ATHENA

 Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, war, the arts, industry, justice and skill  Daughter of Zeus and Metis  Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, war, the arts, industry, justice and skill  Daughter of Zeus and Metis

Birth  Zeus swallowed his first wife, goddess of wisdom, Metis, in fear of Metis would bear a son mightier than himself, and thus overthrown.  Metis began to make a robe and helmet for her daughter. The hammering of the helmet caused Zeus great pain in the form of headaches and he cried out in agony. Skilled Hephaestus ran to his father and split his skull open and from it emerged Athena, fully grown and wearing her mother's robe and helmet.  Zeus swallowed his first wife, goddess of wisdom, Metis, in fear of Metis would bear a son mightier than himself, and thus overthrown.  Metis began to make a robe and helmet for her daughter. The hammering of the helmet caused Zeus great pain in the form of headaches and he cried out in agony. Skilled Hephaestus ran to his father and split his skull open and from it emerged Athena, fully grown and wearing her mother's robe and helmet.

Attributes  Compassion and mercy within the goddess were not forgotten amongst her many duties.  Athena was always eager to settle any conflict or confusion. Whenever there was a criminal trial and the judges votes were evenly split, Athena always voted in favor of freeing the accused. This shows a side of Athena that was sympathetic and understanding human error.  She did not eat, drink, cry, or bleed.  Athena is also known to be closely  associated with the owl.  Compassion and mercy within the goddess were not forgotten amongst her many duties.  Athena was always eager to settle any conflict or confusion. Whenever there was a criminal trial and the judges votes were evenly split, Athena always voted in favor of freeing the accused. This shows a side of Athena that was sympathetic and understanding human error.  She did not eat, drink, cry, or bleed.  Athena is also known to be closely  associated with the owl.

Attributes cont.  Athena is credited with inventing the flute, the trumpet, the earthenware pot, the plow, the rake, the ox-yoke, the bridle, the chariot, and the ship.  She taught mathematics and various women's arts such as cooking, weaving, and spinning.  Athena is credited with inventing the flute, the trumpet, the earthenware pot, the plow, the rake, the ox-yoke, the bridle, the chariot, and the ship.  She taught mathematics and various women's arts such as cooking, weaving, and spinning.

Story about Athens and the Olive Tree  Athena and her uncle Poseidon were both very fond of a certain city in Greece. Both of them claimed the city and it was decided that the one that could give the finest gift should have it.  Poseidon struck the side of the cliff with his trident and a spring welled up. The people marveled, but the water was as salty as Poseidon's sea and it was not very useful.  Athena's gift was an olive tree, which was better because it gave the people food, oil and wood. Athena named her city Athens.  Athena and her uncle Poseidon were both very fond of a certain city in Greece. Both of them claimed the city and it was decided that the one that could give the finest gift should have it.  Poseidon struck the side of the cliff with his trident and a spring welled up. The people marveled, but the water was as salty as Poseidon's sea and it was not very useful.  Athena's gift was an olive tree, which was better because it gave the people food, oil and wood. Athena named her city Athens.

Trojan War  To prevent the Trojan War Athena descended from Olympus and walked between the two armies, making both sides swear oaths to keep the peace.  Unfortunately a Trojan soldier named Pandaros, in an act of great cowardice, violated his oath and let loose his arrow, thus starting the Trojan War.  Athena, Goddess of strategy, expressed her displeasure by helping the other side to emerge victorious.  To prevent the Trojan War Athena descended from Olympus and walked between the two armies, making both sides swear oaths to keep the peace.  Unfortunately a Trojan soldier named Pandaros, in an act of great cowardice, violated his oath and let loose his arrow, thus starting the Trojan War.  Athena, Goddess of strategy, expressed her displeasure by helping the other side to emerge victorious.  Diomedes battles Aeneas in a scene from Homer's Iliad. Aeneas is shown falling beneath the spear of Diomedes, who is driven on by the goddess Athene, arrayed with spear, helm and aigis cloak. Aphrodite rushes on with arms outstretch to rescue her son from the battle. However she will be wounded by Diomedes and Athene in the process.

 Athena never had a consort or lover, and thus also was known as Athena Parthenos, "Virgin Athena." Her most famous temple, the Parthenon, on the Acropolis in Athens takes its name from this title.  Although she never had a husband or lover, she did raise a son named Erichthonius, who was born from the earth.  Athena never had a consort or lover, and thus also was known as Athena Parthenos, "Virgin Athena." Her most famous temple, the Parthenon, on the Acropolis in Athens takes its name from this title.  Although she never had a husband or lover, she did raise a son named Erichthonius, who was born from the earth.

