Part 6: The Battle Of Troy

Now , while being entertained as a guest. In book 8 of The Odyssey, Odysseus bids a poet to tell the tale of Troy. It is here we discover how Troy was won. 

In Troy Athena took the form as Pallas (Aldington), and by taking this form she presented Troy with a structure, a statue that would protect the city. For as long as the gift was placed in the walls of Troy, the walls of Troy could not be broken.  This is the insight that led Odysseus to steal the statue. Now upon the death of Achilles, all seemed loss. Achilles symbolized for the Greek’s from Ithica, what a modern day Man of Steel would symbolize to us. Achilles’ was the epitome of a man: Strength, speed, agility. However, the death of Achilles proved to the Greeks that no man was without weakness. Drawing upon this weakness, the Ithican men  retreated facing defeat, when upon Odysseus came Athena. Athena told Odysseus’s men of a plot to save his men and win over Troy.

“But when they had put from them the desire of food and drink, then to Demodocus said Odysseus of many wiles: -Demodocus, truly above all mortal men do I praise you, whether it was the Muse, the daughter of Zeus, that taught you, or Apollo; for well and truly do you sing of the fate of the Achaeans, all that they worked and suffered, and all the toils they endured, as though unfortunately you had yourself been present, or had heard the tale from another. But come now, change your theme, and sing of the building of the horse of wood, which Epeius made with Athena's help, the horse which once Odysseus led up into the citadel as a thing of guile, when he had filled it with the men who sacked Ilios. (Homer).”

Athena being  known for not involving herself in a fight or encouraging fighting without any purpose, she always first illuminated the thought processes of wisdom, for this  was always the better of the options (Loewen). Also, however, always encouraged fighting for a good cause  ( Loewen).  In this battle of Troy, Athena coached Odysseus and his men. Advising him throughout, yet allowing him to make mistakes, she undoubtedly at the climax of the battle interjected, forcing Troy’s hand and allowing Odysseus’s men victory.