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A Mentor, not a Friend; Athena 's role in The Odyssey

"And Athena handed down her pacts of peace/ between both sides for all the years to come- the daughter of Zeus whose shield is storm and thunder, / yes, but the goddess still kept Mentor 's Build and voice"(24. 559-602). Mentoring, as we know today is based on the actions and behavior of the goddess Athena towards Odysseus while disguised as his great friend the Mentor. She serves as his advisor, guide, and provides him with emotional support throughout Homers epic poem, The Odyssey. Athena holds a lot of power among the gods; and she is able to get her way in most situations by using her power from her father, Zeus, to her fullest advantage. In the beginning of Book One, Athena mentions Odysseus to her father and how her heart breaks just thinking of this crafty man and the horrible tragedies he has endured on his way home from war. Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war, serves as more than just a loyal companion to Odysseus but rather a Mentor, and a shield, protecting him from harmful and risky situations, enabling him to make clever decisions, when he is not in the mindset to do so himself. The actions of Athena send Odysseus on a journey of self discovery. Athena vows to get Odysseus home safely, to inspire his son Telemechus, giving him courage to gather fellow Achaeans, and assists with plotting schemes of revenge against the mob of suitors taking over Ithaca. Odysseus, being the clever, crafty, and intelligent man he is, needs a woman to stand by his side every step of the way. Someone who will be there to help him, rather then appear physically attractive to him and act as a distraction. Athena serves as the perfect match for him under these circumstances: she is known for her wisdom, she can compete with Odysseus when it comes to craftiness, she doesn’t involve herself in sexual relationships with mortal men, and she is willing to risk anything to help him and his family in hopes of reuniting them all one day.

Athena makes it clear right from the beginning of the poem that Odysseus is her favorite man among the Achaeans. Odysseus 's actions mirror those of the gods so Zeus, ruler of all, recognizes him as " Great Odysseus who excels all men in wisdom, excels in offerings too he gives the immortal gods who rule in the vaulting skies..."(1.78-80). Since Zeus approves of Odysseus and finds him worthy to receive help from an immortal goddess he gives Athena his approval and blessings to help him. From the onset of his adventures home from the Trojan War Athena helps and protects Odysseus. After talking with Zeus she sweeps down from Mt. Olympus to assess the situation in Ithaca where she finds, " Swaggering Suitors" (1.24), amusing themselves and vying for the attention of his wife Penelope. Athena senses trouble as soon as she reaches the gates of Odysseus 's kingdom and from there on she makes it her personal goal and obligation to get Odysseus home safely, and reunite him with his family. Since the actions of Odysseus resemble those of the Gods on Mt. Olympus, Athena feels as if she is helping on of her own. Athena treats Odysseus like a man of dignity and shows him a great amount of loyalty and respect, making her goals of helping him known right from the beginning of the poem.

Seeing as Odysseus is Athena 's favorite man among the Achaeans, and how he mirrors Athena 's personality but in the form of a mortal, it is no surprise that she chooses to side with him, protect him, and plot schemes against those risking his kingdom, family and marriage. When Odysseus first reaches the long forgotten land of Ithaca, he awakes and does not recognize where he is due to the fact that, " Pallas Athena, Zeus 's daughter, / showered mist all over, so under cover/ she might change his appearance head to foot"(13.214-216). Athena uses her gifts of wisdom and craftiness to help Odysseus in these situations. By disguising his image until the suitors "Pay the price for their outrage"(13.219), Athena veils the true identity of Odysseus, protecting him from the raging suitors in pursuit of his wife, Penelope. If they were to discover Odysseus strolling around the sands of Ithaca, they would immediately hurt him, and get rid of him because after all he is the only one standing in-between their chances with Penelope. Athena is doing her job as a friend and mentor, living up to her word by protecting Odysseus, and returning him home safely.

