Greek Mythology 101: Who is Athena?
Curious about the gods and goddesses of Greek mythology? Want to know more about who they are and the stories that bring them to life? Well, look no further. Welcome to Greek Mythology 101! Today’s topic: the smartest of them all, Athena.
General Info
Born fully-formed from the head of Zeus, it’s no wonder that Athena became the goddess of the mind, or more accurately, wisdom and strategy, with her domain spanning from war to weaving and handicrafts. Amongst the seemingly never ending Greek pantheon, she is one of the twelve Olympians, one of the main gods who was worshipped by all.
Symbols & Sacred Animals
Athena is typically decked out in armor, spear in one hand and shield in the other. Her shield is an important symbol. Known as the aegis, it is adorned with the head of the Gorgon Medusa and used to terrify enemies.
See, Athena wasn’t just the one who transformed Medusa into a monster so hideous that anyone who looked upon her turned to stone; she also helped the hero Perseus kill Medusa. After Perseus’ quest was over and his enemies slain, he gifted Medusa’s head to Athena. She then placed it on her shield, making it the aegis we all know today.
As for sacred animals, Athena has always been associated with owls. It’s actually kind of a chicken vs. egg scenario: is the owl a symbol of Athena because it was representative of wisdom first or did it only become known as a representation of wisdom after being linked to Athena?
Either way, many scholars believe that the owl represents the ability to see truth in the darkness and is symbolic of Athena’s foresight, as well as her intellect. In Athens, the owl was stamped on coins, demonstrating the city’s allegiance and devotion to its patron goddess.
Relationships
It was prophesized that the son of Zeus and Metis would be the doom of Zeus just as he was the doom of his father Kronos. After realizing that Metis was pregnant, Zeus swallowed her whole. Sometime later, Athena emerged from her father’s head, but because she wasn’t a son, Zeus was no longer concerned about the prophecy and welcomed her with open arms. In fact, Athena is widely regarded as Zeus’ favorite child.
Athena is also one of three virgin goddesses in Greek mythology, which means that she has not had any dalliances with either a god or a mortal and she never will.
This is not to say that she doesn’t care for others, though. Athena has taken a shine to many a hero, whether she becomes their patron, like Odysseus, or simply helps them in their quests, like Perseus.
Final Thoughts
As the goddess of wisdom and strategy, Athena is the most cool, calm, and collected Olympian. The smartest person in any room, she is prepared for absolutely anything and quick to use her knowledge against her enemies.
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