Athena is the Greek Goddess of wisdom, warfare, and crafting. As a patron of many cities across Ancient Greece, it is believed that her name comes from the city of Athens, although it is debated whether she was named after the city, or the city named after her. In one tale, Athena competes with the sea God Poseidon for patronage of Athens. Each would give the Athenians one gift, and the King of Athens would decide which gist was superior, and thus which one of the Gods would become the patron deity of Athens. Poseidon gifted them with the first horse, whilst Athena offered an olive tree. The King decided Athena's olive tree was a more suitable gift for the olive tree could provide them with wood, food, and oil, and so she became the patron Goddess of Athens.
She was the daughter of Zeus, born without a mother, instead emerging from Zeus' forehead. She was also one of Zeus' favourite children, and therefore one of the most powerful. In the Illiad, Zeus gave the attribute of war to both Ares and Athena, but whereas Are represented the most brutal and bloodiest elements of war, Athena represented the more strategic side of warfare, justice, and heroism, the embodiment of a true and noble warrior. There are plenty of tales of her aiding and guiding heroic figures on their quests. Artemis gifts Perseus her bronze shield so that he could see Medusa's reflection without turning to stone as he sought to defeat the Gorgon. She also helped Bellerophon tame the famed winged horse Pegasus by gifting him a bit to use to control the horse. She helps Hercules during his twelve trials, and is the one who takes him and presents him to Zeus so that Hercales can be made a God.
However, as we have come to see with all Greek deities, they are rarely all good, and Athena also has her follies. She may have helped Perseus defeat Medusa, but it was Athena herself who created the Gorgon. Medusa was once a priestess of Athena and served dutifully in one of her temples. However, Poseidon fell in love with young Medusa, and forced himself upon her in one of Athena's temples. Outraged at the desecration of one of her temples - for Athena was known as a virgin Goddess and required her Priestesses also remained chaste - she turned Medusa into the grotesque monster we know as the Gorgon.
She was the daughter of Zeus, born without a mother, instead emerging from Zeus' forehead. She was also one of Zeus' favourite children, and therefore one of the most powerful. In the Illiad, Zeus gave the attribute of war to both Ares and Athena, but whereas Are represented the most brutal and bloodiest elements of war, Athena represented the more strategic side of warfare, justice, and heroism, the embodiment of a true and noble warrior. There are plenty of tales of her aiding and guiding heroic figures on their quests. Artemis gifts Perseus her bronze shield so that he could see Medusa's reflection without turning to stone as he sought to defeat the Gorgon. She also helped Bellerophon tame the famed winged horse Pegasus by gifting him a bit to use to control the horse. She helps Hercules during his twelve trials, and is the one who takes him and presents him to Zeus so that Hercales can be made a God.
However, as we have come to see with all Greek deities, they are rarely all good, and Athena also has her follies. She may have helped Perseus defeat Medusa, but it was Athena herself who created the Gorgon. Medusa was once a priestess of Athena and served dutifully in one of her temples. However, Poseidon fell in love with young Medusa, and forced himself upon her in one of Athena's temples. Outraged at the desecration of one of her temples - for Athena was known as a virgin Goddess and required her Priestesses also remained chaste - she turned Medusa into the grotesque monster we know as the Gorgon.
As one of the most powerful deities, there were many temples dedicated to Athena, and she also had her own festivals. In Athens, a five day festival to her would be held annually known as the 'Feast of the Bath' where her Priestesses would perform a cleansing ritual upon a statue of her. In another festival known as 'Chalceia' she was celebrated as the deity of craftwork, especially weaving. During the festivals of Panathenaea and Pamboeotia she was celebrated in her warrior form.
The owl is associated with Athena, which represents her role as a Goddess of wisdom. This wisdom was especially prevalent on the battlefield, and as such other tools of war were also associated with her, such as the helmet, spear, and armour. In one of the most famous statues of her she can be seen holding a shield with a serpent coiling up against it, and so snakes were also associated with Athena. It also shows her holding the winged Goddess of victory, Nike, in her hand, symbolising that if you held Athena's favour in battle then you were most certain to succeed.
Athena is a great deity for any woman in a position of leadership to call upon, as she is strategic, wise, and strong yet fair. In fact, during the 16th and 17th centuries she enjoyed a bit of a revival as a symbol for female rulers. As a Goddess of crafting, anything you make yourself - whether that's knitting, weaving, scrapbooking, etc. - can aid in connecting with, and honouring the spirit of this great deity.
The owl is associated with Athena, which represents her role as a Goddess of wisdom. This wisdom was especially prevalent on the battlefield, and as such other tools of war were also associated with her, such as the helmet, spear, and armour. In one of the most famous statues of her she can be seen holding a shield with a serpent coiling up against it, and so snakes were also associated with Athena. It also shows her holding the winged Goddess of victory, Nike, in her hand, symbolising that if you held Athena's favour in battle then you were most certain to succeed.
Athena is a great deity for any woman in a position of leadership to call upon, as she is strategic, wise, and strong yet fair. In fact, during the 16th and 17th centuries she enjoyed a bit of a revival as a symbol for female rulers. As a Goddess of crafting, anything you make yourself - whether that's knitting, weaving, scrapbooking, etc. - can aid in connecting with, and honouring the spirit of this great deity.
