InGreek mythology,Mentes (Ancient Greek: ΜέντηςMéntēs) is the name of the King of theTaphians and the son ofAnchialus. He is mentioned in theOdyssey.[1][2][3]
In Book I, the GoddessAthena disguises herself as Mentes, an old family friend ofOdysseus, when she goes to visit his son,Telemachus. Athena, disguised as him, tells Telemachus that he is sailing to the city ofTemese with his own crew, claiming that he is in search of bronze. Mentes (truly Athena) recommends that Telemachus should call a counsel to try to remove thesuitors of Penelope. Then he should see KingNestor atPylos and KingMenelaus ofSparta, to make inquiries as to the whereabouts of his father. Upon his return, but he should kill the suitors, either by stealth or publicly.[4]
Although Mentes had hardly any appearances in Greek myths of earlier antiquity, he became a symbol of a guardian and amentor. Later, his name got a derogatory flavor and became a symbol of a sinister messenger.[2]
He is not to be confused withMentor, the elderly friend of Odysseus in whose care Telemachus was placed during the Trojan War. To add to the possible confusion, Athena also takes the guise of Mentor (in Book II ofThe Odyssey). Nor is this Mentes the same character as theMentes in theIliad, who is king of theCicones.
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