... there are over a hundred of them. Before in The Odyssey, Odysseus has been thoughtless and rushed into things, but here, Athene encourages him to think things through. Is it not partly the gods fault however, that he has been delayed for so long, and is so eager to get home to his wife and son? During the poem, we are often reminded of the story of Agamemnon. He returned, but was too eager, and unlike Odysseus, went home straight away and was murdered by Clytaemnestra's lover. He was killed in a very unheroic fashion, but still has a heroic reputation. Athene is obviously fond of Odysseus, and does not want him to go the same way as Agamemnon. Also, Agamemnon had one man to contend with, Odysseus has one hundred and eight! The Greek heroic code does not say that a hero is flawless. Odysseus' sense of adventure has ...

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