These Pagan Portals are all current works in progress, serialised here on the Pagan Collective blog with each chapter being open for comment. In due course the entire script will be published as a Pagan Portal book.

Chapter 7:  Symbols, Titles & Epithets of Athena

Athena [to Zeus]
looked at him steadily and answered: “Father,
he did deserve to die. Bring death to all
who act like him! But I am agonizing
about Odysseus and his bad luck.

For too long he has suffered, with no friends,
sea all around him, sea on every side,
out on an island where a goddess [Calypso],
daughter of fearless Atlas, who holds up
the pillars of the sea, and knows its depths–
those pillars keep the heaven and the earth apart.

His daughter holds that poor unhappy man,
and tries beguiling him with gentle words
to cease all thoughts of Ithaca; but he
longs to see even just the smoke that rises
from his own homeland, and he wants to die.

You do not even care, Olympian!
Remember how he sacrificed to you
On the broad plain of Troy beside his ships?
So why do you dismiss Odysseus?

Homer, The Odyssey, Book 1, lines 44 – 63, translated by Emily Wilson

Athena is powerful, mightly, and wise. Her countenance is a steady presence, and she is willing to state her mind to even Zeus. As his trusted advisor, she has sway. From her, we can learn about how to ally with those in power. By learning her symbols and titles, we too can take on her strength for times of conflict.

Symbols

Athena is well-represented in art, both in sculptures and vase paintings. Well-revered, her image showcases her power and her readiness for battle.

War

Helmet & Spear

Athena is often shown as being fully armored, with a helmet and spear. The helmet is protective, including a mask to cover the face, or a Corinthian style. Her spear was a long lance to attack people more easily from a distance.

Aegis

An aegis is a possible goatskin breastplate or shield of warriors, including Athena. This shield was often decorated in the image of Medusa, the goddess with snakes for hair who turned men into stone. Apollodorus speaks of Perseus placing the head of Medusa in the middle of Athena’s shield. Perseus killed Medusa and cut off her head to give to Athena. Some writings describe the shield as golden and carved by Cyclops or Hephestaeus. Sometimes the aegis had a border or fringe of snakes. A fragment of Hesiod’s writing also points to Metis possibly making the aegis for Athena before she was born.^[1]

Gorgoneion

This term refers to any full-body imagery of the Gorgons, the three sisters of Ceto and Phorcys: Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa. These sisters are terrifying and meant to cause fear in anyone who looked upon the symbols. Some say that using the Gorgon imagery would also protect its wearer from harm. While the Gorgon blood could heal, it was also able to harm. Medusa was the only sister who was thought to be mortal.

Sacred Animals

Owl

Like Athena, owls can often see what is hard for others to see, especially at night, making them wiser than others. While it’s not clear how the two became linked with each other, there is speculation that the number of owls in the area and Athens’ decision to link owls to Athena contributed to the association.

Snakes

It is common to see snake imagery in Athena’s statues and paintings, but the correspondence is not clear. A possible connection could be the imagery of Medusa, and the snake being a part of a scary and powerful image.

Sea-Eagle

The owl connection might also be a reference to Athena’s possible presence as a bird goddess in early Minoan representations.

In The Odyssey, Athena reveals herself to be a goddess and then transforms into a sea-eagle, telling Nestor and Telemachus that she will report the news to the crew they left behind so they did not lose hope.

The bright-eyed goddess answered him, “Old friend,
you are quite right. Telemachus should do
just as you say. That is a better plan.

He will stay here tonight and go to sleep
in your fine palace. But I must go back
to tell the crew the news and keep them strong.

You see, I am the oldest in our party.
The rest are younger men, close friends together,
the same age as our brave Telemachus.
I will sleep there beside the hollow ship.

At dawn I have important obligations:
to visit with the great Cauconians.
The boy can be your guest. Then send him off
escorted by your son. Give him a carriage,
drawn by your strongest and most nimble horses.”

Bright-eyed Athena flew away, transformed
into an ossifrage. Astonishment
seized all the people watching, even Nestor.

Homer, The Odyssey, Book Three, lines 356 – 374, translated by Emily Wilson

Sacred Plants

The most common plant associated with Athena is an olive tree, as related to the story of the contest between her and Poseidon for Athens.

Sacred Tools

A distaff is a tool used for weaving and is sometimes seen in imagery of Athena. Also known as a spindle, this is used to weave wool around so it is prepared for spinning.

Titles & Epithets

An epithet is a title or honorific for a deity in Greek mythology. Deities can have many or few epithets, depending on their importance and impact in society. Many epithets focus on qualities of the deity, including powers, personalities, birthplaces, and cults.

The following list^[2] is primarily derived from Orphic Hymns will provide you with options to utilize in your magickal workings and devotional practices.

