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Athenas Odyssey
Homers Odyssey, a staple in literature classes throughout the world, relates
the tale of Odysseus arduous journey home from the Trojan War. Through wit and
strength, he defeats numerous monsters and disasters. He kills his wifes suitors
and restores order to his kingdom. Simply put, this is a story of heroism and
adventure. Further inspection, however, shows just how little Odysseus was able to
do on his own. After losing his entire fleet to the aforementioned monsters and
disasters, he is left stranded on an island with no means of escape. Here the story
begins, but Odysseus is not in control. The Odyssey is more than Odysseus journey,
it is a story of Athenas masterful control over her human followers.
Athenas first act is to free Odysseus from Kalypsos island. She pleads with
Zeus to allow this: [M]y own heart is broken for Odysseus [Atlas] daughter will
not let Odysseus go, poor mournful man Oh Zeus, what do you hold against him?
(1:64, 72, 73, 81). With Zeus approval, Hermes is dispatched to notify Kalypso. In
her eyes, this imprisonment is unjust and Odysseus deserves to return home.
Athena acts as Odysseus intercessor, giving him what he needs mostthe
opportunity to continue his journey home. She follows the hierarchy of leadership
and does not ask the impossible, both qualities of a competent leader. This simple
request sets the rest of the story in motion.
While Hermes is on his mission, Athena begins a more difficult mission of her
own. Telemakhos, Odysseus only child, is trapped in his own home by his mothers
suitors. He has fallen into despair over the lack of a father and his own lack of
control over his household. Athena notifies Zeusin the same conversation that he
allows Odysseus releaseof her plans. I shall visit Ithaka to put more courage in

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the son let him find news of his dear father where he may and win his own renown
about the world (1:110, 111, 117-120). In the short term, Athenas plan seems to
only get Telemakhos out of the house and cheer him up. But the full purpose of this
mission isnt realized until the attack on the suitors. Odysseus will need allies in this
fight, and Athena is preparing Telemakhos mentally for this role. She quite literally
takes on the role of Mentor to do this. Mentor is a close friend of Odysseus who has
been left in charge of his estate; this appointment required great trust from
Odysseus and required great trust from Telemakhos. The name Mentor evokes a
role of the same word. In this guise, Athena leads Telemakhos to talk with Nestor.
Reason and heart will give you words, Telemakhos; and a spirit will counsel others.
I should say the gods were never indifferent in your life (3:29-31). In his youth,
Telemakhos has not yet learned to trust himself or his actions. This trust is
necessary for him to fight with his father effectively, and more immediately while
talking to his superiors. Telemakhos continues his journey to Menelaus without
Mentor, giving him the chance to act independently and reflect on what he learned.
Athena continues on for her next job.
Athena is next seen guiding Odysseus through Phaiakia. He was just
shipwrecked by Poseidon and left to swim ashore. Collapsing under a bush, he is
physically exhausted and alone. Athena has already prepared a saving grace for
him, in the form of the Phaiakian princess Nausikaa. In a dream, Athena tells her to
go to the river to bathe and wash her wedding clothes, a seemingly harmless
endeavor. The area she goes to happens to be next to Odysseus resting place. He
takes advantage of the opportunity and pleads for help. His own wit serves him well
here, as he convinces Nausikaa to help him through compliments and stories. She
consents and he goes to bathe. Upon returning, Athena lent a hand, making him

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seem taller, and massive too, with crisping hair in curls like petals of wild hyacinth,
but all red-golden (6:241-244). His appearance stuns Nausikaa, who then agrees to
guide Odysseus to her parents, the king and queen of Phaiakia. Later, he is left to
find the castle alone. He asks a young girlactually Athena in disguise againand
he is sent directly there shrouded in a mist. He remains hidden until arriving at the
feet of Queen Arete. Athenas assistance to Odysseus is sparse in comparison to
what she offers Telemakhos. However, the maturity and self-sufficiency of Odysseus
enables him to use any situation to his advantage, even when he does not request
help. In fact, nowhere in the story does Odysseus request any assistance from
Athena. But from here on out, her assistance is more necessary than ever.
Athena next prepares Odysseus for the revenge against the suitors. Odysseus
finds himself dumped on a beach with his treasures. Athena has shrouded him in a
mist yet again, this time to hide his location from him. She appears as a shepherd
and asks him of his origin. He relates a fictional story in an attempt to trick his
companion, but Athena knows better. You! You chameleon! Here in your own
country would you not give your stratagems a rest or stop spellbinding for an
instant? (13:45-49). The goddess of cunning knows Odysseus too well to be fooled,
and as a token of trust she reveals her true identity to him. Ironically, the upcoming
few days will require more spellbinding than ever before. He reacts mistrustfully;
ever since the fall of Troy, Athena has left Odysseus to fend for himself, or so he
thinks. He recognizes her as the young girl in Phaiakia, but cant fathom her
involvement since then. He doesnt even believe he is home until she sends away
the mist and he sees his kingdom for himself. His joyous celebration is cut short by
Athenas planning. Like Odysseus did to his sailors so many times before, Athena
notifies him of her plan to get Odysseus to his house. No fear but I shall be there;

