In "The Odyssey", Athene helped Odysseus numerous ways physically and mentally by aiding him, Telemachus, and Penelope.
In book I, Athene urged Telemachus to give up boyhood, act like a man, present his case to search for his father to the assembly, and take stronger steps to search for his father. After Telemachus presented his case to the assembly and no action was taken on his request for a ship to enable him to search for his father, Telemachus prayed to Athene for help. In response to his prayer, Athene appeared as Mentor and borrowed a ship and crew for Telemachus. Athene also helped Telemachus by appearing to him in a dream, urging him to return to Ithaca and warning him about the ambush of the suitors.
Athene helped Penelope numerous way also. Athene helped her by comforting her so she would not go into a nervous break down over all her stress, the suitors and Odysseus returning or not. Athene gave Penelope hope of Odysseus returning. Athene even made Penelope appear more beautiful than she really was, because Penelope was actually really ragged. Athene also helped Penelope by giving her a dream of gulls, representing the suitors, and an eagle, representing Odysseus, killing the gulls.
Athene helped Odysseus numerous ways as well. She helped by persuading the gods to free Odysseus from Calypso. Athene even helped Odysseus by telling Naussicaa to do her laundry at the beach and telling her to help the man she meets. So when Odysseus came to shore he was ugly and he scared the other women on the beach away, except Nausicaa. Nausicaa washed Odysseus up, gave him clothes, and told him how to act when they return to her place. As they were going to Naussicaa's place Athene made Odysseus invisible so the guards would not see him and Athene made Odysseus look better by making him look taller, stronger, and giving him more hair on his head. Athene also helped Odysseus by counseling him on how to handle the suitors, and she disguises him as an old begger so no one will recognize him immediatly.
