Athena

By L.M-F.

Some of the important things about the goddess Athena include her characteristics and skills, her importance to the ancient Greeks, her family relationships, and the interesting myths about her.  Athena had many powerful skills and unique characteristics.  Athena was the goddess of warfare, wisdom, and arts and crafts.  We know that she is the goddess of these things because she is shown as tall, strong, and proud.  She wears a helmet and holds a spear, and holds a snake and owl on her shoulder. She was brave and had the courage to fight, particularly about strategizing about how to win the war.  She also had the ability to change shape and disguise herself.  Finally, she had the skills of weaving, sewing, and making cloth.  Because she had so many roles, Athena was one of the most significant gods in the ancient Greek culture, especially to the city of Athens.  One of the things that she did for all of the Greek people was that she taught them arts and crafts.  She also taught the ancient Greeks about the justice part of war.  She focused on the justice part of it rather than the violent part.  Another reason that Athena was important to ancient Greece was because she was the patron goddess of one of the most powerful and important city-states.  In addition, Athena had many family relationships and they where gods alongside her.  Zeus was her father and she was his favorite child.  It is believed that Athena sprung out of Zeus’ head.  Poseidon was the god of the sea and Athena’s uncle.  Finally, there are many significant meanings in the myths about Athena.  One of these myths is the weaving contest that Athena had with Arachne, who was a human.  Athena did not like that Arachne challenged her, so she turned her into a spider.  So the meaning from this myth is that humans should not challenge gods.  Another one of these significant myths about Athena is how she gets power over Athens.  Athena and Poseidon have a power contest over who will get power of Athens.  They have to give a gift that will benefit Athens.  In the end, Athena wins the contest because she gives them an olive tree.  Athena, the goddess of wisdom, was one of twelve important figures in ancient Greek society and religion.