Athena: Goddess of Wisdom and Strategy
History
Athena was the goddess that helped warriors and she actually took part in the Trojan War. She inspired Odysseus to come up with the idea of the Trojan Horse which was what lead to the Greeks winning the Trojan War. She had also helped Odysseus on his journey home. Athena was partial to the Greeks, yet the people of Troy worshipped her as well. They made a statue of her called Palladium that the Greeks believed made it so the people of troy could not be defeated while it remained in Troy. So, the Greeks crept into the city of Troy to steal the Palladium and leave Troy vulnerable to attack.
Athena was known to have created many items that were useful to the Greeks, which gives reasoning to her being regarded as the goddess of handicrafts. She is known for making the chariot, ship, horse bridle, vase, flute, and potter's wheel. She has been thought to have influenced civilization by her inventions previously mentioned and her invention of mathematics and numbers. She was also the protector of sculptors and architects and was interested in agricultural work and teaching farmers how to advance in that area.
She is known for her amazing spinning and weaving which she created. She had created the flute by trying to recreate the sounds of the wailing Gorgons which was a three beast-women that had snakes for hair. She saw her reflection when playing it and was disgusted by her puffed out cheeks so she threw it away and cursed the first person to pick it up.
Athena was typically a kind goddess and she was a fan of good government and actually promoted it throughout. She even looked after the kings that asked for her guidance in ruling. Athena had led to Athens adopting trial by jury in court and was known as a goddess of justice. Athena, as many other gods, were intolerant of lack of respect. An example of this would be when Arachne challenged her and lost in saying that they could weave better than her and turned her into a spider. Athena's qualities are known to reflect the qualities that Athenians saw in themselves, making her their protector and goddess.
The Parthenon was created in her honor on Acropolis where, according to myth, the first olive tree was made by Athena. Supposedly, there used to be a statue of Athena made of gold and ivory used to be inside the Parthenon.
Athena had many "cults" and worshipers, yet in a very different fashion. Typically the cults of gods or goddesses were known to be quite revolting or insane, being seen as a release of normality and basic tension. In fact, the followers of Athena did just the opposite, they were quite interested in intelligence. They took after Athena and were loyal citizens that were dutiful to their law. Since Athena was a virgin goddess, they also didn't do the things that the cults of Aphrodite would do which is mainly focused on emotional and physical love. A well known festival would be that of Panathenaea. During this festival they would create a dress for the statue of Athena and would celebrate her birthday by bringing her sacrifices, gifts, having musical and athletic competitions, and reading poetry. This festival was so popular that it even rivaled with the Olympic Games in popularity!
Athena's cults still hold secrets that are unknown to this day. One would be the Arrephoria, in which two young girls would walk from the Parthenon and go into the underground sanctuary of the goddess of Aphrodite in order to give unknown items. This shows the link between the two most well known goddesses, though obtaining different views, their importance to society. Athena was brought up often in elections, speeches, stories, and everyday life.
Athena was known to have created many items that were useful to the Greeks, which gives reasoning to her being regarded as the goddess of handicrafts. She is known for making the chariot, ship, horse bridle, vase, flute, and potter's wheel. She has been thought to have influenced civilization by her inventions previously mentioned and her invention of mathematics and numbers. She was also the protector of sculptors and architects and was interested in agricultural work and teaching farmers how to advance in that area.
She is known for her amazing spinning and weaving which she created. She had created the flute by trying to recreate the sounds of the wailing Gorgons which was a three beast-women that had snakes for hair. She saw her reflection when playing it and was disgusted by her puffed out cheeks so she threw it away and cursed the first person to pick it up.
Athena was typically a kind goddess and she was a fan of good government and actually promoted it throughout. She even looked after the kings that asked for her guidance in ruling. Athena had led to Athens adopting trial by jury in court and was known as a goddess of justice. Athena, as many other gods, were intolerant of lack of respect. An example of this would be when Arachne challenged her and lost in saying that they could weave better than her and turned her into a spider. Athena's qualities are known to reflect the qualities that Athenians saw in themselves, making her their protector and goddess.
The Parthenon was created in her honor on Acropolis where, according to myth, the first olive tree was made by Athena. Supposedly, there used to be a statue of Athena made of gold and ivory used to be inside the Parthenon.
Athena had many "cults" and worshipers, yet in a very different fashion. Typically the cults of gods or goddesses were known to be quite revolting or insane, being seen as a release of normality and basic tension. In fact, the followers of Athena did just the opposite, they were quite interested in intelligence. They took after Athena and were loyal citizens that were dutiful to their law. Since Athena was a virgin goddess, they also didn't do the things that the cults of Aphrodite would do which is mainly focused on emotional and physical love. A well known festival would be that of Panathenaea. During this festival they would create a dress for the statue of Athena and would celebrate her birthday by bringing her sacrifices, gifts, having musical and athletic competitions, and reading poetry. This festival was so popular that it even rivaled with the Olympic Games in popularity!
Athena's cults still hold secrets that are unknown to this day. One would be the Arrephoria, in which two young girls would walk from the Parthenon and go into the underground sanctuary of the goddess of Aphrodite in order to give unknown items. This shows the link between the two most well known goddesses, though obtaining different views, their importance to society. Athena was brought up often in elections, speeches, stories, and everyday life.