Ancient Literature in our Modern World

One of the main themes we we will notice a lot in the Odyssey is disguises so I would like to focus on the importance of disguises and help you notice this reoccurring theme throughout the books. We see, early on, the power Athena has to transform and use disguises to communicate with Telemachus. Often, in Greek literature, the gods take form of something or someone else to communicate with mortals. Personally, I would say that it’s very interesting how very rarely a human will see the true form of a god. The quote that stood out to me is on page 30, lines 103-112. It states,

lighted in the land of Ithaka, at the doors of Odysseus
at the threshold of the court, and in her hand was the bronze spear.
She was disguised as a friend, leader of the Taphians, Mentes.
There she found the haughty suitors. They at the moment
in front of the doors were amusing their spirits with draughts games,
sitting about on skins of cattle whom they had slaughtered
themselves, and about them, of their heralds and hard-working henchmen,
some at the mixing bowls were combining wine and water,
while others again with porous sponges were wiping the tables
and setting them out, and others cutting meat in quantities.

This quote is about Athena disguising herself and taking the form of Mentes when she enters Odysseus’ home. In Odysseus’ home, Athena notices all the suitors who have taken advantage of Penelope and of their hospitality. There is alcohol present and they are eating all of Odysseus’ food. We know that Athena wanted to tell Telemachus, Odysseus’ son, that his father is alive. However, why do you think she needed to disguise herself? Couldn’t she have just kicked out the suitors herself? Does this hiding undermine her power as a powerful god or do you think a male god would bother to disguise himself?