"From all who walk the earth our bards deserve
esteem and awe, for the Muse herself has taught them
paths of song. She loves the breed of harpers."
The herald placed the gift in Demodocus’ hands
and the famous blind bard received it, overjoyed.
– Homer
The Odyssey, Book 8, lines 538-542. Odysseus, who is speaking here, carves a choice cut of rich loin from the cooked boar and asks the herald to gift it to the bard Demodocus. This is a sign of how prized professional storytellers and bards were in ancient Greek society, and how loved they are by Homer.