Hodge made a fluent 120, his first test century, and Athanaze 82, the pair sharing a fine partnership of 175 as West Indies took advantage of good batting conditions to frustrate England.
"It's been an amazing day. You always want to contribute, it was really good for the guys coming off Lord's, coming back as a batting unit it's always sweeter from behind," Hodge said.
"Sticking to our plans, constantly being positive, staying in the moment. We saw it was a good batting wicket, so it was about digging in."
Replying to England's total of 416, West Indies lost Mikyle Louis for 21, captain Kraigg Brathwaite for 48 and Kirk McKenzie for 11 in the morning session.
Louis tried to hit spinner Shoaib Bashir over the top and was well caught by Harry Brook running back at mid on.
England's Ben Stokes celebrates after dismissing West Indies century maker Alick Athanaze. (AP PHOTO)
Brathwaite was unsettled by a short-pitched delivery from fast bowler Gus Atkinson and popped up a simple catch to Ollie Pope at short leg.
McKenzie had a rush of blood shortly before lunch, attempting to hit Bashir over mid-off and sending the ball into the hands of England captain Ben Stokes.
Mark Wood produced a rapid spell on his return to the side, including one delivery of 97.1 miles per hour in the fastest recorded over bowled by an England player.
Hodge received a lifeline on 16 when he edged Wood to Joe Root at first slip but the former England captain spilled the catch.
Athanaze hit one six and 10 fours and Hodge struck 19 boundaries, the pair mixing watchful defence with positive strokes when the bowlers strayed in line or length.
Athanaze was closing on his first Test century when he chopped Stokes to Brook at gully but Hodge reached three figures before being trapped lbw by Chris Woakes.
Jason Holder, on 23, and Joshua Da Silva, 32, will resume in the morning as West Indies try to establish a first-innings lead.
"It was a very hard-fought day. The West Indies put a decent partnership together, it was hard toil at times," England assistant coach Paul Collingwood said.
"This wicket looks a really good cricket wicket, when it's swinging it's got good carry. But you can score runs with a quick outfield. We threw everything at the West Indies today, but sometimes they have the answers."
England won the first match of the three-test series by an innings and 114 runs at Lord's.
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