The singer claims both self-taught craft and god-given inspiration

Evidence

I taught myself the craft, but a god has planted deep in my spirit all the paths of song — songs I’m fit to sing for you as for a god. — Homer; Robert Fagles; Bernard Knox, The Odyssey, 4410

Categorization

• DEFINE: Phemius articulates the classical double origin of poetic art: human craft (techne) plus divine inspiration.
• XREF: Connects to the later Greek word ‘aoidos’ and the motif of Homer’s own self-presentation as singer.