Athena Essay, Research Paper

Back in time when Greece was making its mark in history as one of the great

civilization of the Ancient World, there was a great deal of emphasis on the

Gods and Goddesses. To the Greeks the world was governed by the Gods and they

were the reason many things happened in the world, mostly thing that where

unexplainable. The goddess Athena was one of the many gods or goddesses that

played a large role in Greek mythology. Even though Athena was the patron saint

of Athens she supported other Greeks outside of Athens, such as, Achilles,

Orestes, and especially Odysseus (?Athena?-1). Athena is know to be the

goddess of war, guardian of cities, patroness of arts and crafts, and promoter

of wisdom (?Images of Women…?-1). Athena?s name actually came form the

Cretan and Mycenean name Athene which predates the Greeks by about 1,500 years

(Daly-20). The ending ?-ene,? was set aside for royalty and goddesses, like

Helene (Harris-4). She was also called by some Greeks as Pallas Athena. Not many

people know where the name Pallas came from. Some legends say she obtained it

from the giant Pallas that she killed in the war of the gods and giants

(Grant-Hazel 83). Another legend says that Athena accidentally killed her

childhood playmate Pallas. By taking Pallas? in front of her own, Athena shows

the grief that she endured for the loss of her friend (Daly-20). Athena had such

an impact on the Greeks that the Romans adopted her and called her Minerva

(?Minerva?-1). The origins of Athena?s name is not the only discrepancy

that historians have had. The origin of where Athena came form is also a

discrepancy. Zeus feared that he would be overcome by a son greater than he born

from the intelligent Metis. To prevent this Zeus ate Metis. There for, Athena,

in the most common legend, was born fully grown out of Zeus?s head after

Hephaestus split it open with an ax. Another legend, this one form Crete, says

Athena was hidden in a cloud. Zeus hit his head on the cloud and caused Athena

to appear (Daly-20). Out of all the cities that Athena helped and protected

Athens claimed her as there own. The Atheans believed that the first king of

Athens, Erichthonius, was a descendant of Athena (Daly-20). Even though Poseidon

was greedy of earthy kingdoms, he challenged Athena for the city. The both of

them appeared before the court of gods and goddess to make a judgment. Poseidon

presented water to be of use to the Atheans. But the water was salty. Athena

presented the olive tree which gave fruit, oil and wood. The court judged that

this was a more beneficial gift and let Athena have the city (Daly-100). To show

their homage, the Atheans, built the Parthenon. The word Parthenon means

virgin?s place, for Athena was a virgin goddess (?Parthenon?-1). The east

side of the building showed the birth of Athena and the west side showed the

contest with Poseidon (?Athena?-1). Atheans, on the other hand, were not the

only people Athena favored. According to Homer the Greeks were greatly benefited

when Athena came down from the heavens and stopped Achilles of Phthia from

killing Agamemnon. Achilles protested but Athena replied: Down from the skies I

come to check your rage if only you would yield…Stop this fighting,

now…Don?t lay hand to sword…I know it is the truth-one day glittering

gifts will lie before you, three times over to pay for all his outrage. Hold

pack now. Obey… (Homer-104) Even though Athena was the patroness of war she

also had compassion for the Greeks. Athena new if Achilles had killed Agamemnon

that would certainly mean defeat for the Greeks. Athena was ruthless,

manipulative, savage, and found delight in Trojan blood (?Athena, daughter of

Zues?-1). Athena also is credited with helping a young man that was on trial

in Athens for killing his mother. This young man was Orestes and his mother

Clytemnestra, both form Argos. Athena having no mother had more compassion for

the male figure than female. She considered the crimes of Clytemnestra (killing

her husband, Agamemnon) more punishable than Orestes crime (Parada-2). Aeschylus

seems to sum it up in Athena?s speech to the court in The Oresteia. ?The

Eumenides.? …No mother gave me birth. I honor the male , in all things but

marriage. Yes, with all my heart I am my Father?s child. I cannot set more

store by the women?s death-she killed her husband, guardian of their

house…(644) With this trial Athena presented a new form of justice, trial by

jury. The jury had voted equally but Athena broke the deadlock with a innocent

vote setting Orestes free. But of all the people Athena helped, Odysseus was the

Greek that she liked the most. According to Kathleen Daly, author of Greek and

Roman Mythology A-Z, Athena displays her ?unique intellectual qualities? the

best in Homer?s Odyssey (20). If it was not for her help and guidance Odysseus

would have never reached his beloved Ithaka. With all the phenomenon?s that

were unexplainable in the ancient world; mythology was able to shed some light

on the subject. By today?s standards these mythological explanations seem a

little far fetched. But for the time, accomplishments and triumphs that many

Greeks made where do to the help of the gods like the wise Athena. She saved

Greece from being defeated by holding back the anger of Achilles. A new form of

government was established thanks to Athena?s idea of trial by jury which

allowed Orestes to go free. She also helped the mighty Odysseus find his path

home. In respect, Athena was a goddess that was for all of Greece not just a

single city. This made her one of the more favorable goddess and for this she

was paid much homage.

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n. pag. Online. Internet. 26 Oct. 1999. Available World Wide Web: http://www.museum.upenn.edu/greek_World…s_Other/Women%26Goddesses_e

xerpts.html. ?Minerva.? HistoryChannel.com.: n. pag. Online. Internet. 25

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3 Parada, Carlos. ?Athena.? Greek Mythology Link.: n. pag. Online. Internet.

21 Oct. 1999. Available World Wide Web: http://hsa.brown.edu/~maicar/Athena.html.

?Parthenon.? HistoryChannel.com.: n. pag. Online. Internet. 25 Oct. 1999.

Available World Wide Web: wysiwyg://index.108/http://www.historychannel.com/perl/print_book.pl?ID=2523