• ​​Aeolomorphus / Aiolómorphos – capable of changing her form
• Ærgáni / Ergane –  the worker, instructor of the arts of every kind
• Ageleia / Ayæleia – protector of the oxen or kine
• Aglaótimos / Aglaotimus – splendidly honored
• Ánassa – queen, lady
• Antrodíaitos / Antrodiaetus – cave-dwelling
• Arretus / Árritos – unspoken, ineffable
• Basileia / Vasíleia – queen
• Bulaea / Voulaia – of the council
• Cleiduchus / Kleidoukhos – she who holds the keys
• Core / Kóri – maiden
• Cydre / Kydrí – glorious, illustrious, noble
• Día – heavenly
• Diactorus / Diáktoros – servant, attendant, messenger
• Dracaena / Drákaina – she-dragon
• Euresitechnus / Evræsítækhnos – inventor of the arts
• Glafkóhpis / Glaucopis – owl-eyed
• Gorgophónos / Gorgophonus – slayer of the Gorgon
• Gymnasousa Kore / Yimnásousa Kóri – athletic maiden
• Hippelateira / Ippæláteira – driver of horses
• Hippius / Íppios – of the horses
• Hoplochares / Oplokharís – delighting in arms
• Hoplophorus / Oplophóros – armed, warrior
• Hormasteira Ormásteira – she who urges you forward
• Lyteira cacon / Lýteira kakóhn – deliverer from vice and wickedness
• Macaera / Mákaira – blessed
• Mægalóhnimos / Megalonimus – the mighty Goddess with a great name
• Menerva / Menrva – Etruscan name for Athiná
• Meter Techne / Mítir Tǽkhni – Mother of the Arts
• Mounoyænís / Munogenes – only-begotten
• Nikephorus Daemon / Nikíphoros Daimohn – victorious divinity
• Obrimopatre / Ovrimopátri – daughter of a mighty father
• Ombrimothymus / Omvrimóthymos – strong of spirit
• Pallás – the palpitating heart of Zagréfs that she rescued after the Titans cut him up
• Pancrates / Pangkratís – all-powerful
• Philǽnthæos / Philentheos – filled with divine influence
• Phygodǽmnios / Phygodemnios – despising the bed of marriage
• Phygolectros / Phygólæktros – shunning the wedding bed, virgin
• Philopolæmikós / Philopolemic – lover of war, for she defends the city
• Polæmitókos / Polemetocus – she who brings forth (necessary) war
• Polæmóklonos / Polemoclonus – she raises the clamor of war
• Polýllistos / Polyllistus – sought with many prayers
• Polybulus / Polývoulos – of many wise counselings, exceeding wise
• Rete / Retos / Rití – spoken of, known, famous
• Sæmní / Semne – holy
• Sóhteira / Soteira – savioress, deliverer
• Tritogeneia / Tritoyǽneia – Triton-born, third-born, or born from the head
• Xanthe / Xanthí – yellow or golden (Athena’s hair color)

Cult titles^[3] are another selection of epithets you might want to use in your magick and relationship-building.

• Alalkomenêis – protectress
• Alea – escape (to refuge)
• Alektor – rooster
• Amboulia – counselor, of counsel
• Anemôtis – of the winds
• Apatouria – of deception
• Areia – of war, warlike
• Axiopoinos – returning vengenance
• Erganê – worker
• Erymea – defender
• Hippia – of the horses
• Hippolaitis – of Hipplas (Laconia)
• Hygeia – of good health
• Keleutheia – of the road
• Khalinitis – bridler (of horses)
• Khalkioikon – of the marketplace
• Kissaia – of the growing ivy
• Koryphagenês – born of the head
• Koryphasia – of the head
• Kyparissia – of the cypress grove / of Cyparissiae (Messenia)
• Larisaia – of Larisus (Achaea)
• Leitis – distributor of war booty
• Makhantis – contriver (of plans and devices)
• Nedousia – of Nedon (Messenia)
• Nikê – victory
• Ophthalmitis – of the eyes
• Oxyderkês – sharp-sighted
• Paiônia – healer
• Panakhaia – of all Achaea
• Parthenos – virgin, maiden
• Polemêdokos – war-sustaining
• Polias – of the city
• Poliatis – keeper of the city
• Polioukhos – city protectress
• Promakhorma – champion of the anchorage
• Pronoia – foresight
• Salpinx – war trumpet
• Skillyntia – of Scillus (Elis)
• Skiras – of Sciras (Salamis)
• Sounia – of Sunium (Attica)
• Sthenias – of strength, strong
• Xenia – of hospitality, of the foreigner
• Zôstêria – girder in armor

Epithets are used in invocations to Athena during rituals. Some suggest using all epithets, while others suggest choosing epithets that are more in alignment with the focus of the ritual energy. One of my personal practices is to chant epithets of deities so as to call their energy closer to me and to honor their many names. These are used often after saying the name Athena. For example, Athena Skiras or Athena Pronoia.

The Wisdom of Correspondences

These correspondences for Athena are the most common, but you may find you add to this list as you build a relationship with her. And that is a wonderful idea to personalize your practice. While it’s true there are people who want to adhere as closely as possible to the practices outlined (or interpreted in) in texts and myths, I encourage you to find what works for you. To me, the most effective deity relationship is the one grounded in experimentation, reverence, and humility. While you may start with using the correspondences and practices in this book, feel free to expand into the wisdom of your personal experience. After all, that’s what Athena would (likely) do. In fact, I might offer that she would adjust her strategies for devotion and interaction to suit the needs of a moment, so sticking to just one correspondence could possibly be unwise

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^[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorgons
^[2] https://www.hellenicgods.org/athena-the-epithets
^[3] https://www.theoi.com/Cult/AthenaTitles.html

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