And athena handed down her treaties of peace between both sides for all the old ages to come b24. The millenniaold model of mentorship in the odyssey the atlantic. In books athena acts as a mentor to telemachus just as she has done for odysseuess so often in his journeys. Archetypes and the odyssey by kenneth mckee on prezi. We both know tricks, since you are by far the best among all men in counsel and tales, but i among all the gods have renown for wit metis and tricks. Students will begin by reflecting on the contemporary meaning of the word mentor in the context of related words e. Mentor can be confusing in the odyssey since the name either refers to mentor, the elderly ithakan, or mentor, athene in yet another guise. Athena encourages telemachus to pay close attention to how nestor acts and to be bold in his questions about odysseus. The ancient greeks saw a divine component in such guidance. Imagine how much easier everyones life would be if the gods werent so into these mindgames. Athena in the odyssey full free lesson naturezvous. In homers classic epic poem, the odyssey, mentor greek.
Thats exactly what athena, as the goddess of intelligence, does in her relationship with telemachus. Athena, goddess of war and patroness of the arts and industry. As mere humans, we cannot approach the mythic proportions of athenas arts of mentoring. He is odysseus friend and literal mentor, and is wellrespected, so much so that gods often impersonated him. The millenniaold model of mentorship in the odyssey the.
The goddess of wisdom athena took the form of mentor when she appeared in front of. The role of disguise in the odyssey is used to assist characters in accomplishing their plans. Too athena, our world is not like her own world of gods and goddess she can walk freely in any form, even the face of characters who have long past from the world of the characters in the odyssey. Athena as mentes notes that odysseus will return to. Look at some of the scenes in the odyssey where they interact and describe their relationship in some detail, giving specific examples from more than one book of the odyssey. The mighty goddess of wisdom and strategy and daughter of zeus, athena play a significant role throughout the odyssey. Oct, 2017 the odysseys millenniaold model of mentorship. In the action of the odyssey, from the time ulysses leaves calypsos isle to the final truce in ithaca, athena likewise aids her favorite, both directly after his arrival on ithaca and indirectly among the phaeacians.
Her role as goddess of the womanly arts gets very little attention in the odyssey. Although telemachus has little experience with public speaking, mentor gives him the encouragement that he needs to approach nestor, the citys king, and ask him about odysseus. Athenas gifts of spinning, weaving, wisdom, and defensive war all come in to. When odysseus left for the trojan war, he placed mentor and eumaeus odysseus fosterbrother in charge of his son telemachus, and of odysseus palace. During the slaughter, athene arrives in the guise of mentor and is implored by both sides to help them. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. It would seem that the whole of ithaca was set against their king, until the intervention of zeus and athena, brings forth a peaceful culmination to the epic poem. Athena daughter of zeus and goddess of wisdom, purposeful battle, and the womanly arts. Athenamentor is a helpful guide to the princes decorum and always aware that telemachus must quickly become a man and a warrior.
In book i of the odyssey, athena dresses as odysseus trusted old friend, mentor, so she can. Since then, wise and trusted advisers have been called mentors. The word itself was inspired by the character of mentor in homers odyssey in greek mythology, mentor greek. Athena works hard throughout the odyssey to help odysseus in any way that she can. Time and time again, athena in her role as mentor urged him on with winging words so that telemachus had the confidence and courage to embark and succeed. In the odyssey, by homer, many of the characters such as odysseus and athena craftily use the art of deception throughout the poem. Athena doesnt just allow odysseus to get off scotfree for his actions. Athena character analysis in the odyssey litcharts. In addition to hospitality, two themes dominate the visit with nestor. The college has more than 50,000 alumni working in myriad careers and around the country. The mentor must deploy an arsenal of tactics to help the mentee battle through obstacles. Apr 24, 2019 in book i of the odyssey, athena dresses as odysseus trusted old friend, mentor, so she can give telemachus advice.
One story the odyssey tells is the adventures of a young man named telemachus and an old man named mentor. Ulysses and athena a thena is ulysses special patron. She protects the four friends from the spears of the suitors. And athena handed down her pacts of peace between both sides for all the years to come b24. She wants him to start hunting for his missing father, odysseus. He is mentioned in the odyssey in book i, the goddess athena disguises herself as mentes, an old family friend of odysseus, when she goes to visit his son, telemachus. She intervenes in his life, which is very misdirected at the time, when hes not sure about anything. Athenas mentoring of telemachus in the odyssey, in sage business cases, sage publications ltd. The odyssey is a work without prolonged periods of literary question or doubt. At pylos, telemachus and mentor athena in disguise witness an impressive religious ceremony in which dozens of bulls are sacrificed to poseidon, the god of the sea.
