Athena in Homer's Odyssey 1
[44] Then the Goddess, bright-eyed Athena, answered him:
[45] -Father of us all, you son of Cronus, high above all lords, yes, truly that man lies low in a destruction that is his due; so, too, may any other also be destroyed who does such deeds.
But my heart is torn for wise Ulysses, unfortunate man, who far from his friends has long been suffering afflictions [50] in a sea-encircled island, where is the navel of the sea.
It's a wooded island, and there resides a Goddess, daughter of Atlas of baneful mind, who knows the depths of every sea, and himself holds the tall pillars which keep earth and heaven apart.
[55] It is his daughter who keeps back that wretched, sorrowing man; and ever with soft and wheedling words she charms him that he may forget Ithaca.
But Ulysses, in his longing to see were it but the smoke leaping up from his own land, wishes to die.
Yet your [60] heart do not regard it, Olympian. Did not Ulysses beside the ships of the Argives offer you sacrifice without limitation of supply or effort in the broad land of Troy?
For what reason then did you conceive such wrath against him, O Zeus.
Then Zeus, the cloud-gatherer, answered her and said:
-My child, what a word has escaped the barrier of your teeth?
[65] How should I, then, forget godlike Ulysses, who is beyond all mortals in wisdom, and beyond all has paid sacrifice to the immortal Gods, who hold broad heaven?
No, it is Poseidon, the earth-enfolder, who is ever filled with stubborn wrath because of the Cyclops, whom Ulysses blinded of his eye-- [70] even the godlike Polyphemus, whose might is greatest among all the Cyclopes; and the nymph Thoosa bore him, daughter of Phorcys who rules over the unresting sea; for in the excavated caves she lay with Poseidon.
From that time forth Poseidon, the earth-shaker, [75] does not indeed slay Ulysses, but makes him a wanderer from his native land.
But come, let us who are here all take thought of his return, that he may come home; and Poseidon will let go his anger, for he will in no wise be able, against all the immortal Gods and in their despite, to contend alone.
2) Homer Odyssey 1.80
[80] Then the Goddess, bright-eyed Athena, answered him:
-Father of us all, you son of Cronus, high above all lords, if indeed this is now well pleasing to the blessed Gods, that the wise Ulysses should return to his own home, let us send forth Hermes, the messenger, Argeiphontes, [85] to the island Ogygia, that with all speed he may declare to the fair-tressed nymph our fixed decision, even the return of Ulysses of the constant heart, that he may come home.
But, as for me, I will go to Ithaca, that I may the more arouse his son, and set courage in his heart [90] to call to an assembly the long-haired Achaeans, and speak out his word to all the suitors, who are ever slaying his thronging sheep and his well-fed cows of shambling gait.
And I will guide him to Sparta and to sandy Pylos, to seek news of the return of his dear father, if unfortunately he may hear of it, [95] that good report may be his among men.
So she spoke, and bound under her feet her beautiful sandals, immortal, golden, which were accustomed to bear her both over the waters of the sea and over the boundless land swift as the blasts of the wind.
And she took her mighty spear, tipped with sharp bronze, [100] heavy and large and strong, with which she vanquishes the ranks of men--of warriors, with whom she is wroth, she, the daughter of the mighty sire.
Then she went rapidly down from the heights of Olympus, and took her stand in the land of Ithaca at the outer gate of Ulysses, on the threshold of the court.
In her hand she held the spear of bronze, [105] and she was in the likeness of a stranger, Mentes, the leader of the Taphians. There she found the proud suitors.
3) Homer Odyssey 1.118
Her the godlike Telemachus was far the first to see, for he was sitting among the suitors, sad at heart, [115] seeing in thought his noble father, should he perchance come from somewhere and make a dispersion of the suitors in the palace, and himself win honor and rule over his own house.
As he thought of these things, sitting among the suitors, he saw Athena, and he went straight to the outer door; for in his heart he counted it shame [120] that a stranger should stand long at the gates.
So, drawing near, he clasped her right hand, and took from her the spear of bronze; and he spoke, and addressed her with winged words:
-Hail, stranger; in our house you shall find entertainment and then, when you has tasted food, you shall tell of what you has need.
4) Homer Odyssey 1.125
[125] So saying, he led the way, and Pallas Athena followed.
And when they were within the imposing height house, he bore the spear and set it against a tall pillar in a polished spear-rack, where were set many spears besides, even those of Ulysses of the constant heart.
5) Homer Odyssey 1.130
[130] Athena herself he led and seated on a chair, spreading a linen cloth beneath--a beautiful chair, richly-worked, and below was a footstool for the feet.
Beside it he placed for himself an inlaid seat, apart from the others, the suitors, for fear that the stranger, vexed by their distracting noise, should regard with disgust the meal, seeing that he was in the company of arrogant men; [135] and also that he might ask him about his father that was gone.
6) Homer Odyssey 1.156
But Telemachus spoke to bright-eyed Athena, holding his head close, that the others might not hear:
-Dear stranger, will you be angry with me for the word that I shall say?
