Now that Athena has been given the permission to aid Odysseus she begins to help him get back home.
While he was at sea Athena protected Odysseus. Athena had a plan for Odysseus; she did not want him to die at sea because that was not his fate. When Odysseus hears the voice of Athena, he somehow manages to have the strength to correctly respond to the different situations he is in, which consequently save his life. Homer shows us that not only is Athena physically strong, but her words are laced with strength as well. .
The most powerful part of the epic is the final battle that takes place between Odysseus and the suitors. However, this section would not have ended positively for Odysseus if Athena were not involved. While Odysseus was away from home, Athena had been preparing Telemachus for this battle. Like every hero, Odysseus needed a companion and Athena felt that Telemachus should fulfill that role. Odysseus would not have been able to defeat the suitors without his help, which explains why Athena equipped Telemachus to assist his father. As they were readying themselves to fight, Odysseus began to become afraid. He did not think that he would be able to ward off the armed men that stood in front of him. Athena was extremely upset with Odysseus for his cowardice, and her "anger grew like a storm wind as he spoke" (XXII 247). Filled with words of wrath she proceeded to "flash out at Odysseus" (XXII 248). "Ah, what a falling off! Where is your valor, where is the iron hand that fought at Troy for Helen, pearl of kings, no respite and nine years of war?.How is it now that on your own door sill, before the harriers of your wife, you curse your luck- (XXII 249-257). These few lines make up one of the most outstanding passages in the entire epic. The language that Homer uses here to compose this section allows the reader to hear the intensity and passion of Athena's voice.