Athena
There are several versions of the birth of Athena. One version states that Zeus layed with Metis, the goddess of crafty thought and wisdom. After he did this he feared the consequences because it was believed that she had children more powerful than their sire. Zeus was warned by Earth that a son born to Metis would overthrow him, just like he had overthrown his own father’s throne. It is said that Zeus put her away in his belly by swallowing her. It was too late however because Metis had already conceived a child from him. After a while Zeus was in great pain so Prometheus, Hephaestus, Hermes, or Palaemon (written differently in different books), took a double headed ax and hit Zeus on the head with it. Athena then leaped from Zeus’ head full grown and fully armed with armor and wearing a robe which her mother made for her while in his belly.
Another tale states that Athena was the daughter of Cronus, a king of Byblos. It is stated that the king visited , the inhabitable world, and bequeathed Attica to Athena. This would then make Athena a sister of Zeus. This would make him a brother instead of her father.
Athena was never with a lover or consort so she was known as Athena Parthenos, Virgin Athena. This made her the enforcer of rules pertaining to sexual modesty and ritual mystery. Her role is also written in several different ways. Athena’s companion was Nike, the goddess of victory. Athena’ symbol is the owl. She was originally known as the Great Goddess, and was in the shape of a bird. She was later regarded as the goddess of wisdom. Guess this is where we get the idea of ’the wise old owl”.
It is written that Athena was the Greek goddess of wisdom, war, the arts, industry, justice , and skill. Athena and her uncle Poseidon both like certain city in Greece and both of them claimed it. The two fought over it by trying to win over the citizens with their great deeds. Poseidon struck the side of a cliff with his trident and a spring rose up from it. The citizens were thrilled until they found out the water was salty so it was not very useful to them. Athena produced an olive tree on the citadel of Athens, the Acropolis, for the people and they believed her gift to them was better because it not only gave them food, it also gave them wood and oil. Athena then named her city, Athens.
Athena often aided the heroes Perseus, Heracles, Odysseus, Cadmus, and Jason, with their quests.
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