Athena often appears in disguise, most significantly as mentor, the family friend and adviser who instructs telemachus in his fathers absence. Homers ancient epic can make you a better mentor, a better sponsor, and a more effective leader in todays networkdriven world. Athena disguises herself as a mortal so that may be treated as a mortal, giving advice to other men, as opposed to a god giving orders. The name is derived from a character found in homers odyssey named mentor in greek. Athena is confident, practical, clever, a master of disguises, and a great warrior, characteristics she finds reflected in telemachus. Nestor has little information about odysseus, but he relates the story of. Athena disguises herself as mentor to get telemachus a ship to find out more about odysseus and what has happened to him. Athena, disguised as him, tells telemachus that he is sailing to the city of temese with his own crew, claiming that he is. I can recognize archetypes in epic poetry and other storytelling. Athena mentor is a helpful guide to the princes decorum and always aware that telemachus must quickly become a man and a warrior. Drawing upon the wisdom of athena as mentor in homers odyssey. Telemachus and athena, disguised as mentor, reach pylos, king nestors land, and witness an enormous ceremony in which 4,500 people are sacrificing dozens of bulls to the god poseidon. In old age, he was a close friend of odysseus, who placed mentor in responsibility of his son telemachus, while the hero was away fighting at the trojan war.
Athena, disguised again as mentor, decides to put a stop to the violence. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance. When odysseus left for the trojan war, he placed mentor and eumaeus odysseus swineherd in charge of his son telemachus, and of odysseus palace. In this famous epic, a character named mentor actually disguised as the goddess of wisdom, athena, instructs odysseus son, telemachus, that he must stand up against his enemies, and search for knowledge. Mentor comrade in arms of the prince odysseus leokritos euenors son athena zeus daughter the goddess with gray eyes grayeyed grayeyed godess pallas athena grayeyed daughter or zeus tireless child of zeus eurykleia the serving woman granddaughter of peisenor the nurse the dear old nurse noemon phronios wealthy son. Athena, disguised once more as mentor, decides to set a halt to the force. In the greek of the odyssey, a mentor is someone who instills a heroic mentality in somebody.
At troy, athena constantly stood by ulysses, loving and supporting him. Book 22 mentor again then athena changes into a swallow and perches in the rafters to watch the battle. Jul 26, 2010 mentor was a old man that odysseus left in charge of managing the kingdom when he was gone. Athena speaks up at mount olympus in the beginning on odysseus behalf and tells the other gods hes being held captive and needs help. The odyssey has many different archetypes that are still relevant in literature, film art, and theater. Nestor rehashes the story of what happened to agamemnon. Athena guides telemachus when he calls together the council to address the insult. The millenniaold model of mentorship in the odyssey.
Mentor was also responsible for telemachus education. He is odysseus friend and literal mentor, and is wellrespected, so much so that gods often. When athena visited telemachus, she took the disguise of mentor to hide herself from the suitors of telemachuss mother penelope. Throughout the odyssey, homers characters refer to agamemnons story several. A mentee may leave a mentor, but a true mentor will never leave a mentee. Athena as mentes notes that odysseus will return to make the suitors pay. In the odyssey, athena is the divine benefactor of odysseus, king of ithaca, and his family. This is the first time odysseus meets mentor after his return to ithaca. The bond between them arises from the similarities of their natures. So mentes, mentor, telemachus, vulture, iphthime, dymas daughter, phaikian man, shepherd boy, woman, swallow. Because of mentor s relationship with telemachus, and the disguised athena s encouragement and practical plans for dealing with personal dilemmas, the personal name mentor has been adopted in english as a term meaning someone who imparts wisdom to and shares knowledge with a less experienced colleague. Mentor was the son of alcimus in greek mythology, who appeared in the homeric epic the odyssey.
Analyze how complex characters develop over the course of the text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme. Odyssey mentoring program columbia college alumni association. Look at some of the scenes in the odyssey where they interact and describe their relationship in some detail, giving specific examples from more than one book of the odyssey list at least six of the women, mortal and divine in the odyssey and write a brief description of each one. Poseidonon the other hand works hard to oppose him. Athena makes the ithacans forget the massacre of their children and recognize odysseus as king. This case study illustrates the crucial importance of mentoring in the process of becoming a leader by examining the story of telemachus, son of odysseus, in the ancient greek epic, the odyssey.
