Athene   uh THEE nee

Goddess of Wisdom

There is always a degree of uncertainty when we try to be specific as to the names and origins of the Greek gods. This is especially true of Athene. She is called Athene in The Iliad but after 500 B.C.E. she is referred to as Athena. Some of her various other names are of uncertain meaning: Pallas Athene (the ‘young woman’ Athene?) and Glaukopis (blue eyed?) are a few examples. She is also called Tritogeneia because she was raised by the nymphs of the Tritonian lake in Lybia.

Her mother, Metis, was the first wife of Zeus and her name (Metis) might mean ‘wisdom’. If this is true, then it would be more proper to call Athene ‘The Daughter of Wisdom’ instead of ‘The Goddess of Wisdom’.

When Zeus saw that Metis was pregnant, he was afraid that the child, if allowed to live, would be his doom. He swallowed Metis to prevent the birth. It didn’t work. Athene sprang, fully armed and armored, from the head of Zeus but Metis was never seen again.

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The Virgin Goddess

Athene is the virgin goddess of intellect and invention. She is one of only three who can resist the charms and spells of Aphrodite. Hestia and Artemis are the other two.

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At the Battle of Troy

At the battle of Troy, Pallas Athene descended from Mount Olympos (Olympus) and strode between the two armies, only to inspire the Trojan, Pandaros, to a supreme act of cowardice. Pandaros, against all oaths, loosed the arrow that broke the fragile peace. The arrow injured Menelaos and the bloody war was resumed to the delight and horror of the Olympians.

To avenge Aphrodite’s meddling, Athene gave Diomedes the ability to see the immortals on the battlefield and advised him to avoid them, but she suggested that if he sees Aphrodite, to attack her (Iliad, book 5, line 129). Diomedes obeyed, and Aphrodite was the first immortal to be wounded on that bloody day (Iliad, book 5, line 337).

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The Grim Goddess

Athene is called the grim goddess because the snaky head of The Gorgon, Medusa is on her aegis (her shield), but Athene’s gift of the olive tree made her ’grimness’ tolerable. The city, Athens, was named in her honor.

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Athene and Odysseus

Her love and protection of Odysseus permitted the long suffering hero to finally return home to his wife and son again. She would assume the shape of men (Odyssey, book 8, line 8), women (Odyssey, book 6, line 23) and children (Odyssey, book 7, line 20) to better serve as guide and protector of the resourceful Odysseus.

She is often confused with the Roman goddess, Minerva.

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Athene in The Iliad (listed by book and line)

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Athene in The Odyssey (listed by book and line)

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How to Cite this Page

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Stewart, Michael. "Athene", Greek Mythology: From the Iliad to the Fall of the Last Tyrant. http://messagenetcommresearch.com/myths/bios/athene.html (November 15, 2005)

Cut and paste the following html for use in a web report.

Stewart, Michael. &quot;Athene&quot;, <i>Greek Mythology: From the Iliad to the Fall of the Last Tyrant</i>. http://messagenetcommresearch.com/myths/bios/athene.html (November 15, 2005)

Cut and paste the following html for use in a web report. This format will link back to this page, which may be useful but may not be required.

Stewart, Michael. &quot;Athene&quot;, <i>Greek Mythology: From the Iliad to the Fall of the Last Tyrant</i>. <a href="http://messagenetcommresearch.com/myths/bios/athene.html">http://messagenetcommresearch.com/myths/bios/athene.html</a> (November 15, 2005)

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