Athena In mythical stories  Two Philosophical Creation Myths  The Five Ages of Man  The Birth of Athene  Zeus and Metis  Poseidon’s Nature and Deeds  Hermes’s Nature and Deeds  Aphrodite’s Nature and Deeds  Ares’s Nature and Deeds  Apollo’s Nature and Deeds  Artemis’s Nature and Deeds  Hephaestus’s Nature and Deeds  Athene’s Nature and Deeds  Zagreus  The Children of the Sea  The Giant’s Revolt  Atlas and Prometheus  Asclepius  Europe and Cadmus  Aeacus  Athamas  Perseus  Bellerophon  The Loves of Minos  Two Philosophical Creation Myths  The Five Ages of Man  The Birth of Athene  Zeus and Metis  Poseidon’s Nature and Deeds  Hermes’s Nature and Deeds  Aphrodite’s Nature and Deeds  Ares’s Nature and Deeds  Apollo’s Nature and Deeds  Artemis’s Nature and Deeds  Hephaestus’s Nature and Deeds  Athene’s Nature and Deeds  Zagreus  The Children of the Sea  The Giant’s Revolt  Atlas and Prometheus  Asclepius  Europe and Cadmus  Aeacus  Athamas  Perseus  Bellerophon  The Loves of Minos  Theseus and Media  Oedipus  The Seven Against Thebes  The Trial of Orestes  The Pacification of the Erinnyes  Iphigeneia Among the Taurians  The Youth of Heracles  The Second Labour: The Lernaean Hydra  The Sixth Labour: The Stymphalian Birds  The Twelth Labour: The Capture of Cerberus  The Capture of Pylus  Auge  Deianeira  Heracles in Trachis  The Apotheosis of Heracles  The Argonauts Assemble  The Foundatin of Troy  Paris and Helen  The First Gathering at Auli’s  The Madness of Ajax  The Wooden Horse  The Sack of Troy  Odysseus’s Wanderings  Odysseus’s Homecoming

Recognizing Athena in Imagery  Portrayed wearing a full suit of armor with helmet raised in order for her face to be visible  Carries a spear and shield with the gorgoneion (the head of the gorgon Medusa) at the center, her aegis also has this symbol on it  Often depicted with an owl on her shoulder Imagery  Portrayed wearing a full suit of armor with helmet raised in order for her face to be visible  Carries a spear and shield with the gorgoneion (the head of the gorgon Medusa) at the center, her aegis also has this symbol on it  Often depicted with an owl on her shoulder c. 450 B.C.

Recognizing Athena in LIterature  Goddess of Wisdom, war-goddess  Associated with the teaching of crafts such as cooking and weaving  “Although the goddess of war, she gets no pleasure from battle, as Ares and Eris do, but rather from settling disputes, and upholding the law by pacific means. She bears no arms in time of peace…Her mercy is great: when the judges’ votes are equal in a criminal trial at the Areiopagus, she always gives a casting vote to liberate the accused. Yet, once engaged in battle, she never loses the day” (Athene’s Nature and Deeds, The Greek Myths)  Epithets (titles):  Parthenos- virgin  Glaukopis- gleaming eyes, “grey-eyed”  Tritogeneia- possibly meaning third-born, Athena is given this epithet in the Illiad and Hesiod’s Theogony  Was known to not be jealous, except for one instance when she discovered that Arachne was more skilled in weaving than her and turned Arachne into a spider  Symbols: aegis, owl, olive tree LIterature  Goddess of Wisdom, war-goddess  Associated with the teaching of crafts such as cooking and weaving  “Although the goddess of war, she gets no pleasure from battle, as Ares and Eris do, but rather from settling disputes, and upholding the law by pacific means. She bears no arms in time of peace…Her mercy is great: when the judges’ votes are equal in a criminal trial at the Areiopagus, she always gives a casting vote to liberate the accused. Yet, once engaged in battle, she never loses the day” (Athene’s Nature and Deeds, The Greek Myths)  Epithets (titles):  Parthenos- virgin  Glaukopis- gleaming eyes, “grey-eyed”  Tritogeneia- possibly meaning third-born, Athena is given this epithet in the Illiad and Hesiod’s Theogony  Was known to not be jealous, except for one instance when she discovered that Arachne was more skilled in weaving than her and turned Arachne into a spider  Symbols: aegis, owl, olive tree

c B.C.