Mortal · Character in Homer’s Odyssey
Mentor
Old friend left in charge
Upright and outspoken; the one Ithacan who says the obvious thing.
Odysseus put his household in Mentor's hands when he sailed for Troy, and the old man is one of the few Ithacans who speak up for Telemachus in the assembly. Athena borrows his shape so often that his name has outlasted him.
Bonds
- Mentor loyal to Odysseus — entrusted with his household
- Athena guise of Mentor — borrows his shape and voice
Appears in
- Book II Departure of Telemachus from Ithaca
Scenes
- Mentor’s Rebuke — Book II. Mentor rebukes Ithacans, Leiocritus ends it
- Prayer to Athena — Book II. Telemachus prays by shore, Athena answers
- Athena Readies the Ship — Book II. As Telemachus, Athena dulls suitors’ wits
- Landing at Pylos — Book III. Telemachus, Mentor arrive at Poseidon’s rite
- Athena Urges Boldness — Book III. Athena urges Telemachus to approach Nestor
- The Full Tale of Murder — Book III. Nestor tells of Aegisthus, Menelaus’s voyage
- Antinoüs Presses for Details — Book IV. Antinoüs learns Mentor led the crew
- Marketplace and Piraeus — Book XVII. Telemachus meets Piraeus, Theoclymenus
- Mentor’s Disguise — Book XXII. Athena arrives as Mentor, Agelaus threatens
- Athena Tests Odysseus — Book XXII. Athena rebukes Odysseus, deflects spear
- Medon Defends Odysseus — Book XXIV. Medon says a god aided Odysseus
- Halitherses Urges Peace — Book XXIV. Halitherses urges peace, ignored
- Mentor Rallies Kin — Book XXIV. Odysseus urges Telemachus, Laertes rejoices
- Peace Restored — Book XXIV. Athena restrains Odysseus, seals peace