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Myths

Birth of Athena

Zeus, Athena's father, swallowed his titan wife, Metis, with fear that her child would overthrow him. Zeus recieved a splitting headache and asked his son Hephaestus to relieve him of his pain. Hephaestus cut open Zeus's head with an ax, and Athena sprang out in full armor.

   

Athena and Arachne

A young woman named Arachne challenged Athena in a weaving contest; as a result Athena turned her into a spider.

   

Athena and Medusa

Athena turns a beautiful mortal, Medusa, into a Gorgon monster with a gaze that will turn you to stone and the hair of snakes for disgracing Athena in more ways than one.

   

Athena and Pallas

In Athena's youth, she befriended a girl named Pallas, they became inseparable. One day, during a practice session Athena's father Zeus interfered with his shield, Aegis (now Athena's), and Pallas looked into the gorgon's eyes and fell fatally ill. Mourning for her lost friend, Athena decided to honor Pallas and changed her name to Pallas Athena.

 
   

Athena and the War of the Giants

Athena played a prominent part in this war. She helped her father Zeus call Heracles for assistance, who later proved to be the driving force, along with guiding him on his way through battle. Also, she directed the chariot and horses against Enkalados, the leader of the giants.

 
   

Athena and Poseidon

In the contest of the naming of Athens, Athena gave the city an olive tree, while Poseidon gave them a saltwater spring (in other stories Poseidon gave them a horse). Athena won, hence the city's name Athens.

   

Athena and the Giant Typhon

All gods had fled in fear of the giant Typhon, and changed into their animal form, all except for Athena and her father, Zeus.They stood their ground for a while, but it was not enough. When Typhon had gained control of nearly every existing thing on the planet, Athena and Dionysus confronted him. With her shield, the Aegis, Typhon became petrified in terror, giving the gods a solid, great lead in the dangerous battle.

   

Athena, Marsyas, and the Flute

Athena was a talented flute player, as she created it, but others ridiculed her when she played due to her cheeks. In disgust, she threw away the flute and said whoever picked it up and played it would be severely punished. A satyr named Marsyas picked up the flute. He was a wonderful player and challenged Apollo to a contest. Apollo won and punished Marsyas for thinking he was better than him by skinning him alive. Athena was pleased with this punishment, living up to her first vow.

   

Athena and the Price of Impiety

Meropis was a young girl whose family only worshipped one goddess, Hestia. They especially despised Athena, for eyes like owls, Hermes, for being a thief, and Artemis, for embracing the forest. Outraged, the three gods and goddesses disguised themselves and went to the family's house. When they discovered who they really were, behind the disguises, they began to yell insults. Once more infuriated, the three disrespected gods and goddesses transformed Meropis and her family into birds.

   

Homer's Illiad (Trojan War) and Athena

Athena was an avid supporter of the Greeks in the Trojan War, due to the fact that Paris, a Trojan prince, didn't grant her the apple, meaning he didn't think that she was the fairest. She is a prominent figure in this war, and is probably one of the main reasons the Greeks won this epic battle. She was present at nearly all of the battles. At the battle of Penthesilea, Athena fought along side the famous Greek warrior, Achilles. After Achilles death, she protected his corpse with Ambrosia. Aias's madness was fostered due to a contest between him and Oddysseus, for Achilles's armor. Athena, favoring Oddysseus, helped him win, but Aias wouldn't back down. Hence, Athena drove him mad. A prophecy reached the Greeks that they couldn't win the war without the help of Philoktetes, who was abandoned on an island. Athena assisted in bringing him back by healing him of harm that had come to him, and convincing him to fight once more for the Greeks. One of her statues, Palladion, also helped the Greeks in the Trojan War. A prophecy stated that Troy will not fall as long as the Palladion is still standing. Athena also killed the priest and his sons who warned the Trojans that the wooden horse, which they thought was a gift, would bring nothing but harm. In fact, she actually gifted Oddysseus with the idea of the Trojan horse in a dream.
There are still an innumerable number of appearances and effects that she presented in this epic battle. Hence, Athena's presence in the Trojan War was one of the greatest influences for the outcome.

   

Homer's Oddyssey and Athena

Athena possessed a special bond with Oddysseus, and when he got lost on his voyage home to Ithaca, she lent him a helping hand in more than one way. She played such a large rule in his safe arrival home, that she was mentioned exactly 162 times in Homer's Oddyssey. Every time she is mentioned, though the action may be small, it was one thing less that Oddysseus had to worry about and one step closer to Ithaca. Athena aided Oddysseus both directly and indirectly. She even convinced other gods, such as her father, Zeus, to help him. Athena took her wisdom, creativity, and skill to a whole other level, letting Oddysseus see that she truly cared about him.

   

Athena, Oddysseus, and Penelope

Athena and Poseidon are mad at the Greeks because of all of the assistance they have given them in the Trojan War, they have not thanked them with the slightest of praise - except Oddysseus. The gods, feeling sorry for Oddysseus, and the hardships his journey home has acquainted him with, decide to offer assistance. They help him in many different ways, though his path to Ithica is still presented with many obstacles. Finally, after numerous years of wondering, Oddysseus arrives home to Ithica, finally able once more to see his caring wife, Penelope.

   

The Wrath of Athena

Iodama, was turned to stone by Medusa's head as a result of unreligious performances. Ilos, a king of Troy, was blinded by Athena, for burning her shrine. A princess of Korinthos, Alikinoe was punished for not paying a weaver the wages which she owed, resulting in betrayal to her husband, whom she loved. Aias turned insane when he threatened to kill some of Greece's greatest warriors and leaders in the Trojan War. Laokoon, Poseidon's priest at Troy, was killed by a sea serpents when he nearly reveald the secret of the Trojan horse. Teuthis, a prince, wounded Athena, insulted, she spread a plague over his kingdom of Arcadia.

   

The Favors of Athena

Polyboia, a princess, was granted immortality. Athena assisted Argo as he build the ship Argonaut, for Jason. Daedalus was a prominent figure in his field, craftsmanship and invention, due to the fact that Athena guided him along the way. Erichthonius was raised by Athena, on top of the acropolis. Perdix, who was murdered by his uncle Daedulus, was transformed, after death, to a peasant, to show gratefulness for the gifts he had given mankind. Teiresius was punished by Athena with blindness, for seeing things pertaining to the goddess that he shouldn't have, but granted with the gift of being an amazing prophesier. Aeetes, Kadmos, Jason, and Cadamus were taught the secrets of dragon teeth, resulting in a harvest of new, stronger warriors.

   

Athena Aids Heroes

Because Asclepius was a great worshipper of Athena, he became a patron of healing. Bellerophon was given the golden bridle from Athena, to tame his horse, the pegasus. She helped Hercules in some of his labors. In labor 6, she granted him the noisemaking clappers, to scare away the stymphilian birds. During labor 11, Athena returned the golden apples to Hesperides for Hercules. In labor 12, she escorted and helped Cerberus and Hercules out of the Underworld; in addition to lessening Hercules madness. As a result, she saved the lives of many of his loved ones. Athena and Hermes didn't like Medusa and gave Perseus, the slayer of Medusa, Hades invisiblity helmet. Cadamus often prayed to Athena. Therefore, she advised him to sow one-half of the dragon's teeth, for companions, along with the advice to throw stones at the warriors, due to danger. To show his thankfulness, he passed the other half of the dragon teeth to her. In Jason's quest for the golden fleece, she was an avid supporter and influence on the final outcome. She helped Argo build his ship, the Argonaut, used for Jason's quest. Also, she gave him the other half of the dragon's teeth, which she recieved from Cadamus.