Divine Intervention: Athena's Role in The Odyssey Essay

In Homer’s epic poem the Iliad, gods and goddesses play an important role in influencing the lives of humans, and Athena is an important part of the war. The goddess Athena is written mostly as a mortal, where she signifies the personification of war. Both sides of the war know that with Athena, they will not lose. This is probably why she is the most significant minor character. Athena is the most significant minor character because she is brave, wise, and she is a warrior. Athena plays a significant role in the unfolding drama, because both the Greeks and the Trojans know that her favor, they cannot be defeated.

After Penelope is sent away by Telemachus, Athena suddenly appears amidst a bright light before him and Odysseus. The young, brash Telemachus nearly cried out, giving her presence away to others in the house of Odysseus, but Odysseus stopped him, saying, “Be still: keep still about it: just remember it. The gods who rule Olympus make this light” (Odyssey 354). Here, Odysseus’ quick, yet tactful reply to Telemachus perhaps saved the day, and Telemachus, because he didn’t feel ashamed at his father’s response to his foolishness, maintained his bravery and focused upon the task at hand.

Athena’s navigational skills and quick thinking made Odysseus’ victory feasible. She provided a disguise for Odysseus, came up with a battle plan, and kept his anger in check by letting the suitors continue their taunts against him. Athena “had no mind to let the brazen suitors hold back now from their heart-rending insults-she meant to make the anguish cut still deeper into the core of Laertes’ son Odysseus” (Homer page 419). Additionally, she helped Odysseus battle the suitors, “looming out of the rafters high above them, brandished her man-destroying shield of thunder, terrifying the suitors out of their minds, and down the hall they panicked” (Homer page 448). Saving Odysseus’ and his servants’ lives, Athena acted against the suitors and, undoubtedly, won the battle for him by scaring off the suitors who were not already dead.

Two hundred forty eight years ago the american colonies passed a law stating that upon marriage, man and woman were one and equal. Eight years later , all states in america passed a law that gave all women (except slave women) the right to vote. If a woman wasn't considered to be equal to a man after their marriage (much less before) two hundred years ago, imagine what the role of a woman would have to have been during the 8th century, over thousands of years ago. During this time period, humans were obsessed with the idea of polytheism or the idea of many gods and goddesses. One of these goddesses in particular played a huge role in The Odyssey.

Athena not only offers moral guidance but also takes the time to physically join Telemachus in his quest for information about his father. Athena first comes down in the form of Mentes, a friend of Odysseus the protagonist. She comes in while the suitors, a group of people plaguing the house of Odysseus, are partying and gets the honorary seat at his dining table. After the feast and introductions, Athena talks to Telemachus and swiftly leaves. Athena later comes back in the form of Mentor, Odysseus’ friend in which he puts the safety of Telemachus and Penelope in, and joins Telemachus before he sets out on his quest. Right before

Near the end of the poem, Athena takes some major steps to ensure that Odysseus takes his palace back from the suitors by killing them and also staying alive during the battle. When Odysseus is disguised as a beggar in his own palace, Athena inspires the suitor Eurymachos to insult him. This angers Odysseus and builds up his rage that Athena wants him to take out on the suitors. When Odysseus is creating his plan to kill the suitors, he is worried that it will not all go according to plan and he will not kill all of the suitors. To calm his worries, Athena comes in to assure him that through the gods all things are possible saying, “I am a god and through it all I keep watch over you in every endeavor of yours.” (XX, 47) This implies that Athena will make sure that everything will fall into place for Odysseus and his family.

How does Athena affect the journey of Odysseus? In Homers poem The Odyssey, Athena is Zeus’s daughter, sprang from his forehead, fully grown and fully clothed. She is known for her cleverness and battle strategy. Also, said to be the goddess of wisdom, battle of war, and certain crafts.

In Homer’s, The Odyssey, Athena emerges as a hero because of her continuous guidance of Odysseus throughout his odyssey home. Not only did she plead to other gods for their sympathy, ensuring Odysseus safe return home, but also changing identities to help Odysseus make the right decision.

