Alcinous or Alkínoös (Gr. Ἀλκίνοος) was in Greek mythology a son of Nausithous, or of Phaeax (son of Poseidon and Corcyra), and father of Nausicaa, Halius, and Laodamas with Arete.[1] His name literally means "mighty mind". He married his brother Rhexenor's daughter after Rhexenor was killed.[citation needed] This would make his wife also his niece.
In the myth of the Jason and the Argonauts, Alcinous is represented as living with his queen Arete in Drepane. The Argonauts, on their return from Colchis, came to his island, and were hospitably received. When the Colchians, in their pursuit of the Argonauts, likewise arrived in Drepane, and demanded that Jason's lover Medea should . The Colchians were obliged, by the contrivance of Arete, to depart without their princess, and the Argonauts continued their voyage homeward, after they had received expensive presents from Alcinous.[2]