ATHENA

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ATHENA

Athena is the Greek Goddess of Wisdom.

In the Greek tradition, she is also the Goddess of war and the companion of heroes. In the Roman tradition, her name is Minerva.

Athena is the daughter if Zeus and Metis, the Titan goddess of knowledge. Fearing that Metis' child would be more powerful than he, Zeus swallowed Metis whole, but she was already pregnant with Athena, who sprang fully grown and armored from Zeus' head.

Athena is always accompanied by an owl, and is often attended by Nike, the goddess of victory. Athena is the matron goddess of Athens, a city named for her when she won a contest over rights to the city from Poseidon, the god of the sea. Poseidon offered Athens a fountain of salt water, but Athena gave them an olive tree. As this was a much better gift, the city dedicated themselves to her.

Athena was the goddess of weaving and crafts. Once, a young girl named Arachne boasted she was a better weaver than Athena. The goddess took offense and turned her into a spider. Athena also turned the lovely Medusa into the hideous Gorgon after she had sex with Poseidon in Athena's temple. Athena later helped the hero Perseus kill Medusa and then placed her head of snakes upon her armor.

She never had a lover or husband and thus became known as Athena Parthenos, Athena the Virgin. Her temple in Athens is called the Parthenon.