|
Athena was the daughter of Zeus and Metis, an Oceanid. When Metis was pregnant, Zeus was warned by Gaea and Uranus that if Metis were to bear a second child, it would be a son destined to rule heaven. Zeus, who had overthrown his own father, did not wish to suffer a similar fate, so he swallowed Metis whole. In due time Athena sprang full-grown and in full armor from his head. In the earliest account of Athena, found in the Iliad, she was a fierce and ruthless battle-goddess. But elsewhere she was warlike only when defending the State and the home from outside enemies. Athena admired courage and ingenuity and aided many young men in the performance of difficult tasks. She assisted Perseus, who cut off Medusa's head; Hercules on many occasions; Bellerophon, who tamed Pegasus; and Argus, who built the ship for Jason's quest of the Golden Fleece. She was pre-eminently the Goddess of the City, protector of civilized life; patron of handicrafts and agriculture; and she invented the bridle and first tamed horses for men to use. She was Zeus's favorite child, and he trusted her to carry his awful aegis (shield), his buckler, and that particularly devastating weapon, the thunderbolt. Athena was regarded as a goddess of wisdom, whether the practical sense and cunning of an Odysseus or the technical skill of an Argus. Athena had many interests, and was very intelligent and talented. She was credited with inventing the trumpet, the flute, earthen pot, plow, rake, ox yoke, horse bridle, the chariot,and some various ships. She was also the goddess of womanly arts, such as cooking and weaving, and also taught the science of numbers. As goddess of war, she often judged the outcome of a duel or battle. However, unlike Ares, she received no joy from war and often tried to find peaceful alternatives to battles. An adjective often used to describe Athena meant "gray-eyed," or "flashing-eyed" and alluded to her function as goddess of storms. But the word Pallas most often precedes her name. The derivation of this extra name comes from a mortal friend named Pallas, whom Athena accidentally killed with a spear. In regret she decided to assume his name as a memento of her friend. The double name suggests the two sides of her nature. In times of war she is goddess of valiant battle, conquering, frightening, presiding over battles in pursuit only of victory and, through victory, peace and prosperity. In times of peace, she is a goddess who reigns in all gentleness and purity, teaching mankind to enjoy peace, and instructing them in all that gives beauty to humans in wisdom and art. Athena was involved in the exploits of the heroes. She tricked Hera into nursing the infant Hercules, and she aided Hercules when he performed his labors. She was also very helpful to Jason and the Argonauts. She aided Perseus when he defeated the Gorgon Medusa. She also helped Odysseus during his travels from Troy to Ithaca and upon his return home. Since Athena was so busy dealing with mortals' affairs, she did not take time to have any of her own. She never took a husband or had children. Athena's biggest problem in Olympus was Poseidon. The two had fought for the dominance of Athens, and when Athena won the dispute Poseidon flooded the city. However, the two did team up to help the Greeks during the Trojan War. The idea of the Trojan Horse was Athena's, and the horse was dedicated to her. Of the three virgin goddesses she was preeminent and was called the Maiden, Parthenos, and her temple the Parthenon. In later poetry she is the embodiment of wisdom, reason, and purity. Her bird was the owl, sometimes accompanied by a snake. Athens was her special city. Her tree was the olive, whose creation won her the devotion of the Athenians in her dispute with Poseidon. The olive was so highly regarded that, in athletic games, the prizes consisted of large, painted, earthenware vases filled with pure olive oil.
ACTIVITIES: KEY TEST WORDS: (know the material on these items)
FOOTNOTES:
SOURCES:
|
Athena activity
The Olympians