Direct Actions in the Odyssey (chronological)
Magical
force involves changes of appearance, small-scale physical manipulations, and
minor distractions.
Natural force
involves large-scale manipulation of massive natural objects, like the sea or
the sun.
Inspirational
force involves manipulating the mental state of a character by giving them
ideas, sending dreams to speak to them, or changing their reactions to certain
things.
Overt
actions require that the mortal(s) in question be fully aware they are
interacting with a god. Lastly, when
Athena is fully incognito, the mortal in question is briefly named or
described.
Action/Event |
Form /Method |
Location (Home) |
Book (Fagles) |
|
|
|
|
Events of |
(N/A) |
|
Previous |
TIME GAP: Odysseus journeys |
(Absent) |
? |
|
Advocates for Odysseus in Olympian council |
(Self) |
|
Book One |
Appears to Telemachus, suggests
an island council |
Mentes |
|
|
Puts glamour on Telemachus
for council meeting |
Magical |
|
Book Two |
Encourages Telemachus
again |
|
() |
|
Goes into town disguised, arranges journey |
Telemachus |
|
|
Sedates suitors |
Magical |
|
|
Summons a sailing wind |
Natural |
|
|
Departs with Telemachus
for Nestors house |
|
|
|
Inspires Telemachus
speech to Nestor |
Magical |
Pylos
(Nestor) |
Book Three |
Departs Nestors house with commands of charity |
(Overt) Eagle |
|
|
Attends her own sacrifice |
|
|
|
Comforts Penelope when suitors discover absence |
Inspirational (Dream) |
|
Book Four |
Advocates in council again; Hermes sent to Calypso |
(Self) |
|
Book Five |
Counters Poseidons storm /guides Odysseus to shore |
Natural |
Ocean |
|
Sends Odysseus to sleep on Phaeacias
shore |
Magical |
Phaeacia |
|
Rouses Nausicaa to her
washing |
Inspirational (Dream) |
(Alcinous) |
Book Six |
Leads Nausicaa to Odysseus
with ball |
Magical |
|
|
Places a glamour on Odysseus |
Magical |
|
|
Avoids responding directly to Odysseus prayer |
(Absent) |
|
|
Shrouds Odysseus in invisible fog |
Magical |
|
Book Seven |
Gives Odysseus directions and advice |
Phaeacian
girl |
|
|
Announces Odysseuss victory at discus |
Phaeacian
man |
|
Book Eight |
NARRATIVE GAP: Odysseus recounts his journeys |
(Absent) |
? |
Book Nine |
Disguises |
Magical |
|
Book Thirteen |
Appears to Odysseus, asks
him his origins |
Shepherd boy |
|
|
Reveals |
(Overt) Woman |
|
|
Dialogues with Odysseus |
(Overt) Woman |
|
|
Disguises Odysseus as
beggar |
Magical |
|
|
Goads Telemachus
home to Eumaeus |
(Overt) Voice |
|
Book Fifteen |
Returns to |
(self) |
|
|
Puts glamour on Odysseus for
Telemachus |
Magical |
|
Book Sixteen |
Makes suitors act cruelly
towards disguised Odysseus |
Inspirational |
(Odysseus) |
Book Eighteen |
Puts glamour on Penelope |
Magical |
() |
|
Inspires Penelope to
exploit the suitors |
Inspirational |
() |
|
Lights the hallway for Telemachus and Odysseus |
Magical |
() |
Book Nineteen |
Distracts Penelope from Eurycleias recognition |
Magical |
() |
|
Reprimands Odysseus for
lack of faith |
(Overt) Voice |
() |
Book Twenty |
Inspires cruelty and
hysterics on the part of the suitors |
Inspirational |
() |
|
Has Penelope bring out the
axes |
Inspirational |
() |
Book Twenty-One |
Rebuffs Odysseus, spurs
Odysseus to fight |
|
() |
Book Twenty-Two |
Retreats to rafters,
dazzles and deflects suitors |
(Overt) |
() |
|
Put glamour on Odysseus for
Penelope |
Magical |
() |
Book Twenty-Three |
Holds back the sunrise for
Odysseus and Penelope |
Natural |
() |
|
Puts a glamour on Laertes |
Magical |
|
Book Twenty-Four |
Petitions Zeus to end
fighting on |
(Self) |
|
|
Arrives to intervene with
the fight |
|
|
|
Sends Laertes
spear-throw to kill Eupithes |
Magical/Inspirational |
|
|
Commands an end to fighting |
|
|
|