In Greek mythology, Mentor (Μέντωρ / Méntōr) was the son of Alcumus an, in his old age, a friend of Odysseus. When Odysseus left for the Trojan War he placed Mentor in charge of his son, Telemachus, and of his palace. When Athena visited Telemachus she took the disguise of Mentor to hide herself from the suitors of Telemachus' mother Penelope. (See Odyssey Book II, lines 255 and 268.) As Mentor, the goddess encourages Telemachus to stand up against the suitors and to go abroad in order to learn out about his father.