Athena's Role In The Odyssey Essay

707 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The importance of athena in the odyssey

The Goddess

The novel, The Odyssey, is written by an ancient Greek philosopher Homer who is the author of the lliad. This story is about Odysseus, king of Ithaca, who goes to fight in the Trojan War for ten years. After the Trojan War Odysseus has a long ten year journey home. When Odysseus does come home, he reclaims his home by fighting off the wretched suitors and reclaims his son, wife, and kingdom. Athena is the daughter of Zeus, and the goddess of wisdom and war. She is the person who helps Odysseus throughout his twenty year journey back to his kingdom Ithaca that has been taken over by suitors. To me, Athena is a great mentor, she is smart with her different disguises that she used on herself and others, and she has a very positive effect on others.

Athena is a great mentor to the characters in this story because she helps them through their trials and tribulations in this story. Athena helps Telemachus find his father so she is disguised as a mentor to help him through his journey. When Odysseus is about to …show more content…

Poseidon is on bad terms with Odysseus for killing his son Polyphemus. So when Poseidon spots Odysseus he stirs up a storm that almost kills Odysseus. Athena see this and then comes to his rescue with Ino. Odysseus comes to the
Phaecian palace and Athena who is disguised, stops him and offers him to keep safe from the xenophobic guards that are there. This cuts down on Odysseus being imprisoned or killed. When Odysseus spots the Phaecian princess Nausicaa Athena makes him look extra handsome so that she can be infatuated with him. This helps Odysseus find the Phaecian palace. After Odysseus tells the king and queen of Phaecia that his daughter brought him here, he says, "Sir, surely this was no right thought of my daughter, in that she brought thee not to our house with the women her handmaids, though thou didst first entreat her grace."

Show More
Related

  • Reciprocity In Homer's The Odyssey

    66 Words  | 1 Pages

    The Odyssey is an epic home it was written by homer in the classical Greek. The story is about the main character Odysseus a Trojan war hero and his journey to return home to Ithaca conflict and obstacles are throughout the story and affect different characters many of the characters experience some form of reciprocity by the end of the epic and get what they

    Read More

  • Athena In The Odyssey Essay

    625 Words  | 2 Pages

    Athena is the daughter of Zeus, the king of the Greek gods. She is one of the 12 Olympians that live on top of Mount Olympus. Athena is the goddess of wisdom, strategy, skill, and justice, and the owl is her sacred bird. In Mandelbaum verse translation of the epic poem the Odyssey of Homer, Athena helped Odysseus by providing guidance, physical, and internal help. Without this help, Odysseus would have to forge the path home by himself and face the challenges that are to come alone. He would be left to face the wrath of both Zeus and Poseidon without another major god’s help. Athena aided Odysseus in the trials he was to face, which gave him the guidance and help he needed to return to his home, Ithaca.

    Read More

  • herody Little Heroism in Homer's Odyssey

    1286 Words  | 3 Pages

    The gods interfere with Odysseus on his quest in one of two ways, for the better or for the worse.  Zeus, Athena, Hermês, Persephone, and the Nereid Ino all help Odysseus return home.  On the other hand, Poseidon and Hêlios, the embodiment of the sun, hinder his journey home.  While the nymph Kalypso and the witch Kirkê balance between helping and hindering.  Athena, the goddess of wisdom and daughter of Zeus, plays the most crucial role in the story.  Odysseus' patron goddess practically weaves the outcomes with her own fingers.  At the very beginning, Athena pleads for Zeus to offer help to Odysseus, who is trapped on Kalypso's island.  "O Father of us all, if it now please the blissful gods that wise Odysseus reach his home agai...

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Inadequacy In The Book 'The Odyssey'

    895 Words  | 2 Pages

    Given these points, Athena (as Mentor) acts as a mentor and advisor for Telemachus. She is able to greatly increase his confidence, prepare him for his journey to find his father, and make him feel worthy of being his father’s son. In real life, many people have experience with a relationship similar to this, someone who gives them advice and is a positive, guiding influence in their life. This relationship is critical to Telemachus and his growth from an immature child to a man, and also proves to be an important relationship to have in one’s own

    Read More

  • External Forces In The Odyssey

    925 Words  | 2 Pages

    The epic poem, The Odyssey, by Homer, is about the events that happen after The Iliad. It tells the story of Odysseus and his journey home from the Trojan War. Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, encounters forces that are external and internal. These forces prevent him from returning to his homeland and achieving nostos. Although many different forces impact Odysseus’ journey home, internal forces such as recklessness and temptations hinder Odysseus and his crew from their homecoming far more greatly than external forces.

    Read More

  • The Hero’s Journey in Homer's The Odyssey

    1885 Words  | 4 Pages

    In every journey the hero also has a mentor. In this story Athena, the gray-eyed goddess of wisdom, has taken on this role for both Odysseus and Telemachus. Athena was by Odysseus’ side as a guide for much of the beginning of his Journey. Athena also is a guide to Odysseus when he’s not even aware o...

