| ||||||||||||
Family of AthenaParents: Goddess Athena was a daughter of Zeus, the King of the Gods, and Metis, the first wife of Zeus, who was keeping inside herself all the world's wisdom. [Read the story of her birth...]Athena never married and had no children. The Role of AthenaAthena was the goddess who taught mankind various skills such as weaving and sewing to the women and agriculture and metallurgy to men. She was always giving precious advice and stood by on any danger. Athena protected the heroes as they went out to war and saved them on their coming back.Athena and the City of AthensAfter competing against the Greek god Poseidon, Athena officially became the patron deity of the city of ancient Athens and the Parthenon was built in her honour. She was known as "Athena Nike" (Athena the victorious), as she was believed to have given the Athenians the victory during the Persian War.Appearance of AthenaA tall, slim woman with bluish-green eyes trickling light, wearing a suit of armour and a golden helmet. [1]Symbols of AthenaAthena's symbols were the spear, the distaff and the aegis (a shield of goatskin), to which the head of the Gorgon Medusa was fastened in order to terrify the opponents).Athena's tree was the olive tree and her sacred animal was the owl, the symbol of wisdom. The Roman name of Athena is "Minerva"
| |