Goddess Athena

Mask of goddess Athena , handmade of alabaster and painted in museum patina.

Goddess Athena, according to Greek mythology, was the goddess of wisdom, the olive tree, strategy and war. Athena, as goddess of war, was surrounded by Aegis, different from that of Zeus. According to one version, Athena made her aegis from the skin of the Chimera or, according to another version, from the skin of the monster Aegis or Aigentos, which destroyed everything in Libya, Egypt, Phrygia and Phenicia, and which Athena exterminated . Also on the shield (and on the fringe) of Athena was the head of Medusa.

Medusa was originally a very beautiful mortal mermaid and for this reason she was besieged by Poseidon, but they insulted Athena by opening a temple to her and flirting inside it. Then Athena transformed her into a monster. So that no man would besiege her again, while her gaze turned to stone anyone who looked at her. When Perseus [3] killed Medusa, he offered the goddess her head (mermaid) as a thank-you gift, because thanks to the shiny shield that the goddess had given him, he was able to defeat Medusa by looking only at her image through her.

CONFLICT WITH POSEIDON

Athena and Poseidon claimed the same city. So they climbed the rock of the Acropolis and before the Athenians decided that whoever offered the inhabitants the most beautiful gift, would get it. Poseidon struck on one side of the hill with his trident and immediately gushed forth a spring of water. The people marveled, but the water was salty. Like the water of the sea, which was the kingdom of Poseidon and so was not very useful. Athena’s gift was an olive tree, something that was better, since it provided the city with food, oil and timber. Thus, Athena won the duel and named the city Athens.

Athena had no love affair and symbolized eternal virginity. Only once did Hephaestus try to reach her and hug her. The goddess, however, repulsed his passion, and thus remained a symbol of purity.