Athena's favor towards Odysseus is a major theme throughout the Odyssey. In fact, she is his "guardian goddess." As the goddess of battle and wisdom, Athena shows favor towards Odysseus because he exemplifies many of the qualities that are most important to her. Throughout the Odyssey, all of Athena's words and interactions revolve around Odysseus in some way, further illustrating the degree to which she favors him.
One of the primary reasons why Athena favors Odysseus is that she admires his character. Despite being a "mere mortal," Odysseus never gives up in the face of the many challenges presented to him. He is a strong leader and exercises wisdom on many occasions. Odysseus also appreciates Athena's favor and influence, which encourages her to grant him more favors in return. Athena's admiration is evident when she allows Odysseus to fight the suitors rather than intervening directly. This shows she trusts him and has faith in his skill as a warrior.
Another reason why Athena shows favor to Odysseus is his heroism. Despite the fact that he does many un-heroic things throughout the story, he is a strong character with an equally strong will. His reputation precedes him, so the goddess Athena is already well aware of his character by the time the story begins. Although he has the favor of the gods, Odysseus delivers justice with his own power.
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