Although Odysseus is known as a wise, brave,and strong mortal man his thick headed mind should have known better than to anger a god, his impossible journey could’ve been prevented if Odysseus had only kept his revealing words. Athena, the daughter of Zeus,the bright eyed, beautiful, strong warrior stands by Odysseus’s side throughout his adventures. “Here among mortal men you are by far the best at tactics, spinning yarns, and I am famous among the gods for wisdom, cunning wiles, too. Ah but you never recognized me, did you Pallas Athena, daughter of Zeus-who always stands beside you, shields you in every exploit” ( Homer 296) Here Athena confesses to aiding, guiding, and caring for Odysseus. Although Athena was in favor of Odysseus she only stood by and protected him knowing she could not determine his destiny, only he could. Although Athena watched over odysseus she gave him wisdom, but knew that Odysseus must make decisions for himself. In battle Athena watched over Odysseus and protected him if needed, but she let him

Athena helps in many ways in book 5,6 and 7. She persuades the “Gatherer of the clouds” to release him, helps the protagonist land safely on Scheria, puts bravery into Nausicaa and changes the looks of Odysseus. In those 3 books, Athena is the only woman who is a match for Odysseus. She controls his fate and helps him on his journey. They have similar qualities: stalwart, brave, risk-taking and others.

.I'm sure many people have heard about Greek mythology, from gods to goddesses to centaurs the Greek myths have been both informative and entertaining . I'm here to tell you about one goddess in particular, Athena , the beautiful war goddess that has a quite intriguing life story. Athena was the goddess of wisdom, war, courage and etc.Her powers consist of agriculture, spinning, needlework and navigation. She was considered a goddess of war, but also she is the patron goddess of Athens. Hence why it is named after her. Athena was very fierce and brave in all her battles.She is one of the virgin goddesses, alongside Hestia and Artemis.Homer’s poem, the Iliad, stated that Athena was a fierce and ruthless warrior. But in the Odyssey, she was angry and unforgiving. Athena had a very unusual birth , she was not normally born by her mother Metis, instead Hephaestus split open her father Zeus’s , head after his complaint about an aching headache .Then Athena sprang out fully grown and dressed in armor. How , you might ask ? Well , Zeus went to bed with Metis,

Athena, who is a Goddess, had a very closer relationship with Odysseus than she did with the other typical mortal, which created immortal to mortal bond between them two. Athena helped him throughout his journey, because she just admires his wisdom, courage, bravery, and all the characteristics he possesses. She speaks of him well and shows much concern towards him. She says but it Odysseus I’m worried about, that discerning, ill-fated man. He’s suffered so long, separated from his dear ones, on an island that lies in the center of the sea,” (Line-55). Additionally, just like us humans have one of a few trustworthy friends who are willing to go through everything with us, due to their love and loyalty towards us. In odyssey, Athena believes Odysseus and her are very much alike, which is why she felt the need to help him through his epic

Athena is the one who first sent Odysseus on his wanderings as part of the punishment for a desecration of her temple by one of the Greek warriors at Troy. In The Odyssey, however, she is a consistent supporter of Odysseus, intervening repeatedly on behalf of the hero and his son, Telemachus. The goddess often appears in disguise, most significantly as Mentor, the family friend and adviser who instructs Telemachus in his father's absence. She is also adept at changing the appearance of humans. When Odysseus returns to Ithaca and needs a disguise in order to gather information without revealing his true identity, Athena makes him over to look like an old beggar, even wrinkling his skin and taking the fire out of his eyes. When appropriate, she

In the Greek epic, The Odyssey, Athena’s status among both gods and mortals is respectable. The goddess of wisdom and strategy, and the daughter of Zeus, Athena is a prestigious goddess. Athena, both feared by man and other gods, is presumed to lack emotion. In the Odyssey, Athena often does the opposite of what is expected of her, for she is self assured and headstrong. Despite these traits, her involvement with mortals such as Odysseus reflect upon her compassionate demeanor. Athena, both feared by man and other gods, is presumed to lack emotion. Nevertheless, she is extremely cunning, bold and powerful, but she also tends to simultaneously display her more maternal, caring side in her passion for assisting Odysseus’ journey home.

In the Homer’s Odyssey divine power plays in an influential role in the life of Odyssey, the main character of the epic. In the Odyssey, the goddess Athena intervenes in the life of Odyssey and plays an important role as she begged her father Zeus to allow her to aid Odysseus, so he could go home to his family (Odyssey 1-2). She says,"My own heart is broken for Odysseus" (Odyssey 3). Furthermore,in other instances, When Athena leads Odysseus back to an Ithaca that he no longer recognizes, she again "poured a grey mist all around him" because she wanted him to be disguised while she informed him of the situation of the suitors and until "the suitors paid up for their crimes." She wanted to protect him from the people who would suffer for his return until a plan had been formulated to seek revenge. Athena also disguises herself as a shepherd boy and talks with Odysseus. However, she soon turns back into her natural goddess state and says: