1.) Athena first appears in Homer's The Odyssey in Book 1 line 11 by reference from the narrator. She first appears by name in Book 1 line 53.
2.) Athena is a goddess, the daughter of the powerful Zeus. She is a character with great sympathy for immortals, such as Odysseus, whose struggles propel her to action. She feels the anguish of Telemachus, the son of Odysseus, as he grapples with the questions surrounding his ambigious lineage. She speaks wisely and convincingly, but I feel her greatest character trait thus far is her ability to be empathetic.
3.) Athena can be compared to the goddess Ninsun from the Epic of Gilgamesh. Ninsun is the mother of Gilgamesh. Both characters "adopt" a motherly position for an immortal that they did not birth. When Gilgamesh seeks her blessing to enter the Forest to destroy Humbaba, Ninsun is wise to acknowledge that this feat will take both Gigamesh and Enkidu acting as brothers to be successful. Enkidu, born of the earth and without a mother, is adopted by Ninsun and told to "be a brother for Gilgamesh" (102). Telemachus, who stands alone against the tormenting suitors, lacks the direction to bring about change. Athena's advice and guidance can be viewed as motherly, as it offers protection and a promise of a brighter future. She inspires him by saying that "You must not cling to your boyhood any longer--it's time you were a man" (1.341-42). This sounds to me like something a mother would say to her child.
4.) I believe Athena is a hero because she takes action to save Telemachus from his path towards an unheroic death, which is paved by his own inaction. She first dares to challenge the almighty Zeus that he does nothing to save Odysseus because he has "no care for him" in his "lofty heart" (1.73). A hero has to be brazen in their communications if they are to be respected and listened to. She instills this quality in Telemachus when she advises him to call an assembly and challenge the "suitors to scatter" (1.315). Nothing Telemachus has accomplished through the first few books of The Odyssey would be possible without the heroic Athena guiding him towards his own emergence as a hero.
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I would agree that Athena is a hero in this story. She essentially is the driving force between both Telemachus and Odysseus and has helped them numerous times already this far in the tale. "Just as that fear went churning through his mind a tremendous roller swept him toward the rocky coast where he'd have been flayed alive, his bones crushed if the bright-eyed goddess Pallas had not inspired him now." (lines 468-471 p165) That is but one instance where Athena has provided some sort of inner courage or "inspiration" to a character in this story in order to help Odysseuss reach Ithaca. Athena clearly shows many heroic qualities in the sense of already being a god, helping those in need and staying the wrath of those who wish to harm others, "But Zeus's daughter Athena countered him at once. The rest of the winds she stopped right in their tracks, commanding them all to hush now, go to sleep." (lines 421-423 p164)
Athena is deffinately a hero in this book. She alone has influenced Telemachus to go on a journey in search of his missing and presumed dead father. Athena is a hero so far in this book because she left her godliness behind and took on the persona of one of Odysseus’ friends Mentes and met with Telemachus in book one. She first scolded him for allowing these suitors treat his mother, his house, and his possessions like trash. Then she tells Telemachus that he should ask his mother if she wants to marry another man and that there will be a wedding if she chooses to marry. Finally, in book one lines 320-340, canto 22 and 23, she offers Telemachus to go to Pylos and Sparta to question the king and queen of each. If told his father is dead, Telemachus shall return home and “kill these suitors in your house…”(339). For these reasons, so far, Athena can be considered a hero.
I wholeheartedly agree with what has been said about the heroics of Athena. She has helped Telemachus and Odysseus throughout their journey. It is also important to include Alcinous’ daughter, Nausicaa to the list of characters who were helped by Athena. We find out that Nausicaa is on the verge of marriage, and has not prepared for her future. Concerned Athena says, “Look at your fine clothes, lying her neglected-with your marriage not far off…” (Line 29 p 169), making reference to the fact, that a great deal of work is needed for her marriage garments to be immaculate and ready for the ceremony. Essentially, Athena gave a strong push to Nausicaa to begin a crucial and important aspect to her life. Additionally with the drive that was gained, “Athena planted courage within her heart, dissolved the trembling in her limbs, and she firmly stood her ground” (line 153-154 p 172). I think it instills the fact that Athena is more of a hero then ever, she instinctively helps mortals and gives the characters an extra push that they need.
I feel that the observations here advancing Athena as a heroic figure are accumulatively convincing except for one consideration which may or may not have any bearing.
My question is whether a hero may be a god/dess, or, by the hero's inherent nature, must s/he be susceptible to mortality? I feel that all the acts of Athena in aiding Telemachus and Odysseus in their various adventures, including her rhetorically lobbying for O's rescue in the opening lines of Book 1: ("why, Zeus, why so dead set against Odysseus?" (75)), are as pday wrote, evidence of her empathetic heroism. But as a goddess she is immortal and perhaps may be construed as having nothing to loose? If this is the case, and I'm just supposing here, then is she really heroic for risking nothing?
I don't think this consideration really challenges her motivations. In 2.319 she tells Telemachus she is his and his father's friend. A friendship which is evidenced to be sincere and genuine by her actions. But a hero seems to me to be a figure that risks a part of him/herself for someone else, often times with the potential of loss of life or limb. If Athena can't be seen as risking anything significant in her efforts I wonder if she can be heroic in the full sense of the word? After all, she tells Telemachus, "It's light work for a willing god to save a mortal" (3.263).
I definitely agree that Athena would be a hero so far in this book. In the beginning she urges and convinces Telemachus to go on his long journey on finding his father. She helps Telemachus realize that having suitors in his father’s house was unacceptable and that his father would not have allowed that. She also helps him to build confidence and gain the strength he needs when he questions his blood line. She plays the role of a mother, for example when ever Telemachus has doubt she is there for reassurance. In book 5 Athena also appears to be a hero (line 421-428) when she helps Odysseus when he was in great need. After his ship crashed she reassured him with advice and she stops the winds so he can safely make it on the island where he later met the Princess.She gives him direction to the palace.
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