The Second Divine Council at Odyssey 5.1–42 Reconsidered

Abstract

This article reconsiders the much-discussed second divine council at the beginning of Book 5 of the Odyssey (5.1–42). It is demonstrated that this assembly is not a case of successive narration of simultaneous actions, as many scholars have maintained, but that the second council is necessary because Zeus, in order to avoid interdivine conflicts, has not kept his promise to initiate Odysseus’ repatriation as announced in the first council. It is further argued that Athene’s speech to Zeus (5.7–20), with its minacious tone and its cento-like composition, serves to put pressure on Zeus and to display Athene’s intellectual superiority.