Athena

Goddess of Wisdom and Strategy

Athena was the Greek goddess of wisdom, strategy and skilled crafts, and she had one of the strangest births in mythology. Zeus swallowed her mother Metis after hearing a warning about her future child. Later, Zeus developed an absolutely terrible headache. His head was split open and Athena sprang out fully grown and wearing armour. Imagine skipping the entire baby stage! Athena became one of Zeus’s most trusted children. She was a war goddess, but unlike Ares she did not represent wild fighting. Athena preferred careful planning, discipline and defence. Her usual symbols included a helmet, spear, owl, olive tree and the aegis, a protective object often shown with Medusa’s frightening face.

Athena was especially important to the city of Athens. According to a famous story, she and Poseidon competed to become the city’s protector. Poseidon struck the ground and produced a spring, but its water was salty in the best-known version. Athena planted the first olive tree. Olives could provide food, oil and wood, so her gift was chosen and the city took her name. The enormous Parthenon temple on the Acropolis was built in her honour. Athens also held a huge festival called the Panathenaia, with a procession, contests and a special woven robe for the goddess.

Athena often helped heroes who used their brains. She guided Perseus when he faced Medusa and supported Heracles during some of his adventures. Her favourite hero was probably Odysseus, the clever king whose long journey home is told in the Odyssey. Athena disguised herself, gave advice and helped him make plans. She was also goddess of weaving and other crafts that needed patience and skill. One later famous story tells of her weaving contest with Arachne, although its fullest version comes from the Roman poet Ovid. Athena could certainly be proud and frightening when angry, but I love the main idea behind her. She shows that being clever does not mean sitting around knowing facts. Real wisdom is knowing what to do when things get difficult.

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