Monday, February 27th, 2012
For many avid readers fond of myths, Athena has long stood as a cherished figure. This goddess embodies brilliance, courage, and the striking ability to uphold herself against even the mightiest of Olympian gods. Her exceptional traits—strategy, craftsmanship, and wisdom—are qualities I aspired to possess.
One legendary tale that captivates me is her astounding birth, where she emerged fully grown from the forehead of her father, Zeus. Her mother, Metis, was revered as the goddess of wisdom and cunning and held the distinction of being Zeus’ first wife before Hera. However, a prophecy warned that she would bear two children: a daughter and a son, the latter destined to surpass even Zeus. In an act of insecurity, Zeus consumed Metis, hoping to absorb her wisdom.
After nine months, Zeus found himself suffering from an excruciating headache. His resourceful son Hephaestus took his ax and split open Zeus’ head. From the opening, Athena emerged, fully armed, embodying wisdom and strength. She, like her half-sister Artemis, declared her intent to remain ever a virgin. Swiftly, she earned her father’s trust, frequently acting as his adviser. Although she never openly defied Zeus, legends speak of her aegis (breastplate) being so formidable that even Zeus’ thunderbolt could not breach it.
Athena valiantly distinguished herself in battles against the Giants and Titans, proving herself one of the fiercest defenders of the Olympian realm. Some myths tell of her facing the fire-breathing giant Enceladus, ultimately triumphing by burying him under the island of Sicily, which continues to emit smoke (Mount Etna). She also engaged Pallas, another giant, and in a particularly gruesome tale, flayed him to create her powerful aegis—the very breastplate she would later embellish with the head of the Gorgon Medusa. Additionally, she adopted the giant’s name, which explains her common reference as “Pallas” or “Pallas Athena.”
Patron of Athens
One of Athena’s most renowned myths recounts her becoming the patron goddess of Athens. A competition arose between her and her uncle Poseidon, both vying for dominion over the city. Poseidon struck the ground with his trident, and a spring of salt water emerged—a remarkable feat, yet hardly practical.
In contrast, Athena gifted the people an olive tree, a source of food, oil, timber, and much-needed shade in Greece’s hot climate. The choice was crystal clear, leading to an overwhelming favor for Athena. Did Poseidon genuinely think he stood a chance? Moreover, Athens certainly has a more appealing ring than “Poseidons.”
Athena was revered as a staunch supporter of heroes; among them, her favorite was Odysseus. She extended her mentorship to others like Perseus, Diomedes, Hercules, Bellerophon, Orestes, and master craftsman Daedalus—a hero in her own right.
Her title “grey-eyed” (glaucopis) is widely recognized, but she is also known by other names such as daughter of Zeus, skilled artisan, and intriguingly, horsewoman (hippia). While her uncle Poseidon ruled over horses, Athena was celebrated for her expertise in horse taming, credited with inspiring the creation of the bridle.
Duality of Athena
Despite my admiration for Athena, as I matured, I began to see her more multifaceted nature. Undoubtedly a supporter of heroes, she could also display a fearsome ruthlessness, as seen in her interactions with Medusa and Arachne, as well as her punishment of Ajax the Lesser—deserved, if you ask me. Furthermore, it’s salient that most of Athena’s favored heroes were men, with the exception of Odysseus’ astute wife, Penelope. Clearly, her wisdom diverges from that of Prometheus, who embodies a universal protector; rather, Athena is a strict guide who chooses to favor those who earn her respect and admiration.
Athena also plays a significant role in the famed story surrounding the golden apple, as one of the three goddesses contending for the title of “most beautiful.” I always found it disappointing that she, being so wise, would concern herself with such a trivial contest. Perhaps she should have followed her sister Artemis’ lead, letting Hera and Aphrodite contend for the honor.
Each of the goddesses sought to persuade Paris, the Trojan prince judge, with enticing offers. Hera offered him power, claiming her status as queen of the gods, while Aphrodite promised him the world’s most beautiful woman, Helen—who, ironically, was already wed. Athena, however, proposed to render him the wisest man on Earth. Predictably, Paris chose Aphrodite, reinforcing the observation of one of my former students who remarked, “That was really dumb. He should have chosen wisdom. If you possess intelligence, you can obtain anything else.” Clearly, Paris wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed.
In retaliation for being slighted, Athena took a fierce stance in defense of the Greeks during the Trojan War, participating in one of my favorite smaller tales within the ‘Iliad.’ With Achilles sidelined, Athena empowered the clever Diomedes, enhancing his strength for combat against the Trojans. However, she cautioned him to be mindful of whom he attacked in the chaos of battle, except when it came to Aphrodite—he was encouraged to stab her if the opportunity arose.
Athena’s Influence in Battle
Empowered by Athena, Diomedes faced Aeneas, a Trojan hero and son of Aphrodite. Diomedes injured Aeneas significantly, and when Aphrodite rushed down to assist her son, he seized the moment and stabbed her in the wrist. In pain, Aphrodite abandoned Aeneas, who would later be rescued by Apollo. Suffering in her mother Dione’s embrace, Aphrodite drew the ridicule of Hera and Athena, who savored the moment. Athena taunted her, suggesting that perhaps she suffered a mere scratch.
Later in the clash, Athena again provided aid to Diomedes, commandeering his chariot and guiding him to confront Ares. With Athena’s bidding, he managed to wound the god of war, prompting Ares to complain to Zeus, who casually dismissed his grievances, revealing his disdain for the god of war.
Athena is a captivating figure in modern narratives as well, such as Zachary Mason’s “Lost Books of the Odyssey,” though I remain curious if there are other contemporary works featuring her character.
Wishing you all a week full of wisdom!
