What is Athena the goddess of?
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wisdom and strategy
Athena embodies clever warfare, craft and reason: the thoughtful counterpart to the brute Ares.
💡 Did you know? She is said to have invented the bridle, the flute, pottery and weaving.
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How was Athena born, according to legend?
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from the head of Zeus
Zeus swallowed the pregnant Metis; later Athena sprang, grown and armoured, from his skull.
💡 Did you know? Hephaestus is said to have split Zeus's head with an axe so that Athena could emerge.
Which animal is sacred to Athena?
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the owl
The owl is Athena's sacred animal and became the very symbol of wisdom.
💡 Did you know? „To carry owls to Athens“ still means to do something pointless; the city was full of them.
Which city is under the protection of the goddess of wisdom?
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Athens
Athens bears her name because her gift (the olive tree) won over the citizens in the contest with Poseidon.
💡 Did you know? The olive tree became the city's livelihood: oil, food and trade goods all at once.
Which famous temple was dedicated to Athena?
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the Parthenon
The Parthenon on the Acropolis held a colossal statue of Athena in gold and ivory.
💡 Did you know? The epithet „Parthenos“ means „virgin“: Athena remained forever unmarried.
What does Athena carry as a shield?
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the aegis with the head of Medusa
On her protective shield, the aegis, gleams the petrifying head of Medusa.
💡 Did you know? Perseus gave Athena the head of Medusa after he had slain the monster.
Which hero did Athena especially help?
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Odysseus
Athena helped clever heroes like Odysseus, Perseus and Heracles with counsel and cunning.
💡 Did you know? Odysseus owed his return to Ithaca above all to Athena's constant support.
Whom did Athena turn into a spider?
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the weaver Arachne
The mortal Arachne challenged Athena to a weaving contest and mocked the gods.
💡 Did you know? As punishment Athena turned her into a spider: hence spiders are called „arachnids“ to this day.
What is Athena called by the Romans?
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Minerva
For the Romans, Athena corresponds to Minerva, likewise goddess of wisdom and craft.
💡 Did you know? With Jupiter and Juno, Minerva formed the Capitoline Triad, Rome's highest group of gods.
Which victory goddess did Athena carry on her hand?
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Nike
The Parthenon statue held her in its right hand.
💡 Did you know? Athena Nike has her own temple on the Acropolis.
What does Athena's epithet “Parthenos” mean?
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maiden
Hence the name of her temple: the Parthenon.
💡 Did you know? Like Hestia and Artemis she remained unwed.
With which invention did Athena help tame the horse?
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with the bridle
She gave Bellerophon a golden bridle for Pegasus.
💡 Did you know? Poseidon's steed, Athena's craft: thus the myth completes itself.
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