because Odysseus was gone so long they thought he was dead
While Odysseus is away from Ithaca, several of the lords and chiefs are heading over to where Odysseus has built his home because they believe that their King is dead. The begin to try and get Penelope to marry them and anger Telemachus who believes that his father is still alive. Athena eventually comes and tells Telemachus that his father is in fact still alive and then tells him what he must do to get the suitors to leave.
she is a prophet who talks to odysseus about his wife and how she is doing in ithaca and she tells odysseus that other men are trying to get with his wife if he doesnt hurry and return home .
Athena transforms Odysseus and makes him appear majestic so much so that Telemachus mistakes Odysseus for a god. Odysseus tells Telemachus that he is indeed his father, and it takes a little time for him to convince him of this.
Polyphemus blames his death on "Nobody" and his friends. "Nobody" is what Odysseus tells him his name is. When Polyphemus tells his friend that Nobody is killing him they don't believe him. They take it as no one is killing him. They say Poseidon (their father) has sent the plague to him. His friends tell him to pray to their father!
Athena tells Odysseus to reveal his identity to Telemachus, as there is no point in keeping it hidden from him. Telemachus can also help his father on his quest for vengeance, as he is completely trustworthy.
He is the herald (town messenger) of Ithaca. When Odysseus comes back to Ithaca, his hometown, Telemakhos (Odysseus' son) tells Odysseus not to kill him. Unlike the suitors, he cared for Telemakhos while his father was away and remained loyal to Odysseus. Therefore, he was not killed in Book XXII.
Odysseus' mother Anticlea tells Odysseus of what is happening at his home, and how she died. She also tells Odysseus why she cannot embrace him; the state of dead people are all sinewy and wispy with little form.
Odysseus tells her how their bed was made, and she knows no on else could know how the bed was made.
Athena tells Odysseus to keep his identity a secret until he is ready to kill the suitors. Athena also helps to disguise Odysseus as a beggar.
Agamemnon
Agamemnon
Hermes tells Calypso to let Odysseus go.