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youll go forward under my arm when the crux comes at lastNow for a while, I
shall transform you; not a soul will know you (13:399, 400, 404, 405). Odysseus
now knows he wont be acting alone; he has a goddess on his side. The main
component of this plan is to keep Odysseus hidden until the final fight for his
household. Athena will transform Odysseus into a beggar and he will ascertain the
situation in this facade. Athena tells him Telemakhos is off finding his way in the
world, then disappears to finish her mentoring.
After sending him off on his mission, Athena must now guide a matured
Telemakhos home. She appears in a dream, saying, The brave thing now,
Telemakhos, would be to end this journey far from home. All that you own you left
behind [to untrustworthy men] (15:15-18). This sudden reminder of his
responsibility for his home and mother makes him want to leave immediately.
Nestors son asks to leave in the morning, at which time Telemakhos asks Menelaos
very politely to be allowed to leave for home. It is obvious that he is maturing, but
he still shows moments of impulsiveness. Athenas plan to prepare him for his
fathers assistance is coming to fruition. Following Athenas warning of an attack,
Telemakhos sails a circuitous route to avoid the suitors, propelled by a favorable
wind from Athena. He arrives back in Ithaka without trouble and goes to the home
of Eumaios, currently the shelter of Odysseus.
Father and son now reunited, Athena can now prepare them for battle.
Athena sweeps away the beggar disguise to reveal Odysseus to Telemakhos. After a
touching reunion, Odysseus fills Telemakhos in on the plan. Telemakhos is initially
skeptical, not trusting the gods to fight with themmuch like Odysseus a few books
earlier. An improved Odysseus answers, Before long, [Athena and Zeus] will stand
to the right and left of us in combat, in the shouting, when the test comes (16:6,

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7). It took a figurative slap in the face to realize it, but Odysseus now puts his trust
in the gods to get him through the upcoming battle. He trusts Athena to give them a
sign to hide the weapons from the suitors and to fight alongside him. However, this
is the end of Athenas direct interventions, leaving the two men to work through the
intervening days with only oblique assistance from the goddess. The first comes in
the form of Penelope. Athena urges her to talk to the suitors and bestows a beauty
on her to put them in awe. The suitors are flustered and Odysseus takes the chance
to explore his household. The second an increase in abuse of Odysseus. Athenas
idea is to increase his hatred of the suitors, stoking an anger that will unleash a
wave of destruction. Various items fly at the king, each one throwing another log on
the fire. The last occurs when Eurynome, Penelopes head maid, recognizes
Odysseus through his disguise. This is the only time Athenas actions show a flaw. In
her excitement, Eurynome yells out his identity to nearby Penelope, but Athena
distracts her, saving the disguise. Odysseus is now prepared to fight.
Odysseus final revenge is his alone, with Athena playing support. The trial of
the bow ends with Odysseus stringing the bow and shooting an arrow through the
handles, thus winning the hand of his wife. During this, Athena does not alter his
appearance or make him appear spectacular, but lets him prove his own identity. He
wheels on the suitors and begins his slaughter. Athena appears as Mentor, urging
Odysseus to keep up heart, then flies to the rafters as a swallow to observe. She
turns away spears, allowing two to graze Odysseus allies, a reminder that even he
is not invincible and help can be withdrawn at any moment. His spirit is renewed
once more. The climax of the battle occurs when the aegis, Athenas shield, took
form aloft in the great hall. And the suitors mad with feat at her great sign
stampeded like stung cattle (22:304-308). The aegis, Zeus shield, proffered by

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Athena, partially fulfills Odysseus idea that Athena and Zeus would fight alongside
them. However, the two gods remain aloof, allowing Odysseus and his men to take
advantage of the confusion themselves. The battle ends with the suitors lying dead
on the floor of the great banquet hall. Odysseus is rejoined with his wife and has
enacted his revenge. Athenas conduct before and during this battle appear the
same, but differ on one key point: Odysseus was allowed to despair. The last time
he was in this position was after escaping Kalypsos island, when Athena first got
involved. Her guidance throughout his journey home allowed Odysseus to act
independently, but he was always in a safe position. In the midst of battle, Athena
showed Odysseus his humanity and possibility of failure. This fact made his revenge
sweeter and more complete.
However, the repercussions of his revenge were too much for Odysseus to
handle alone. Closing the story as it began, Athena appears before Zeus to request
peace for Odysseus. Zeus replies, Odysseus honor being satisfied, let him be king
by a sworn pact forever, and we, for our part, will blot out the memory of sons and
brothers slain (24:488-503). The effect of the suitors slaughter is too great for
Ithaka to rebound from naturally; this event requires divine intervention to solve.
After years of battle and wandering, Odysseus deserves a life of peace, and Athena
gets this for him. As expected, supporters of the suitors come to fight Odysseus and
his allies. Odysseus father is given the honor of killing the leader of this rebellion by
Athena, but she prevents all other fighting in a flash of glory. To secure Odysseus
reign, she brokers the peace pact between the town and Odysseus. Even until the
closing lines of the book, Odysseus must rely on Athena to make it work.
Left to his own devices, Odysseus loses his way and all his ships and men.
Everything that goes wrong can, and Odysseus topples from fearless leader to

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castaway. Once Athena intervenes, Odysseus is an unstoppable force and nothing

seems to go wrong for him. If the intervention hadnt happened, Odysseus would
have been no better off than Agamemnon or Achilles, left as the mortal lover of a
nymph with a control complex. The Odyssey is then a story of Athenas guidance of
two dead men back to life: Telemakhos maturity from boy to man, and the glorious
homecoming of Odysseus the king.