Unlike many other gods Athena was hard to anger as she believed that arguments are better settled with wisdom rather than fighting, but with that being said she did encourage people to fight wisely and for a good cause. Athena was the protector of heroes such as Jason, Hercules and Odysseus. She gave these heroes advice or gifts to help them succeed on their journeys.
Athena was the daughter of Zeus and the Titaness Metis. Zeus was told by his grandmother that Metis’ second child would be a boy and he would be strong enough to overthrow Zeus, to prevent this from happening Zeus swallowed Metis. Metis did not die as she was immortal, Zeus only trapped her inside of his body. Many months later Zeus had a bad headache and was unsure of what was causing the pain so he went to his son Hephaestus and asked him to cut his head open with an axe to see what was causing the pain. Little did Zeus know Metis had given birth to Athena whilst she was trapped, as soon as Hephaestus did what Zeus asked, Athena leaped out of his head fully grown and clothed.
(Hoena [Athena], 2003)
Athena was the daughter of Zeus and the Titaness Metis. Zeus was told by his grandmother that Metis’ second child would be a boy and he would be strong enough to overthrow Zeus, to prevent this from happening Zeus swallowed Metis. Metis did not die as she was immortal, Zeus only trapped her inside of his body. Many months later Zeus had a bad headache and was unsure of what was causing the pain so he went to his son Hephaestus and asked him to cut his head open with an axe to see what was causing the pain. Little did Zeus know Metis had given birth to Athena whilst she was trapped, as soon as Hephaestus did what Zeus asked, Athena leaped out of his head fully grown and clothed.
(Hoena [Athena], 2003)
Athena and Medusa.
(MythMolkin, 2013)
Athens.
Attica is an area of southern Greece where the people honoured both Athena and Poseidon, these gods often argued over who should be in charge of Attica’s capital city. In order to settle the argument, the Olympians decided to settle the argument through having both Poseidon and Athena give the people of Attica a gift. The gift that was the most useful would determine which god would have the honour of being Attica’s patron god.
Poseidon gave a horse as a gift so that the people could use this horse to plow their fields, to ride and to pull wagons. Athena gave the town an olive tree, the oil of the tree’s fruit could be used to help cook food and light lamps but it also provided wood and food. The Olympians came to the decision that the olive tree was the most useful gift and Athena became Attica’s patron goddess. The people of Attica named their capital city Athens in her honour.
(Hoena [Athena], 2003)
Poseidon gave a horse as a gift so that the people could use this horse to plow their fields, to ride and to pull wagons. Athena gave the town an olive tree, the oil of the tree’s fruit could be used to help cook food and light lamps but it also provided wood and food. The Olympians came to the decision that the olive tree was the most useful gift and Athena became Attica’s patron goddess. The people of Attica named their capital city Athens in her honour.
(Hoena [Athena], 2003)