A plan takes shape among the gods, and action finally replaces delay. With Odysseus’ return now agreed upon, Athene proposes a division of labor that will set both father and son on their paths homeward.

In this passage from The Odyssey, Athene urges Zeus to send Hermes to Ogygia to command Calypso to release Odysseus, while she herself prepares to intervene in Ithaca. Disguised as a mortal stranger, she descends from Olympus to stir resolve in Telemachus and confront the disorder consuming his father’s household.

This moment matters because it marks the first direct intervention of the gods in human affairs—Odysseus’ long return is no longer abstract, and Telemachus’ story is about to begin.

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Odyssey is a daily podcast reading one page at a time from Homer’s classic epic — every day. Whether you’re starting from the beginning or joining mid-journey, each episode brings you deeper into the story of The Odyssey.