Athena

suitors take over his home and threaten his wife, Penélopê, and his son, Telémakhos. In her attempts to bring Odysseus home, Athena urges Telémakhos to begin his own travels in search of his father. During Odysseus’ trial to return to Ithika appearance reveals itself in diffrent ways to aid Odysseus and Telemachus. A major time when appearance had been used happened when Athena comes to Telemachus in the form of Mentes. Mentes had been a friend of Laureates so there can be no suspicion about…

In The Odyssey, the reader is exposed to the role of women in ancient greek society. The Odyssey would have been recited during a time when women were considered to be inferior to men. This is present in the poem; but, in The Odyssey women are given more substantial roles. The women of The Odyssey are complex characters; they are not always weak individuals that blend into the background, they are powerful and wise. The female characters also display certain traits that could not be shown by the…

Homer’s The Odyssey, Telemachus’ up and down journey of maturing faces the challenge of standing up to the suitors, finding news of his father, and fighting alongside his father. As a young man, Telemachus has trouble standing up to the Suitors until Athena gives him the courage to do so. Since he doesn’t have a father figure to guide him, Telemachus struggles to mature. When Prince Telemachus was sitting around the suitors, he was daydreaming about how “if only he might drop from the clouds…

transform from angry, bitter, and violent portrayals of women to more subdued, powerless, and hidden goddesses, symbolizing the traditional role of women as less important and home-staying citizens. The transformation of the Erinyes is ushered by Athena who…

whisper into his ears, “For I am Athena, and I take pity on the great warrior. Apollonius listen carefully to my instructions, and your problems will ceases to exist. Apollonius, you see around you are seashells; combine two shells together, and buried them in the soil. But you may never go back home, nor visit your family. For during your battles, you and your men offended Poseidon, and he certainly wish to punish you.” Hearing this, Apollonius quickly replies back to Athena, “Oh, gracious god…

heroes yet still treated as possessions. The treatment of women to men depend on their relationship, status, or role in society. Women of a lower status such as Briseas in the Iliad were treated much less while women in a higher status such as Helen or Athena were treated equally to men or better. In The Iliad, Agamemnon agrees to return Chryse but he demands Achilles hands over his “prize” Briseas so that he may have “another prize ready” (page 110). To Agamemnon and his men women are seen as…

Deception is one of the major themes in the The Odyssey. Some forms of deception used in the epic are lies and disguises. Many characters use these to get their way. Penelope, Telemakhos, and Athena are three examples of people who use lies and disguises in order to help and protect their loved ones. The first example of deception is when Penelope lies about finishing her weaving. She is weaving a shroud for Lord Laertes when his time comes to die. She asks her suitors’ permission to finish it…

and gain his peace of mind back, these changes are evident. Before meeting Athena, Telemachus was weak and passive towards the suitors. Although, when he begins his journey to find his father he becomes much more assertive rather than passive. When he learns that his father was a well known and very likable man, it gives him the confidence and hope that he can be a true successor to his father. Before his meeting with Athena, Telemachus is very passive and distant to those around him. He does…

guiding and helping the hero. In The Odyssey, the goddess Athena helps protect and guide Odysseus on his way home from twenty years away for battle and the adventure he had. Athena provides protection when she is with him: “’ Surely I’ll stand beside you, not forget you, not when the day arrives for us to do our work’” (13, 299, 449-450). Athena helps Odysseus because she had sympathy for him and all Odysseus wanted to do was return home. Athena helps protect Odysseus as he is on a…

influence the outcomes of Odysseus and his family’s life. One of these gods is Athena the goddess of wisdom. Athena helps Odysseus by using her power to get him back to Ithaca and dodging war with the suitors. For 10 years, Odysseus was stranded at sea with his men by the works of the gods. Athena, however, adores Odysseus and speaks to Zeus while Poseidon (the God who has a grudge against Odysseus) is away. Athena says, “If all the gods now agree that Odysseus shall return…