Athena and Odysseus

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how in the "Odyssey", the only fully explored relationship is the friendship between Athena and Odysseus. It looks at how the Goddess and the Wanderer delight in virtuosities of deception and how they seek to out wit the other with affectionate larceny. It shows how it is a crafty, amused, deeply feminine amity that binds Athena to Odysseus and how it is Athena, the goddess of wisdom and the patron of Odysseus, who has the greatest impact on him.

From the Paper:

"The help of Athena can be traced back to the Iliad. During the funeral games for Achilles' friend, Patroclus, Athena helped Odysseus take many prizes. However, Athena's impact on Odysseus does not truly come about until the Odyssey. As the Odyssey opens, Odysseus is in a situation he cannot get out of without the help of Athena. He is on the island of Ogygia with Calypso, a beautiful goddess. She offers Odysseus immortality if he will stay on the island as her husband. It is at this point in the poem that Athena first interferes in the life of Odysseus. She plans to reunite Odysseus with his family. "

More papers on Athena and Odysseus:

• Analytical Essay # 26796 : "Comparing Athena and Penelope"
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• Analytical Essay # 28877 : "Odysseus"

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