Athena
Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, was the favorite child of Zeus, the ruler of Mount Olympus and all the gods. She was very beautiful and respected by everyone. Athena was a good goddess. That is the reason that the Greeks named the city of Athens after her. Why would anyone name a city after a goddess that was not good?
Athena’s mother is Metis, the first wife of Zeus, but she did not give birth to her. She sprung fully grown out of her father’s head. Zeus began to suffer from pounding headaches and cried out in agony; after that, Athena was born. She came out of his forehead with full clothes and armor. Athena is the goddess of wisdom, women’s crafts and the defense of Athens. Athena’s status as a warrior goddess was limited because her power was specifically in defense of Athens. The name Athena is of Greek origin and it means “wise.”
In myth, Athena became the defender of Athens through a contest with Poseidon. Athena offered the city the olive tree and Poseidon offered a fountain of salty water. The people of Athens went to an oracle about what to do and she told them that they had to vote for the winner. All the women voted for Athena and all the men voted for Poseidon; there were more women than men, so Athena won. Poseidon got angry and he flooded the city. Athena protected the city and the people named it after her. Athena’s strength is that she is rational, intelligent, and a powerful defender in war, but also a potent peacemaker. Her weaknesses are that she is not emotional or compassionate because reason rules her.
Athena was a good goddess because she defended Athens from Poseidon after he got angry. That is why they named the city after her. Her father was Zeus, the most powerful god and ruler of Mount Olympus—the home of all the gods. She was the goddess of wisdom, women’s crafts, and the defense of Athens. If she was not a good goddess then the people of Athens would not have named the city after her. After...