Athena and Odysseus have a very interesting dynamic throughout Odysseus' journey. Let's start with why she's even meddling in his life anyways. Even though Athena and Poseidon have a rocky back story, it doesn't seem like Athena is getting involved in Odysseus' life to get back at Poseidon. This is especially backed by the fact that Poseidon didn't really hate Odysseus until well after Athena started helping him. Sometimes it seems like Athena has a crush on Odysseus- a crush in the sense that she's not expecting to become a couple but she likes him in little more of a superficial way, and they have little flirting exchanges.
I think Athena does like Odysseus, and she's also appreciative of his various attributes and skills. She probably started getting involved in his life because she's a goddess and it's not like she or Odysseus could really be together anyways, so she does what's in her power to be involved with him. The worst that could happen is that she indirectly kill some people or something- which makes no difference to the gods.
Also, using a Percy Jackson reference for which I apologize in advance, Athena is the goddess of wisdom and battle. In Percy Jackson, Annabeth who is a daughter of Athena, says that Athena had demi-god kids from cooperatively brainstorming with genius humans- similar to how she was born out of Zeus's mind. Greek mythology is kind of weird, in case anyone hadn't noticed. I thought this nuance was kind on an interesting tidbit to add to the perspective because Athena's involvement with Odysseus and admiration of his sharpness of mind was sort of like how she gained intellectual stimulation from being with humans.
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