On the way up the Acropolis are spaces of honor for Greek godds, notably Dionysus and Asclepius. Across from a theatre for Dionysus is a wall with small holes, a place no longer accessible to visitors. Described as a sanctuary, this was a place where owls might live and be cared for as the special birds of Athena.

When you climb the steps up a side of the Acropolis, you will see to your right a smaller temple compared to the other temples on the site. The tour guide pointed out this white marble structure, completed around 420 B.C.E., as a temple to Athena Nike, or Winged Victory. This Ionic temple was vulnerable to attack because of its location, but was also well-situated to defend the rest of the site. Some researchers also believe the Mycenaeans used this temple for rituals.

While the story of Athens being named for Athena is disputed, it continues to be told to honor the goddess and her divine wisdom. The mythbegins with the land that is now Athens being ruled by a half-man, half sea serpent, Cecrops. Because of his snake-like features, it was thought he was closer to the land, possibly even born out of the land itself. From what is said, he ruled the land well, but was not dedicated to a deity, so the land’s name was subject to change.

Athena and Poseidon wanted to claim this land for themselves, and Zeus was concerned the two might battle each other if he did not intervene. Zeus told the two Olympians they would fight to claim the land as their own, with Cecrops as the judge. Poseidon began by striking his trident into the ground and releasing water onto the land as a gift to the people. But since the area already had access to water, this act was not met with enthusiasm.

When Athena’s turn came, she planted and grew an olive tree, bearing a fruit that would offer nourishment and wealth as food and oil. The people of the land saw this as highly valuable, so the land was given to Athena and named Athens.

But William Burkert, a scholar, noticed something in the spelling of Athena that gives another story, introducing the possibility that Athena may have been named from the city name, Athens. However, a language choice is not as endearing of a story to tell.

Regardless of the story of Athens, Athena was honored here. She is still honored here, born into a world that needed her wisdom and her war in equal parts.

Often described as grey-eyed or blue-eyed, Athena is as striking as she is fierce. Artists have shown her dressed in a long tunic, with a shield and a staff or her father’s aegis, a goatskin breastplate with the image of a Gorgon, a monster with terrifying eyes. Other images show her with a helmet, sometimes elaborately decorated with a crest of horse hair. She appears tall and strong, perhaps sculpted from battle and the responsibility of leadership.

Like other Greek deities, the birth of Athena is a complicated question. In some places, Athena is the daughter of Zeus, god of the sky and ruler of Olympus, and Metis, a Titan goddess of wisdom and skill, who was also the daughter of Oceanus and Thetis, Titan godds of freshwater. Other stories seem to show Athena as being born of Zeus alone.

As with many stories in Greek mythology, the godds in power want to remain in power, and Zeus is no exception. When he hears a prophecy that his children will overpower him, he swallows Metis so that this will not happen. In some versions of the story, Zeus doesn’t realize Metis is pregnant with Athena.

Hesiod describes Zeus as having married others after swallowing Athena, and only when he marries Hera does Athena come into the world. But there was another story of Athena’s birth, which included a description of her being the daughter of Poseidon, as there were images of her with blue-green eyes, the color of the sea.

Because Athena is most often described as the daughter of Zeus, she has many siblings and half-siblings, mortal and immortal, including, but not limited to: Aphrodite, Apollo, Ares, Artemis, Dionysus, Eris, Hebe, Helen of Troy, Hephaestus, Heracles, Hermes, Minos, The Moirai, The Muses, Persephone, Perseus, The Graces, and The Horae.

While some writings have linked children to Athena, the original stories of the Greek godds do not. Some of Athena’s epithets, or titles, reiterate this virginity, e.g., ‘Parthenos’ or Virgin.

However, one story connects Athena to motherhood without losing her virginity.

Some of the most well-known stories of Athena sing of her wisdom, her ferocity, and her importance. Like many other deities, she is complex, multi-faceted, and ruthless. Perhaps in knowing her stories, we may begin to recognize the complexity of our own stories.

