Which god or goddess is particularly invested in Odysseus' fate and frequently intervenes on his and his family's behalf?

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Question restatement: Which god or goddess is particularly invested in Odysseus' fate and frequently intervenes on his and his family's behalf?

Option 1: Hermes
- Hermes does intervene in Odysseus' journey on occasion, such as delivering messages or aiding in specific moments (e.g., convincing Calypso to release Odysseus). However, he is not the deity most consistently involved in Odysseus' fate or his family’s welfare across the epic. His role is more auxiliary and episodic rather than central throughout the Odyssey.

Option 2: Poseidon
- Poseidon is deeply concerned with Odysseus due to the blinding of his son Polyphemus, and he actively hinders Odysseus’ voyage home for a large portion of the epic. Though Poseidon is a significant antagonist, his interventions are primarily punitive and adversarial rather than supportive of Odysseus’ fate or his family’s well-being. This makes him more of an obstacle than a frequent advocate.

Option 3: Hera
- Hera is not a central figure in the Odyssey’s narrative regarding Odysseus’ fate. Her involvement is limited compared to major Olympian figures like Athena and Zeus, and she does not repeatedly intervene on Odysseus’ and Telemachus’ behalf within the text. This makes her a less plausible answer for the described role.

Option 4: Athena
- Athena is the clearest fit for the description. She is portrayed as Odysseus’ staunch advocate among the gods, often appearing in disguise or as a guiding voice for both Odysseus and his son Telemachus. Her interventions are frequent, protective, and aimed at aiding their safe return and resolution of their problems, reflecting a sustained, personal investment in Odysseus’ fate and his family’s welfare.

In summary, while Hermes has moments of help, Poseidon creates ongoing obstacles, Hera’s presence is relatively limited, and Athena consistently acts as Odysseus’ patron and proponent. Therefore, Athena is the god most invested in Odysseus’ fate and most regularly intervenes on his and his family’s behalf.

CLAS 2220 AU2025 (16301) Quiz 9 (Nov 3-7)

Which god or goddess is particularly invested in Odysseus' fate and frequently intervenes on his and his family's behalf?

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