Divine Interventions In Homer's Odyssey

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Importance of the Divine Interventions
What is mankind without the gods? In Homer’s epic poem The “Odyssey”, the gods are constantly looking over the world and in particular, Odysseus. Odysseus is always being watched over by many gods and their interferences with him have shown their importance to the epic poem. In the “Odyssey”, the whole plot revolves around the gods and their aid and interference on Odysseus’s journey back home. Gods such as Poseidon, Hermes, and Athena have intervened and caused many conflicts and resolutions in Odysseus’s journey.
The god of the sea’s, the all mighty Poseidon. Being one of the 12 Olympians and having immense power in his hands, allows him to do almost anything in Odysseus’s journey back home. With the …show more content…

As Odysseus admires and prays to Athena, she also gives her gratitude back by not only intervening and aiding Odysseus but also helping his son Telemachus. Athena is also a positive factor in the “Odyssey” that helps the Odysseus reach his goals no matter what. However she is very limited with her power as in she cannot fulfill Odysseus’s full wishes due to Poseidon and Zeus having more authority and power over her. However she still tries to assist Odysseus and his struggling family.” This is shown when Athena gives an advice to Telemachus who is searching for his father, “Athena goes to Telemachus and tells him to return home. She warns him of the suitors' plot to kill him and advises him to stay with the swineherd for a night. Telemachus does as she bids.” In this quote, not only do readers see how Athena intervenes into Odysseus kingdom and family by looking over them, but she possibly has saved Telemachus life by warning him of the hostile suitors. Athena is also very helpful in her intervention when Odysseus returns back to Ithaca by using her magic to turn Odysseus into an old man, “She disguises him as an old man, so that he can surprise the suitors, and then urges him to visit his faithful swineherd, Eumaeus-- Telemachus returns home, and Odysseus and the swineherd soon follow. Odysseus is still disguised as a beggar.” This smart decision that was done by Athena contributed to Odysseus’s cunning and dangerous mission to get back to his mourning wife. Not only did Athena save Odysseus’s life once more, but she has given him the chance to reunite with his family and kingdom. Athena, for this reason, would have to be the biggest and most important divine intervention in the

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