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We Goddesses: Athena, Aphrodite, Hera
The war goddess of the ancient Greeks was Athena--often called Pallas Athena, or simply Pallas. The Romans identified
her as Minerva and ranked her third among their gods, after Jupiter and Juno. Athena was also worshiped as the
goddess of wisdom and of crafts, especially spinning and weaving.
According to mythology, Athena was the favorite daughter of Zeus (Jupiter). She was said to have sprung from his
head full grown and clothed in armor. The goddess was usually shown wearing a helmet and carrying a spear and shield.
Like her father, she also wore the magic aegis--a goatskin breastplate, fringed with snakes, that produced thunderbolts
when shaken. Athena was very different from the war god Ares (Mars). She represented the intellectual and civilized
side of war--she was not so much a fighter as a wise and prudent adviser.
Athena was regarded as the protector of all cities and states. She was wise not only in war but also in the arts
of peace. She supposedly invented the plow and taught men how to yoke oxen.
Athens became the most important seat of the worship of Athena. Zeus had decreed that the city should be given
to the god who offered the most useful gift to the people. Poseidon gave them the horse. Athena struck the bare
soil with her spear and caused an olive tree to spring up. The people were so delighted with the olive that Zeus
gave the city to Athena and named it after her. Athena is often shown with an olive branch, a symbol of peace and
plenty.
On the hill of the Acropolis the Athenians built a beautiful temple to Athena called the Parthenon (from parthenos,
meaning "virgin"). In the temple stood the ivory and gold statue called the Athena Parthenos, by Phidias,
the greatest Greek sculptor.
The Athenians held their most important festival, the Panathenaea, on the day considered to be the goddess' birthday.
It was celebrated by a procession, sacrifices, and games. (See also Mythology.)
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