# Pallas Athene — The Odyssey character guide

> Pallas Athene in The Odyssey by Homer.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Pallas, Minerva, blue-eyed Pallas, mighty Pallas

**First appearance:** 0001-the-odyssey

## Snapshot

The blue-eyed goddess of wisdom, who champions Ulysses and Telemachus with disguises, counsel, and a spear that fells whole ranks of heroes.

## Who they are

Athene is the divine strategist who pleads Ulysses' case before Jove and then descends to Ithaca disguised as Mentor to stir Telemachus into action. She admires cunning because she embodies it, and she guides the mortal plot with a patron's fierce, sometimes partisan care. Without her interventions—omens, disguises, borrowed courage—neither father nor son would find the road home or the nerve to take it.

## Relationships

### [Ulysses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_odyssey_se/characters/ulysses)

_friendship_

Pallas Athene is the divine patron and protector of Ulysses, guiding and advising him throughout his journey.

### [Telemachus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_odyssey_se/characters/telemachus)

_friendship_

Pallas Athene mentors and encourages Telemachus, guiding him to maturity and helping him reunite with his father.

### [Jove](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_odyssey_se/characters/jove)

_family_

Jove is the father of Pallas Athene, and they interact as divine parent and child, often discussing mortal affairs.

### [Ulysses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_odyssey_se/characters/ulysses)

_friendship_

Pallas Athene is the divine patron and protector of Ulysses, guiding and advising him throughout his journey.

### [Jove](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_odyssey_se/characters/jove)

_family_

Jove is the father of Pallas Athene, and they interact as divine parent and child, often discussing mortal affairs.

### [Telemachus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_odyssey_se/characters/telemachus)

_friendship_

Pallas Athene mentors and encourages Telemachus, guiding him to maturity and helping him reunite with his father.

### [Ulysses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_odyssey_se/characters/ulysses)

_friendship_

Pallas Athene is the divine patron and protector of Ulysses, guiding and advising him throughout his journey.

### [Telemachus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_odyssey_se/characters/telemachus)

_friendship_

Pallas Athene mentors and encourages Telemachus, guiding him to maturity and helping him reunite with his father.

## In the story

### [The Odyssey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_odyssey_se/chapters/the-odyssey)

The goddess who aids Ulysses and Telemachus throughout their journeys.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_odyssey_se/characters/pallas_athene
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_odyssey_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_odyssey_se/characters