War of the Giants

A common description of Athena includes her counsel during times of war. In the War of the Giants (or Gigantomachy), she helps Zeus in aligning with Heracles/Herakles/Hercules. The two are found together in art and sculpture, thus alluding to an ongoing friendship as well as Athena’s ongoing help during Heracles/Herakles/Hercules’ labors. It’s noteworthy that Zeus was also Herakles’ father, so Athena and Herakles are half-siblings, which may also inform why Athena is so helpful during the story of the labors.

The Capture of Persephone

One of the tellings of the abduction of Persephone includes the scene of Athena and Artemis playing in a field of flowers with Persephone. And in the delight of seeing the crocuses, irises, hyacinths, roses, and lilies, Persephone was taken by Hades to the underworld. This playful image is striking as it moves Athena away from her connection to war for a moment and reminds readers that she has also been just a child and sister.

The Fate of Arachne

Athena was the one known for her weaving talents, so when it is said another has talents to rival the goddess, Athena is enraged and tries to warn Arachne to stop weaving so as not to outshine the goddess. But Arachne refuses and tells Athena (in disguise as an old woman) that Athena should come tell Arachne herself. When Athena reveals her true form, the two have a weaving contest, but Arachne’s work is flawless, further enraging Athena who hits her in the head, which causes Arachne to hang herself. Taking pity on the girl, Athena uses Hecate’s herbs to turn Arachne into a spider who can weave for the rest of her days.

Medusa / Gorgon

Perseus already had the head of Medusa, which was helpful in getting out of the clutches of those who were not happy with his desire for Andromeda. When Perseus escaped, he brought the head of Medusa/the Gorgon to Athena, as it was said she may have been the one to order her beheading. This gorgon imagery can be found in battle imagery and descriptions, as well as architectural design.

Remember too that Athena turned Medusa into a snaked figure after her affair with Poseidon, and it would make sense to see the head returned to the goddess.

Judgment of Paris

Eris, one of Chaos, decided to create a contest to decide who the most beautiful goddess was out of Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. Paris would make the final decision based on what each of the goddesses offered to him. Hera offered to make him king of all men, while Athena offered him victory in war. But Aphrodite offered him Helen, who she knew he loved and wanted, which Paris accepted, naming Aphrodite the fairest. This story might speak to the way that men can be swayed by the heart more than by the promise of power.

As you begin to learn more about Athena, there is an invitation to look beyond the armor and the battles.

Perhaps Athena arrives during your battles, when you think there is nothing more you can do and nothing more you can try. She comes, sent by deities or by necessity, to tell you the next best step, the next best action. With her wisdom and her creativity, she follows you to the places you think you are alone. You are not. She waits, she watches, she offers what is most helpful.

She whispers that you may not need to fight at all. Perhaps what you need to do is say what you really mean, what you really want, and what you really believe. Sometimes, Athena does not pick up her long spear; it’s not needed all the time. But she reminds you to keep it close because some battles will require something sharper, like discernment, patience, and sacrifice.

May the wisdom of Athena guide you and grant you courage.

May her spear and shield offer you precision and protection.

May her hands help you weave wondrous beauty from simple threads.

May her whisper grant you the words you need to hear.

May her owls always find you; her snakes wrap around you.

May her battle cries find you in the chaos of the modern world.

May Athena, Wise and Wondrous and Warlike, be your ally,

Be our ally.

Hail Athena!

This script is a modified version of the Pagan Portals: Athena text researched, written, and edited by Irisanya Moon

For more details: https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/moon-books/our-books/pagan-portals-athena

Irisanya Moon (she/they) is an author, witch, teacher, poet, and Reclaiming initiate who has practiced magick for 20+ years. She blends grounded, graceful, and radically authentic facilitation to inspire transformation and liberation at the personal and collective levels.