During the Odyssey, many singers are mentioned. They told stories of the past and the stories about the gods to entertain the household they were singing for. Singers were well respected because they had a divine gift from the Muses. Phemios and Demodokos are two examples of singers in the poem. .

             Phemios was a singer in the house of Odysseus. While Odysseus was away in battle and his journey home, Phemios was made to sing at Odysseus"s house by Penelope"s suitors.

             "A herald put the beautifully wrought lyre in the hands of Phemios, who sang for the suitors because they made him." (53 – 54, Book I) .

             He sang of Odysseus being lost in his homecoming (326 –327, Book I). This made Penelope upset and she asked Phemios to stop his song (337 – 344, Book I). Then Telemachos reminded her that Phemios was not to blame.

             "Why, my mother, do you begrudge this excellent singer his pleasing himself as the thought drives him? It is not the singers who are to blame, it must be Zeus is to blame, who gives out to men who eat bread, to each and all, the way he wills it. There is nothing wrong in his singing the sad return of the Danaans. People, surely, always give more applause to that song which is the latest to circulate among the listeners. So let your heart and let your spirit be hardened to listen." (346 – 353, Book I).

             When Odysseus came back to his house to take revenge on the suitors, Phemios is seen again. He had been singing for the suitors under their force, and feared that Odysseus would take his life for what he might think to be betrayal. Phemios caught the knees of Odysseus to beg for his life. .

             "Then do not be furious to behead me. Telemachos too, your own dear son, would tell you, as I do, that it was against my will, and with no desire on my part, that I served the suitors here in your house and sang at their feasting. They were too many and too strong, and they forced me to do it.