These men care for things like these, the lyre and song, [160] full easily, seeing that without expiation they devour the livelihood of another, of a man whose white bones, it may be, rot in the rain as they lie upon the mainland, or the wave rolls them in the sea.
Were they to see him returned to Ithaca, they would all pray to be quicker of foot, [165] rather than richer in gold and in clothing.
But now he has thus perished by an evil fate, nor for us is there any comfort, no, not though any one of men upon the earth should say that he will come; gone is the day of his returning.
But come, tell me this, and declare it truly. [170] Who are you among men, and from what place ? Where is your city and where your parents? On what manner of ship did you come, and how did sailors bring you to Ithaca? Who did they declare themselves to be? For in no manner, it seems to me , did you come to this place on foot.
And tell me this also truly, that I may know full well, [175] whether this is the first coming to this place, or whether you are indeed a friend of my father's house. For many were the men who came to our house as strangers, since he, too, had gone to and fro among men.
7) Homer Odyssey 1.178
Then the Goddess, bright-eyed Athena, answered him:
-Therefore of a truth will I frankly tell you all.
[180] I declare that I am Mentes, the son of wise Anchialus, and I am lord over the oar-loving Taphians. And now have I put in here, as you see, with ship and crew, while sailing over the wine-dark sea to men of strange speech, on my way to Temese for copper; and I bear with me shining iron. [185] My ship lies over there beside the fields away from the city, in the harbor of Rheithron, under woody Neion.
Friends of one another do we declare ourselves to be, even as our fathers were, friends from of old. Or rather, if you will, go and ask the old warrior Laertes, who, they say, [190] comes no more to the city, but afar in the fields suffers bitter griefs attended by an aged woman as his servant, who sets before him food and drink, after weariness has laid hold of his limbs, as he creeps along the slope of his vineyard plot.
And now am I come, for of a truth men said that he, [195] your father, was among his people; but look, the Gods are frustrating him of his return.
For not yet has goodly Ulysses perished on the earth, but still, I think, he lives and is held back on the broad sea in a sea-encircled island, and cruel men keep him, a savage folk, that constrain him, chance severe against his will.
[200] Or rather, I will now prophesy to you, as the immortals put it in my heart, and as I think it shall be brought to pass, though I am in no wise a diviner, nor one versed in the signs of birds.
Not much longer shall he be absent from his dear native land, no, not though bonds of iron hold him. [205] He will manage a way to return, for he is a man of many devices.
But come, tell me this and declare it truly, whether indeed, tall as you are, you are the son of Ulysses himself. Wondrously like his are your head and beautiful eyes; for full often did we consort with one another [210] before he embarked for the land of Troy, where others, too, the bravest of the Argives, went in their excavated ships. But since that day neither have I seen Ulysses, nor he me.
8) Homer Odyssey 1.221
Then the Goddess, bright-eyed Athena, answered him:
-Surely, then, no nameless lineage have the Gods appointed for you in time to come, seeing that Penelope bore you such as you are.
But come, tell me this and declare it truly. [225] What feast, what crowd is this? What need has you of it? Is it a drinking session, or a wedding feast? For this plainly is no meal to which each brings his portion, with such outrage and arrogance do they seem to me to be feasting in your living room. Angered would a man be at seeing all these shameful acts, any man of sense who should come among them.
9) Homer Odyssey 1.252
Then, moved to anger, Pallas Athena spoke to him:
-Out on it! You have of a truth severe need of Ulysses that is gone, that he might put forth his hands upon the shameless suitors.
[255] Would that he might come now and take his stand at the outer gate of the house, with helmet and shield and two spears, such a man as he was when I first saw him in our house drinking and making merry, on his way back from Ephyre, from the house of Ilus, son of Mermerus.
[260] For towards that place, too, went Ulysses in his quick ship in search of a deadly drug, that he might have with to smear his bronze-tipped arrows; yet Ilus gave it not to him, for he stood in wonder of the Gods that are forever; but my father gave it, for he held him strangely dear.
[265] Would, I say, that in such strength Ulysses might come among the suitors; then should they all find quick destruction and bitterness in their suit.
Yet these things really lie on the knees of the Gods, whether he shall return and wreak vengeance in his living room, or whether he shall not; but for yourself, I order you take thought [270] how you may force forth the suitors from the living room.
Come now, give ear, and listen attentively to my words. Tomorrow call to an assembly the Achaean lords, and speak out your word to all, and let the Gods be your witnesses.
As for the suitors, order them to disperse, each to his own; [275] and for your mother, if her heart orders her marry, let her go back to the living room of her mighty father, and there they will prepare a wedding feast, and make ready the gifts full many--yes, all that should follow after a well-loved daughter. And to yourself will I give wise counsel, if you will listen attentively.
10) Homer Odyssey 1.314
Then the Goddess, bright-eyed Athena, answered him:
[315] -Stop me now no longer, when I am eager to be gone, and whatever gift your heart orders you give me, give it when I come back, to bear to my home, choosing a right beautiful one; it shall bring you its worth in return.
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