The crowd gathers and sees Odysseus cast in a godly light by Athena. Ajax proudly announces to Athena that Odysseus is "cowering inside there, in chains. Analysis: Books 5-6 He is shown as very handsome and muscular. Athena is the most consistent aid to Odysseus on his journey. The theft, abduction , and rape of Helen is what led to the Trojan War. Odysseus Weaknesses - eNotes.com Athena disguised Odysseus so no one will recognize him. A good mortal woman is chaste unless married. Afraid of causing a scene if she walks into the city with a strange man at her side, Nausicaa gives Odysseus directions to the palace and advice on how to approach Arete, queen of the Phaeacians, when he meets her. When Odysseus returns, Penelope doesn't recognize him and cannot be sure that Odysseus is really who he says he is. Their princess, Nausicaa, who has a crush on the handsome warrior, opens the palace to the stranger. A familiar theme in many Greek classics is divine intervention. Athena may have prevented Penelope from recognizing her husband, but she did inspire the queen to choose a task for the suitors that only Odysseus would succeed at. Odysseus' one weakness appears to be his pride. S O HERE ODYSSEUS slept, overcome by sleep and toil; but Athena went off to the country and city of the Phaeacians—a people who used to live in the fair town of Hypereia, near the lawless Cyclopes. He sacrifices a ram to Zeus (9.550-555); he prays to the river god at the Phaiakians (5.445-454); he explains his misfortunes by saying "so it has pleased Zeus to arrange it" (9.262). What did Athena do for the beggar Odysseus? He appeared as a King of Ithaca and he was well known for his nobility and courage, but the most different character trait is his intellect. "The Odyssey" Part 2 Study Guide - Litchapter.com Odysseus - The protagonist of the Odyssey. Answer (1 of 7): Some answers seem to be a bit confused, so I'll try to be clear.