The intervention of Athena as an indispensable condition for Odysseus’s return to Ithaca

Abstract

This study aims to analyze how the interventions of the goddess Athena manifest throughout the Odyssey, considering that her presence is essential for Odysseus’s return to Ithaca. The role of the divinities in the Homeric epics proves to be an essential element in the construction of the heroic narrative, since the gods frequently influence earthly events, saving heroes from death, guiding them in decisive moments, or inspiring courage so that they may persist in their journeys. These divine interferences appear both in the Iliad and in the Odyssey, functioning as a constant link between the human and divine worlds. In the Iliad, the gods show partiality toward certain heroes, assisting, advising, or even intervening directly in battles. In the Odyssey, however, such influence is more directly centered on Athena, who plays a fundamental role as Odysseus’s protector and guide. As Jaeger (1994) points out, the hero’s piety toward the gods is a striking trait of his personality, and this reverence attracts the goddess’s benevolence, as she takes pity on his suffering and strives to help him return to his homeland. The analysis of Athena’s actions throughout the epic poem reveals not only the prominence of the deity in guiding the narrative but also the core values of Greek culture, such as philia, areté, and the importance of divine favor in the fulfillment of the heroic destiny.