<P> In the Odyssey by Homer, Demodocus (/ dɪˈmɒdəkəs /; Greek: Δημόδoκος, Demodokos) is a poet who often visits the court of Alcinous, king of the Phaeacians on the island of Scherie . During Odysseus' stay on Scherie, Demodocus performs three narrative songs . </P> <P> Demodocus first appears at a feast in the hall of Alcinous, after he approved that Odysseus should be provided with a ship for a safe passage home . During the feast Demodocus sings about the disagreement between Odysseus and Achilles at Troy . Everyone enjoys the singing except for Odysseus who bursts into tears because of the pain and suffering of which the song reminds him . Odysseus would raise his cup and pour libations to the gods every time there was a pause in the singing but when Demodocus began again Odysseus would pull his cloak over his head to hide his tears . Only Alcinous noticed Odysseus' weeping and stopped the feast and suggests that everyone go outdoors to participate in athletic contests . The games end with dancing and another song from Demodocus . This time he sang of the love between Ares and Aphrodite . Hephaestus was Aphrodite's husband and found out about the affair because Helios told him that he had seen Ares and Aphrodite lying together . Hephaestus sets up an inescapable trap over his bed . When Ares and Aphrodite go to bed, they are snared in the trap and caught by Hephaestus . At dinner, after the sun had gone down, Odysseus asks Demodocus to sing his third song . Odysseus cut off a sizable piece of pork from his own portion and told a herald to bring it to Demodocus . Demodocus was grateful and began to sing . He sang of the Trojan horse and the sack of Troy . Again, Odysseus weeps uncontrollably and is able to hide it from everyone except Alcinous who ends the singing and asks Odysseus who he really is . </P>

Who is the bard that sings at the court of the phaecians