Athena

 **Athena, a Versatile Goddess** By: Katie An idealistic woman: she's intelligent, creative, powerful, helpful, and responsible. Athena is the goddess of wisdom, warfare, and craftsoooooooooooooojojooooo

Athena is the daughter of Zeus, the king of all the gods and goddesses on Mount Olympus, and Metis who is one of the twelve Titans [|(Wikersham, “Athena”). Zeus]had over 140 children with many different women, but out of all of his offspring, Athena is his favorite. Athena is the only child that Zeus trusts with his shield and his thunderbolt. Athena has three siblings, two brothers and one sister. Her brothers are Apollo and Ares, and her sister is Artemis (Bryant). Though related, Athena and Ares are more enemies than siblings. They often got into violent fights and they even took opposite sides during the Trojan War (Bolton). There are many different things that set Athena apart from all the other gods and goddesses, but what really makes her unique is how she was born. It all started when Metis tried to avoid Zeus by shape shifting into different animals. Her method had failed and he ended up getting her pregnant. Zeus had been told by an oracle that if he had a son, the boy would take over. To prevent that from happening, Zeus swallowed Metis while she was transformed into a fly. He swallowed her in order to protect himself and to possess all her wisdom for she was known for being really knowledgeable. One day Zeus got a terrible headache so he convinced Hephaestus, god of metalworking, to cut his head open with an ax. Hephaestus did as he was told and when he sliced Zeus's head open, Athena leaped out fully grown and dressed for battle. Another interesting thing about Athena is that she was a virgin goddess but she does have a child. The story is that Hephaestus wanted Athena, but she defied him. His semen ended up falling to the ground and from that, their son was born half-man and half-snake. His name is Erichthonius [|(Wikersham, “Athena”).] Jhhhhghgyu Unlike many other gods and goddesses, Athena plays a big part in the lives of many warriors, kings, and heroes. Because she is the goddess of war, she often participates in many of the mortal wars ([|Wikersham, “Athena”).]Both Athena and her brother Ares are gods and goddesses of war, but Ares is more into the savage side of war, while Athena is into figuring out strategies. For that reason Athena is favored by both the gods and the mortals. In addition, she will only side with whoever she believed to be ethically right (Bryant). Athena always encourages a good fair government for the morals and justice which is why she invented the trial by jury system. During the Trojan War, Athena ended up siding with the Greeks. She is the one who gave Odysseus the idea of the Trojan horse and helped him successfully return home to Ithaca[| (Wikersham, “Athena”).]The mortals have always been really appreciative to Athena. To prove it, they honor her with two enormous festivals. One festival, the Anthesteria is held every February, and the other even more important festival, the Panathenaea, is held every four years [|(Carnagie).]Athena is generally a kind goddess, but she often punishes people when she needs to [|(Wikersham, “Athena”).]She blinded the man Tiresias because he saw her nude when he was walking by as she was bathing in a stream. Afterwards she realized he was merely at the wrong place at the wrong time, so she decided to lighten his punishment by giving him the gift of prophecy. Another person she punished is the woman Arachne. Athena is extremely talented at weaving and one day Arachne was bragging to everyone that she could weave better than Athena. Athena was angered by her arrogance so she disguised herself as an old woman and challenged Arachne to a weaving competition. Arachne's weaving was perfect so Athena lost and was absolutely furious. Arachne was full of guilt for humiliating a goddess so she attempted to hang herself. In order to save her, Athena transformed her into a spider and turned the rope into a spider web. Ever since then, Arachne and all of her later generations have inhabited our world as spiders (Bryant).

Including trial by jury, Athena invented many different things that became extremely useful to humans. She invented the potter’s wheel and vase, which have been very important to women and since it came into existence. For the men she created the rake, plow, and yoke when she was interested in agriculture. She also created the horse bridle, chariot and ship. They were first intended for use in wars, but have evolved to be used in everyday life, changing the way humans lived. On top of all that, she even invented musical instruments. She is the goddess that invented the flute that many people use. Legend has it that she invented the flute, intending to imitate the sound that the gorgons made as Medusa was being murdered. Supposedly the gods teased Athena for how she looked while she played the flute, so she threw the flute away and cursed it. After it had been cursed, a musician named Marsyus picked it up to use in a music contest with Apollo and he had to suffer for it[| (Wikersham, “Athena”).]

Athena is represented by many different symbols. One of her main emblems is the olive branch. In order for Athena to become the patron of Athens, she had to beat Poseidon at a contest. They each had to provide the Athenians with a gift for their city, and from there they would decide which gift was best. Poseidon went first; for his gift, he gave the Athenians a saltwater spring. Athena went after and she decided to give the people an olive tree, which they found much more useful. Poseidon’s spring was much too salty to put to good use, but Athena’s olive tree provided them with olives, oil, and wood. They chose Athena’s gift, and she became the new patron, which is why the city is now called Athens. Ever since then Athena has been associated with the olive branch. Some other recognizable symbols Athena is represented by are her golden breastplate and shield, and a dove which symbolizes victory. Athena is also commonly seen with an owl. The owl is the symbol of wisdom, and Athena is the goddess of wisdom ([|WIC]).

Every hero needs a little help now and then, and, in numerous stories, they receive help from the obliging goddess Athena. She helped out men such as Hercules, Bellerophon, Argus, and Perseus. Athena assisted Hercules through the twelve labors he had to perform, she instructed Argus so he could build a magic ship, she gave Bellerophon what he needed to ride Pegasus, and she helped Perseus kill Medusa [|(Wikersham, “Athena”).]She occurs in many different battle stories; two of the main battle stories she takes place in are the Iliad and the Odyssey, both written by Homer. In the Odyssey she helps the main character and epic hero of the story Odysseus return to his home in Ithaca. She does many things to help him throughout the story. First, she sends Odysseus’s son, Telemachus, on a pursuit to find his father. During his entire journey, Athena was guiding him and convincing the gods to have mercy on him. After twenty years away from home, Odysseus finally reached his homeland, and Athena was there immediately to keep him out of harm’s way. Right away, she reassured him that his wife Penelope had been faithful while he was away, then disguised him as a beggar so nobody that wanted him dead would recognize him ([|Wikersham, “Odyssey, The”).]Athena also had a lead role in the stories written by two Roman writers, Virgil and Ovid [|(Carnagie).]

Athena is one of the most favored goddesses from farmers and weavers to epic heroes and other gods. Her life is full of action, adventure, and victories. I learned that although she participates in wars, she’s in them for the right reasons. Athena is all about justice unlike her brother Ares. She has been extremely valuable to humans, and it’s nice to know that she does get appreciated.

Works Cited "Athena." Myths and Legends of the World. Ed. John M. Wickersham. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2000. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 2 Dec. 2010.

Bolton, Lesley. //The Everything Classical Mythology Book: Greek and Roman Gods, Goddesses,// //Heroes, and Monsters from Ares to Zeus//. Avon, MA: Adams Media, 2002. Print.

Bryant, Megan E. //She's All That!: a Look-it-up Guide to the Goddesses of Mythology//. New York: Franklin Watts/Scholastic, 2010. Print.

"Greco-Roman Religion and Philosophy." World Religions Reference Library. Ed. Julie L. Carnagie, et al. Vol. 1: Almanac. Detroit: UXL, 2007. 207-238. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 10 Dec. 2010.

"Odyssey, The." Myths and Legends of the World. Ed. John M. Wickersham. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2000. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 10 Dec. 2010.

"WIC - History of Women through Art." Welcome to WIC - Breaking News and Opinion in San Diego: Women's International Center. Web. 9 Dec. 2010. .