Penelope works at the loom all the time but rarely sees athena, and then usually only in dreams. The odyssey mentoring program was founded on the belief that columbia college students and alumni want to support one another, share stories and encourage one anothers success, thus creating a strong and tightknit community. We provide individualized, genuine guidance for families seeking the highest quality academic counseling. In homers the odyssey, what disguise does athena use. In the odyssey, however, she is a consistent supporter of odysseus, intervening repeatedly on behalf of the hero and his son, telemachus. Athena must go against her uncle in order to get odysseus safely home, and once there make sure that restores the peace in his home. In his old age mentor was a friend of odysseus who placed mentor and odysseus fosterbrother eumaeus in charge of. Why does athena disguise herself as mentor in the odyssey. As is often the case, mentor here is athena in disguise. Mentor definition is a friend of odysseus entrusted with the education of odysseus son telemachus. She is also adept at changing the appearance of humans. Mentoring in europe has existed since at least ancient greek times.
The term mentor goes all the way back to homers classic, the odyssey. Indeed, the word mentor comes from athenas alter ego mentor in the odysseya genderbending guise she assumes to guide telemachus toward his father and his own maturation. Peace is restored to the palace of odysseus and athenas mission is finally complete. The word itself was inspired by the character of mentor in homers odyssey. Deception is a practice that is meant to mislead by false appearance or statement. Indeed, the word mentor comes from athenas alter ego mentor in the odyssey a genderbending guise she assumes to guide telemachus. You have to be careful in the odyssey, because theres always that chance that youre inadvertently ticking off some immortal with powerful connectionslike a close family tie to the god of the sea. The following are examples of how everything is essentially foreshadowed for the audience. Athena character timeline in the odyssey the timeline below shows where the character athena appears in the odyssey. She often appears in disguise as mentor, an old friend of odysseus. What homers odyssey can teach us about mentors and.
Analysis of athena in the odyssey english literature essay. To him odysseus entrusted his household when he joined the coalition that sailed against troy. Get everything you need to know about athena in the odyssey. Athena assists odysseus and telemachus with divine powers throughout the epic, and. Mentorathena in homers odyssey mentor first appeared in the odyssey when, late in life, he was placed in charge of odysseuss son telemachus when the legendary king of ithaca left to fight. The path to college is a wonderful opportunity for a young person to discover the answers to the two big questions. Mentor is mentioned nineteen times and makes ten appearances in the odyssey. In old age, he was a close friend of odysseus, who pla. She waits for father and son to prove themselves worthy of her aid. She advocates for odysseus before the council of the gods on mount olympus, and she provides odysseus and his son with sage advice, most often in the form of the aged man, mentor, as the two confront lifes battles. The word mentor meaning someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person comes from the ancient greek language. Mentor was a old man that odysseus left in charge of managing the kingdom when he was gone. The goddess of wisdom athena took the form of mentor when she appeared in front of telemachus. When the goddess athena decided it was time to complete the education of young telemachus, she visited him disguised as mentor and they.
Athena believes in free will, learning from your mistakes, and in evolving into the best version of yourself. Athena still disguised as mentor tells him that he is wrong. So athena, the impeccable trip planner, remembers to shower sweet oblivion over the suitors homer 105 so that telemachus, mentor, and. Athena assists odysseus and telemachus with divine powers throughout the epic, and she speaks up for them in the councils of the gods on mount olympus. Odyssey serves as a springboard to examine current literature on mentoring, especially as this literature may be used to. What homers odyssey can teach us about mentors and sponsors. Clytemnestra had an affair with aigisthos while agamemnon was away fighting. Odysseus has killed many of the most noble males in ithaca, as well as having caused the deaths of all those who crewed his twelve ships.
The odyssey tells the story of a man trying to return home to his family after the battle of troy. The odyssey from greek mythology greek legends and myths. Athena makes the ithacans forget the slaughter of their kids and acknowledge odysseus as male monarch. Some of the archetypes include the trickster, the mentor, the temptress and the underworld archetype. Athena, assuming several times the shape of mentor 4, became the guide of odysseus son telemachus, giving him prudent counsel.