A quiet revelation offers the first fragile spark of hope. Pressed for answers, the stranger finally speaks—giving Telemachus a name, a lineage, and a reason to listen more closely.

In this passage from The Odyssey, Athene, still disguised as Mentes, presents herself as an old friend of Odysseus and a seasoned voyager across the wine-dark sea. She speaks of trade, kinship, and shared history, before delivering what Telemachus most longs to hear: Odysseus is not dead, but living still, held somewhere beyond reach yet not beyond return.

This moment matters because it reframes absence as endurance. For the first time, Telemachus is offered not rumor or fantasy, but a voice that insists his father’s story is not yet finished.

New to the journey? Start from the beginning at: http://theodysseypodcast.com

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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.

If you like this show, be sure to check out The Countdown of Monte Cristo — wherever you listen to podcasts!