Best beloved son of Alcinous and Arete — peerless among the Phaeacians in comeliness, champion in boxing at the games for Odysseus, and the prince whom the guest refused to challenge as his host's son.1
When Alcinous raised Odysseus from the hearth to a bright chair, he bade his son Laodamas rise — for the prince sat next to him and was his best beloved — and gave the stranger the place of honour at the Phaeacian feast.2
At the games in Alcinous' hall Laodamas rose with his brothers Halius and Clytoneus for the foot-race, excelled all princes in boxing when the contests were done, and then asked the stranger whether he knew any skill — for in build he seemed no mean man. Odysseus answered that he would try any trial save against Laodamas alone, since he was the host's son and only a fool quarrels with one who entertains him in a strange land.3
When Demodocus had sung and the Phaeacians were glad at heart, Alcinous bade Halius and Laodamas dance alone with the beautiful purple ball that wise Polybus had made — tossing it toward the shadowy clouds while the company marvelled.4
⁂
the spine ignites as you read · hover a bond on the card — every mention of them lights in the story