AtheneAthena

The gray-eyed goddess who is also called Pallas, Pallas Athena and Tritogeneia Athene.

Athene is the virgin goddess of wisdom, fertility, the useful arts and prudent warfare.

The origins of Athene are given in two sources: Theogony by Hesiod and Histories by Herodotus; Theogony is the oldest source and considered to be the most authoritative.

In Theogony, Athene is said to be the daughter of Zeus and Metis; at the advice of Gaia (Earth) and Ouranos (the Heavens), Zeus tricked Metis and put the unborn Athene inside his body; she sprang from the head of Zeus fully armed.

Histories states that Athene was the daughter of Poseidon (lord of the Sea) and the Tritonian lake in Libya; after a falling out with her father, Athene sought the protection of Zeus and he claimed her as his daughter.

Athens is named after her because of her gift of the olive tree.

Her name was universally changed to Athena after 500 BCE to conform to her name in Attika (Attica).

Athene was the champion of several heroes such as: Herakles (Heracles), Odysseus and his son, Telemakhos (Telemachus) and Iason (Jason).

For more detailed information on Athene I suggest that you return to the Home Page of this site and consult the Immortals section.

• Theogony, lines 886-901 and 924-926
• Histories, book 4, chapter 180
• Shield of Herakles, line 443