ATHENA: THE GODDESS OF WISDOM, CRAFTMANSHIP, AND WAR

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     Athena is the Greek name for the Roman Goddess Minerva. She is described to be strong, fair, and merciful; one of the most benevolent of the Gods. Athena is told to have flashing gray eyes with a tall but graceful body.

     There is no one story on the birth of this Goddess. The most accepted (and most famous) is still truly amazing. Athena was born from a massive headache of Zeus (or Jupiter)! Zeus had recieved a prophecy that the offspring of Metis (his first wife or first lover), should it be male, would be more powerful than the God himself. When he learned she was pregnant, a terrified Zeus transformed his wife (... or lover) into a fly and SWALLOWED HER. Problem solved right? No. Later, Zeus suffered a headache so severe that he asked the God Hephaestus to crack his head open. Hephaestus obliged and out jumped an adult Athena fully clothed in battle armor! Therefore, Athena only has one parent! Well, technically...

The Goddess Athena is the Goddess of Wisdom. Oftentimes, she would be called to settle disputes for both Gods and mortals. Athena is also known for being the Goddess of War. Although it is the same title as the War God, Ares, hers is slightly different. The Goddess herself excels in good planning of war, not the actual fighting. She always worked to prevent war, but when it did get to war, she never lost. (Due to the fact that the Goddess of Winged Victory, Nike, often accompanied her!) Lastly, Athena is known for being the Goddess of Crafts. She excelled in the crafts, for she was an expert artisan herself!

     Athens is her city, the olive her tree, and the owl is the birth consecrated to her, Athena the Goddess. The city of Athens was named after her in appreciation to her gift to them, the olive tree.

     Though the story of her birth is as fascinating as it is, the story on the fight for naming the city (Athens) between Poseiden and Athena was rather famous too. Poseiden threw his trident against a rock, and out spurted water. It would give the city trade and water, but the water was salty, therefore not good to drink. Athena gave the olive tree, which the people in the city deemed more useful than the other, for it provided wood, oil, and food. In the end, the city of Athens, was indeed named after Athena.

     Athena is one and first of three virgin Goddesses, also called Maiden, Pathenos, which led to tthe naming of one of her most important temples: the Parthenon.

SOURCES:

http://www.goddessgift.com/goddess-myths/greek_goddess_athena.htm

http://www.goddess-athena.org/Encyclopedia/Athena/index.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athena