In order live up to her promise of returning Odysseus to Ithaca safely and plotting revenge on the suitors, Athena gives Telemechus and Penelope courage, helping them as much as she helps Odysseus. From the beginning of Book One Athena instills courage in Telemchus. When she is talking to Zeus she says the following, "While I myself go down to Ithaca, rouse his son/ to braver a pitch, / inspire his heart with courage/ to summon the following-haired Achaeans to full assembly, / speak his mind to all those suitors."(1.104-108). Not only is Athena supportive of Odysseus, but she is also there to support his family, especially his son Telemechus. By giving him courage, she is enabling Telemechus and his abilities to gather the Achaean people, and plot revenge. While anxiously awaiting for her husband to return Penelope cries herself to sleep, imagining all the horrible things that could have gone wrong in war or on Odysseus journey home. Little does she know Odysseus is living within the same palace as her but, he is doing so disguised as a beggar. In order to assist Penelope, Athena "Sealed her eyes with welcome sleep"(16.501) in order for her collect herself and finally rest. Athena steps in to these situations with the goal of helping Odysseus and protecting him, but along the way she finds ways to help his family as well. By sealing Penelope 's eyes, she is helping Penelope gather her thoughts and calmly rest instead of mourning and weeping over her lost husband. Athena not only helps Odysseus and his family by plotting schemes with them, protecting them, and giving them courage, but she also mentors Odysseus helping him to make smart and clever decisions. In times of need, Athena, goddess of wisdom and war is there to mentor Odysseus, enabling him to make smart, tactful decisions helping him reach his final destination of Ithaca, and final goal of giving the suitors what they deserve. Athena 's actions towards Odysseus directly relate to the origin of the word "mentor". In today’s world we use the word mentor when describing and individual who offers "support, guidance, and assistance, as the younger person goes through a difficult period of time, faces new challenges, or works to correct earlier problems"(unc.edu). The actions used to describe a mentor today, mirror the actions of Athena, while she helps Odysseus navigate his journey home from the Trojan War. When Odysseus first reaches the shores of Ithaca after twenty long years away from home and at war, he is faced with multiple challenges in which Athena steps in helping him make smart decisions benefiting both him, and family. Athena is the one who urges him to reveal himself to Telemechus when he first arrives, she tells him the following, "now is the time to tell your son the truth/. Hold nothing back so the two of you can plot/ the suitors doom and set out of town"(16.189-191). In these dire situations Athena serves a mentor and a guide for Odysseus, encouraging him to do the right thing and what is best. By revealing himself to Telemechus it gives them the upper hand on battle, allowing them to plot out what they’re going to do, when it came to seek revenge. Without Athena by his side, Odysseus would not have made this decision to reveal himself to his son, he never would have followed through with plans of killing the suitors, and he never would have returned home. In the midst of battle against the raging suitors, Odysseus relies on Athena’s wit and wisdom of war to help him pull out a victory, finally get his wife back, and help her avoid a marriage she wants nothing to do with. While giving his men commands on what to do next, he says "When Athena, queen of tactics tells me its time, ill give you a nod, and when you catch that signal round up all the deadly weapons.."(16.324-332). The life, story, and fate of the Great Odysseus would be completely changed if Athena was not there to guide him in life. Athena puts Odysseus back on the right track through her actions of mentoring and by doing so she reveals a different side of him. Odysseus kills the suitors, finally gains revenge, and reaches home, with the help of Athena, her tactics, suggestions, mentoring, protecting, leadership, friendship, and loyalty. She is able to do all these things without involving herself in sexual relations with the men she helps by focusing on them and remaining loyal. Whether she is helping Odysseus disguised as tall beautiful women (16.178), a shepherd (13.253), Mentes (1.209), or his great friend Mentor (24.602), Athena is there for him in all countless situations, by protecting him, mentoring him, and using her skills and gifts not only to the advantage of herself, but to others. In the words of the wise German writer, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, " Every man has within himself a continent of undiscovered character. Happy is he who proves the Columbus of his soul"(unc.edu). Athena aids Odysseus in the discovery of his "undiscovered character", while she takes on the appearance of his great friend Mentor. It is through his actions he rediscovers his inner hero, and proves that he is still the great and courageous man he once was.

Works Cited:
"What is a Mentor?." unc.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Feb 2011. <http://www.unc.edu/depts/ed/upward_bound/employment/mentor_app.pdf>.

Cited: "What is a Mentor?." unc.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Feb 2011. &lt;http://www.unc.edu/depts/ed/upward_bound/employment/mentor_app.pdf&gt;.