    Read More

  • Greek Hospitality in The Odyssey

    937 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...o all guests saved Odysseus and helped him return home to his wife, son, and kingdom. Even though people from many different kingdoms and islands took Odysseus in their home and showed him great kindness on his return home, the individual who helped him most was the goddess Athena. In many occasions Athena assisted Odysseus. One such example is when Odysseus was fighting of the suitors and they threw spears at him. "Re-forming, the suitors threw again with all their strength, but Athena turned their shots, or all but two (p 566)." Another instance which Athena aided Odysseus was when she disguised him as a beggar on his arrival to his homeland. "Would even you have guessed that I am Pallas Athena, daughter of Zeus, I that am always with you in times of trial, a shield to you in battle (p 444)." "Your goddess-guardian to the end in all your trials (p 539)."

    Read More

  • Athena, and the Role of Women in the Odyssey

    1353 Words  | 3 Pages

    The great epic, Homer's Odyssey, is a tale of an adventure; a journey through the mind body and soul. Odysseus was strong throughout his voyage and was able to conquer his obstacles thanks to the help from the Goddess Athena. Athena provided physical and emotional support for this man, to get him on his way home to Ithaka. She also provided this same support for Odysseus' son, Telemakhos. Without her involvement, "The Odyssey" would not have turned out the way it did; because she plays such a crucial role in the story. It is understood that Odysseus is the primary character in this epic; concerning his fears and eventually returning to his home, Ithaka. The only reason this was possible is because he had the help of the clever and intelligent Goddess, Athena.

    Read More

  • Greek Women in The Odyssey

    425 Words  | 1 Pages

    Homer also makes her seem clever when she gets all of the suitors to bring her gifts before she “chooses one” knowing that they are in a short supply of resources. In another instance, he portrays her as clever in the way that she keeps the suitor away by weaving the tunic for Odysseus and secretly taking it apart every night. The role Penelope plays is very important because she is seen as a person, not a possession. Finally, there are the goddesses. They represent women in all their glory.

    Read More

  • The Character Odysseus in Homer's Odyssey

    1048 Words  | 3 Pages

    "Odyssey" is an epic story that has been a significant piece of literature since it was first composed and will remain so for ages to come. One of the reasons it has been so is because of the hero, Odysseus.

    Read More

  • Greed In The Odyssey

    1535 Words  | 4 Pages

    ‘The Odyssey’ by Homer, follows the story of Odysseus, an epic Greek hero. It begins with telling of his venture to Troy, as he leads his army in the Trojan War, and of the separation he has experienced for twenty years from loved ones and his kingdom. However, the epic mainly focuses on the story of his homecoming and all he, and many others, had to endure while he was returning from abroad. His son, Telemakhos, was greatly impacted by Odysseus’s absence as he had no father figure, and grew up in the shadows of all the palace-dwellers. During the novel, Telemakhos finally realizes that Ithaca needs a strong

    Read More

  • Odysseus's Heroic Attributes

    920 Words  | 2 Pages

    The epic poem The Odyssey, written by Homer, centers around the main protagonist Odysseus and his long journey back home. Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, returns home after defeating the Trojans in a ten year war. On his way back, he angers Poseidon, god of the sea, by blinding his son, Polyphemus the Cyclops. Due to Odysseus’ actions, Poseidon refuses to let Odysseus reach home, and Odysseus and his crew are forced to go through a series of obstacles throughout the epic. Through this adversity, Odysseus must show his heroic attributions in order to survive. Homer portrays Odysseus as a hero by giving him characteristics such as: craftiness, loyalty, and bravery.

    Read More

  • The Role of the Gods in Homer's The Odyssey

    870 Words  | 2 Pages

    Athena is the goddess everyone wants to have as guardian for his life. She went against her uncle Poseidon to fight for her Odysseus. At one point, we can even think that Athena is also in love to Odysseus because she has never him down. But the real truth is Athena is an amazing goddess who protect Odysseus no matter what because this is the Love she has for him

    Read More

  • Female Role In The Odyssey

    1080 Words  | 3 Pages

    Her tactics finally pay off at the end of the epic, when Odysseus returns from his voyage and she once again proves her intelligence by hosting the archery contest to prove Odysseus is home. The character that arguably plays the largest role in The Odyssey is Athena, daughter of Zeus. According to Mark Cartwright, Athena is,” Goddess of wisdom, war and the crafts, and favorite daughter of Zeus, Athena was, perhaps, the wisest, most courageous, and certainly the most resourceful of the Olympian gods” (www.ancient.eu). When hearing of her son’s departure, Penelope becomes extremely distraught.

    Read More

  • How Does Athena Shape Odyssey's Life

    246 Words  | 1 Pages

    At the a divine council on Mount Olympus, Athena helps out Odysseus by talking to her father Zeus and saying, "to take pity on Odysseus and allow him to return home." That quote shows that Athena is shaping Odysseus 's life because she is the one who is trying to help Odysseus get home to his wife and kids

    Read More

More about Athena's Role In The Odyssey Essay

Open Document