Poseidon was held by Zeus.

Information about Homer Scheria

Sharia should be located far away from Ithaca, at the end of the world, surrounded by the sea. Although the latter statement suggests that it is an island, as such Scheria however, is not referred to explicitly. The coast is rocky and has, from the sea looking at the shape of a shield. Homer describes Sharia in several places to be very fruitful, which he founded with the mild west wind, which prevails there. At the point goes to the Odysseus ashore, a river empties into the sea. Between this point and the capital was a sacred grove of Athena, consisting of poplars, surrounded by meadows. Here Odysseus just stop on the way to the palace and prays to Athena.

The city is surrounded by high walls. To her, there are two ports, one of which lead narrow entrances into the city. In the vicinity of the ports is a sanctuary for Poseidon, paved with erratic blocks and a marketplace where even gatherings, games and dances are held. The Palace was located in the city, between the houses of the other Phaeacians, whose high walls ( fachwerkbauartig? ) Were joined with piles.

The palace was easily distinguished from the other houses, at least because of its size and splendor. The facades were covered with brass, enameled the surrounding ledges. Access doors were made ​​of gold, whose base of iron, the doorposts and the lintel of the door of silver and gold ring; golden and silver dogs flanked the doors. A long hall led to the center of the palace. A long hall that led to the main room of the palace, was lit by torches, which were attached to a total of 50 golden statues of young men.

Sharia was dominated by 12 princes who had royal power in their areas. You stood before Alcinous apparently. A gathering of 12 princes and designated by Homer as a consultant officials, it was decided on the bring home Odysseus, took place on the market near the ports. The inhabitants were famous for their ships, their speed Homer emphasized several times. They came out without a rudder, since they could be direct from the thoughts of the crew and certainly found her goal even in fog. As the farthest place that cite the Phaeacians, Evia is called, where they once brought Rhadamanthys. Due to its exposed location Sharia was never attacked by enemies, as we learn from Nausicaa, when, on the beach calms her maidens, that they need not fear the shipwrecked strangers ( Odyssey VI, 198-205 ):

Girl, so remains standing! What are you running, because ye see the man? Do you suppose it was even an enemy of men? Still was not born of man and may never live, Which here in the land of men comes phäakischen And enmity brings; because very love we are the gods. Far away we live here, surrounded by the rushing seas, At the very end, and none of the other people see us.

Interpretation and localization hypotheses

According to many classicists and ancient historians, the residence of Ulysses on Scheria a kind of transition from the fairy tale world in which to play the previous adventures of his odyssey into the "real " world ( arriving in Ithaca ) dar. Also Sharia and the Phaeacians here have both mythical as well as " real" trains on. To get away from the fairy tale world and to be brought by the Phaeacians home, he has to fight Sharia: It is first necessary to convince Nausicaa of his peaceful intentions, then to win the favor of the king and queen Alcinous and Arete. Even compared to the other Phaeacians, of which Homer writes that they are reserved with strangers and they do not like hosting, it must be convincing. Also, the growing desire Nausikaas to marry Odysseus, presents a danger, especially as Alcinous would obviously like to accept the stranger as a son. However, Odysseus resists the lure of a - at least materially - worry-free life with a view of domination and Alkinoos can convince that his pain, for many years to be far away from home, is very large. The wealth Scherias, especially appearance and magnificence of the palace, reminiscent of Near Eastern palaces and possibly could have a real role model.

Although at least it is uncertain whether Scheria ever alludes to a real place, attempts have been made in ancient times to locate it. Starting the 5th century BC, it identified a number of ancient authors with Corfu, the ancient Kerkyra. So already wrote Thucydides that Corfu was once inhabited by the Phaeacians. It has often been claimed that the former name of Corfu was Scheria. In contrast, localized Strabo, due to the specification of Homer, it is very far away, as well as Sharia Ogygia in the Atlantic. Modern - mostly popular science - hypotheses locate Scheria in many different places, such as Cornwall (Hans Steuerwald ), Tartessos ( Richard Hennig ), Sardinia ( Massimo Pittau ), Calabria ( Armin Wolf), Apulia and Corfu ( Wilhelm Dörpfeld, Ernle Bradford ). Gladly the land of the Phaeacians is also associated with Atlantis.