Athena, One of the Three Virgin Goddesses

Athena, One of the Three Virgin Goddesses

  • Submitted By: carmiele
  • Date Submitted: 02/26/2009 12:11 AM
  • Category: Biographies
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Athena

Pallas Athena (Latin: Minerva) is one of the 12 Greek Gods and Goddesses that reside in the Pantheon on Mount Olympus and is the goddess of wisdom, war, and craftsmanship. In one story, she was the sole daughter of Zeus, sprung fully grown in armor from his head after he complained of a throbbing headache. In another story, she is the daughter of Zeus and a Titan, Metis, who was prophesized to have 2 children: Athena, and a son that would overthrow Zeus from his throne. Fearing the prophecy, Zeus challenged Metis to a shape changing game, where Metis eventually turned into a fly, and Zeus swallowed her in hopes of preventing the prophecy from coming true. There Athena is born, and the creation of her armor becomes the cause of Zeus’s headaches. Being the goddess of wisdom, reason rules her every move; she is rational and a peacemaker. Athena is one of the three virgin goddesses (the other two being Artemis (Latin: Diana) and Hestia (Latin: Vesta)) and is known as the Maiden Parthenos. The Parthenon in Athens, the most important temple dedicated to her, was named after her. She has been said to have invented the flute, the plough and the ox-yoke, the horse bridle, as the chariot. Being Zeus’s favorite child, he allows her use of the aegis (a terrible shield that Hephaestus fashioned for him) and his weapon, the ray. She is protectress of civilized life, artesian activities, and the City. Her own city, Athens of Greece, is named after her after a contest with Poseidon over who would name it. The people of Athens had decided that whosever gift to them they considered better they would let that god or goddess name it. So Poseidon gave his gift of a glorious fountain, struck from the rock of the Acropolis. But as it contained only sea water, it was too salty to drink or bathe in, or for any use at all. Athena, however, presented the people with her gift of the olive tree. Her gift was one that was useful; they used it to make olive oil, as shade from...

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