A person would assume that Athena, Goddess of War was nothing but violent. However, this was very much untrue. Athena was just as peaceful, if not more, then Aphrodite. Athena only instigated wars if she had to, but otherwise she preferred to use wisdom to calm every situation. It is believed that Athena "was quite literally absorbed by Zeus, who by pure thought brought her to birth from his forehead, fully armed in his own magic goat-skin, the aegis, though Hephaestus cleft his head with an axe to effect the delivery" (Pinsent). In society, this myth "reflects the resentment felt in a patriarchal society for woman's one indispensable function, actually bearing the legitimate children of the father" (Pinsent). The most memorable thing about Athena was "the Parthenon, the grand temple of Athena atop the Akropolis" (Vivante). Athena also planted an olive tree right by the Parthenon and fought Poseidon, her uncle, in order to become ruler of a city in Greece and show worthiness of herself (Vivante). Although there has been speculation and resentment towards Athena's birth, the people of Greece always admired and respected her as a warrior, fighter and strong woman.
SOURCES
Pinsent, John. Greek Mythology. New York, NY: Peter Bedrick Books, 1969. 19 - 22. Print. 5 July 2010.
Vivante, Bella. Events That Changed Ancient Greece. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 2002. 35 - 55. Print. 5 July 2010.
PICTURE SOURCE
http://homepage.mac.com/cparada/GML/000Spanish/Atenea.html
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