by Erik Collins
Athena is the goddess of the defense of Athens, wisdom andwomen's crafts. She is a virgin warrior goddess, one of many throughoutmythologies of the world. Since the Greek world was patriarchal, her status as awarrior goddess was limited. Her power was specifically in defense ofAthens. Perhaps because Greece was conquered at the end of the Bronze Age,Athens alone was among the Greek cities that survived. her status is alsolimited because of her service to her father, Zeus. She acts with hisconsent or she does his will, so that whatever her powers are, they are also hispowers.
Her role as the goddess of wisdom is accounted for in myth byher birth narrative. Her mother Metis, the goddess of cleverness, wasswallowed by her father Zeus. He himself became impregnated with Athena,whom he bore from his head in full armor with the aid of Hephasestus' axe.Originally, Athena was the goddess of womanly wisdom, but her role was expandedto wisdom in general. Hephaestus' appearance in the story also helpsaccount for Athena's role as the goddess of women's crafts.
Althought Athena is a virgin goddess, she mothered the godErichthonios by Hephaestus. According to myth, she went to Hephaestuswanting some weapons forged. When Hephaestus tried to rape her, sheprotected her virginity and he ejacul*ted on her leg. She wiped it offwith a piece of wool, throwing it onto the ground. Erichthonios sproutedfrom the discarded wool. Athena gave the baby to the daughters ofPandrosus in a chest, which they were forbidden to open. They opened itand became mad, throwing themselves from the Acropolis. Athena then raisedher son.
In myth, Athena became the patron of Athens through a contestwith Poseidon Athena offered the city the olive tree and Poseidon offereda fountain of water, though the water was salty. The citizens consulted anoracle about what the signs meant and found that they were supposed to votebetween the two. At this time, both men and women voted, according to themyth. The vote split along gender lines. The women outnumbered the men andAthena became the patron goddess of Athens. Poseidon became incensed andflooded Athens until Athenians conceded to limit the status of women. Thisserves as a charter myth for how Athenian politics were patriarchal. Itmay also represent a real choice that Athenians made at a point in their historyto depend more on agriculture than on trade.
Athena also deals with Poseidon in the Odyssey. Shechampions for Odysseus, as she did for the Achaeans in the Trojan War. Sheasks Poseidon to allow Odysseus' return home after ten years. Poseidon hadprevented his return in retaliation for his blinding of the Cyclops.
Athena's aegises are the owl and the bear. her breastplatebears the head of Medusa. Medusa's head was either given to her by Perseus,whom she aided in his quest, or given to her through Perseus by Zeus. Thehead represents her power to defend, since it strikes fear in enemies. Thecolors of Athena's eyes are green, blue and grey, the colors of the sea and ofan owl's eyes. Her weapons, which she had since her birth, are also sacred toher.
Images of Athena
Images are accessed by left-clickingmouse. These images are presented through power point; they may not beaccessible if you do not have Microsoft Power Point.
