Ancient Greece’s Athena was one of the most famous goddesses of the Greek civilization. She is Athena Goddess of wisdom, of craft as well as the patron of the city-state of Athens. Athena was also the Goddess of defensive Warcraft.
So, while on the one hand, she symbolized matriarchal principles and ideals of domesticity in weaving and crafts, she also had masculine roles to play. That is why ancient Greece Athena is depicted as wearing a full armor and carrying a shield bearing the severed head of Medusa, the Gorgon who could turn people into statues by looking at them.
She is also known as the patron Goddess of the ancient city of Athens, as she was supposed to be the protector of the city and the city’s name was also derived from the name of Athena.
How was Athena worshipped in ancient Greece
Athena was worshipped in the Acropolis of many cities, as she was considered as the protector of cities.
She was also worshipped at a festival at Athens which lasted for five days at the end of the month of Thargelion and was known as Plynteria or ‘Feast of the Bath’. During this time her statuses were cleansed by her priestesses at Athens and her clothes and body were washed and purified.
Another festival known as Chalceia was celebrated by the bronze workers at the end of the month of Pyanepsion which worshipped Athena as the patron of weaving and crafts and the deity of handicrafts.
She was also worshipped at a festival at Athens which lasted for five days at the end of the month of Thargelion and was known as Plynteria or ‘Feast of the Bath’. During this time her statuses were cleansed by her priestesses at Athens and her clothes and body were washed and purified.
Another festival known as Chalceia was celebrated by the bronze workers at the end of the month of Pyanepsion which worshipped Athena as the patron of weaving and crafts and the deity of handicrafts.
The origin and Myths
The story of the birth of Athena and her various roles have been found in Greek mythology as well as the writing of several scholars. Athena is described as the daughter of Zeus in Greek mythology. There are actually two main theories about her birth.
In one she is said to be born from the forehead of Zeus through the process of Parthenogenesis and without any mother.
While another myth mentions that Zeus had killed a daughter named Metis who was prophesied to be even more powerful than Zeus. In that myth, Athena is said to be his firstborn daughter.
Athena in Iliad and odyssey
Powers of Goddess Athens
- Immortality and eternal youth: she being one of twelve Olympians had the gift of immortality. She continued to look over the Greeks with her high wisdom and intelligence.
- Superhuman strength: she was one of the most powerful goddesses who is said to have been born in armor. She was also the goddess of war. She had great strategic ideas and excellent combat skills. She fought with Ares and even Argive, a mortal prince empowered by Athena who almost killed Ares
- Her weapons: she was equipped with a battle spear and a shield known as Aegis along with a highly powerful thunderbolt. Her companion, the owl also allowed her to see the eternal truth.
- Shapeshifting: Like many other gods and goddesses she possessed the ability to shapeshift. She used this power many times during the Trojan war using the combatants with her tricks.
- Ability to bless and curse: Athens was the one who had turned medusa into a monster. She also had the power to bleed and empower people.
Some stories surrounding Ancient Greek Athena Goddess:
Strange though the tale of her birth, there are many other myths surrounding Athena. Some of these are as follows:
1. Athena often took the guise of a man or a woman and helped Odysseus find his way home. She is shown to have aided many herpes like Heracles and Achilles . She was said to be the patron of heroes.
2.Teiresias was a famous oracle of Greece. It is said that he accidentally saw Athena bathing. The Athena Goddess blinded him but gave him the gift of second sight. She was very stern in her punishments and is even said to have cursed medusa to become the monster for polluting her sanctuary.
3. Arachne was a young woman who challenged Athena to a weaving contest. The two were evenly matched but Arachne depicted the dalliances of the gods in her tapestry. This angered Athena who turned her into a spider. They still weave beautiful webs.
Changing Perspectives of Goddess Athena
There are quite a few versions and interpretations of Athena. Originally she was a Mycenaean goddess of handiwork.
But with time and the coming of violent times made her into the goddess of war and the daughter of Zeus. She was depicted as the civilized side of war where virtues like justice and bravery were promoted. She represented a disciplined lady and a master strategist.
She was known to be the protector of cities especially Athens and many temples were devoted to Athens in their Acropolis. She gifted the olive tree to Athens which made her the patron of the city-state.
But in peacetime we find her being portrayed in a feminine role of weaving and crafts. She was the personified form of wisdom and intelligence. At that time she was regarded as a virgin goddess who embodies modesty, chastity, and the restrained side of life. She is also said to have guided sailors considered the patron of shops and navigation.
Many inventions have also been credited to Athens being personified versions of logic and intellect. She is said to have invented the chariot, the plow, and the rake.’
So we see so many perspectives on the attributes of the goddess Athena. She embodies the conditions of those times. War brought in her warlike armored look while peacetime made her look more feminine with her being engaged in crafts and handicrafts.
Changing outlooks on Athena in art forms
The figure of Athena has always been associated with art and sculptors.
n the classical age, she was very prominent. Her figure in armor with a Corinthian helmet and a shield in hand was extremely prominent and popular.
But after antiquity, the Christians pointed to the immortality of the pagan religion through Athena. But she was also considered as almost a form of the Virgin Mary in the 4th century.
In the renaissance age, she was portrayed as a patron of arts and human endeavor. She has also been used as a symbol for many queens.
While in modern times many have accused her of being a patriarchal figure only helping out men and never a female.
These and many other stories keep the image of ancient Greece Athena alive even in the contemporary world.