ABSTRACT
Mentoring in the Odyssey is born directly out of fatherlessness. Telemachus, the son and heir of King Odysseus, has no father to guide him: Odysseus left long ago for the Trojan War, and every day he does not return sinks the kingdom of Ithaca further into chaos. Mentoring in the Odyssey is born in violence and chaos. The Trojan War, a pointless series of invasions, attacks, siege, and pillaging, has destroyed the social order in the Mediterranean world. When Telemachus needs guidance, Athena comes to him in the form of Mentor and tells him that, although sons are rarely as good as their fathers, Telemachus has the skills to begin his mission. Just as in real life, mentors may need to step in with some direct assistance. Individuals and mentoring programs need to make sure that they are building the capacity of the young people they mentor, not fighting every battle on their behalf.
