Monday, May 31, 2010

In the Odyssey, how does Athena help Odysseus right after he returns to Ithaca so that he can meet his swineherd?

When Odysseus finally returns to Ithaca, Athena helps him by disguising him so that he will not be recognized by anyone before his plans for revenge on the suitors are ready. She first assures him that she has helped Telemachus to win a noble name for himself by going to search for news of Odysseus, and then she touches the hero with her wand, turning him into a very old-looking man. Her touch shrivels his flesh, thins him, makes his blond hair all disappear, and changes his skin so that it grows quite wrinkled and aged-looking. She has told him where to seek his noble swineherd, Eumaeus, who has guarded Odysseus's estate as best he could in his master's absence, and so Odysseus follows her directions.

No comments:

Post a Comment