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Athena is the Greek goddess of war, wisdom, the arts, and crafts. She is the patron goddess of the city of Athens. Athenians would usually call her Parthenos, because of her chosen state of virginity. She represented war planning and had no violence in war.The Romans identifted her as Minerva, their goddess of war and wisdom. She assisted many Greek heroes including Heracles, Odysseus, and Perseus.

Some ancient sources say that Athena was born out of Zeus's head. An advisor had told him that if the next child to be born was a boy, he would take Zeus's place. He managed to make Metis turn into a fly and be swallowed by Zeus, while pregnant with Athena. She gave birth to Athena in Zeus's head. Metis also gave him oral instruction whenever in need. One day,Zeus had an enormous headache. His son, Hephaestus, rushed up to him and cut open his head with an axe. Athena came out full-grown and in armor. Athena became Zeus's favorite daughter. She was allowed to use his chief weapon.(Which are his thunderbolts.) Athena also got to use his aegis. The aegis was what some myths say is a breastplate, a shield, or a goat-skin bag.

According to the Hellenes, Pallas was her father. Pallas was a winged and goatish giant. Athena, stripping him of his skin, made the aegis. She tore off his wings, and settled them on her own shoulders.

To the Pelasgians, Athena was born beside Lake Tritonis, which was in Libya. Three nymphs of Libya found her. They dressed her in goatskins, which are still the traditional garments that Libyan women still wear.

Some say she was brought up by a river god named Triton. She accidentally killed her foster-sister, Pallas. Both were engaged in a playful battle when Athena killed her. In grief, Athena put Pallas's name before hers. From then on, it was Pallas-Athena.

There is one myth where Athena's father is Poseidon, the god of all seas. She begged Zeus to adopt her, which he was glad to do.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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All the gods and goddesses lived on Mount Olympus. Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece. The Greeks had believed that twelve gods and goddesses lived there. In Greek mythology, the peak of Mount Olympus was the site of the grand palace of Zeus, king of all the gods. The ancient Greeks also believed that eleven other gods and goddesses also lived in the palace with him including his wife, Hera; his children Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Ares, Aphrodite, and Hermes; and his brother Poseidon, They enjoyed fine banquets including ambrosia. Ambrosia was a magical substance that Greek and Roman gods ate. Ambrosia was usually eaten nectar, the drink of the gods and goddesses. They also enjoyed the occasional family quarrel.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Athena is described as a tall and stately woman. She has prudent gray eyes from her mother, Metis. She wears a crested helmet on her head. Athena carries a shield and a spear. In art, she is usually shown with a serpent or an owl, on her shoulder, accompanying her. Athena invented the flute, the trumpet, the earthenware pot, the plow, the rake, the ox-yoke, the horse bridle, and the ship. She first taught the science of numbers and women's arts. These included cooking, weaving, and spinning. She gets no pleasure in war, as Ares and Eris do. Her mercy is great. When the judge's votes, in a criminal trial at the Areiopagus are even, Athena would give thecasting vote. Wise captains would seek for her advice. Her constant companion was Nike, the spirit of victory. Gods, Titans, and Giants would have been glad to marry her. But she refused every proposal.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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The Parthenon, Athena's temple, was settled on the Acropolis. The temple is dedicated to Athena. The Parthenon was built by the Ancient Greeks between the years of 147 and 432 BC. The Greek architects, Ictinus and Callicrates designed the Parthenon. Phidias designed all the sculptural decorations at the temple.

At about AD 500, temple soon became a Christian church. The Parthenon soon served as a mosque in the mid-1400's, after Turkish Muslim forces captured the city. The Parthenon was in a bad condition when the Venetians conquered Athens in 1687. The Turks were using it for storing gunpowder when it exploded and destroyed the central part of the building. It was built entirely of Pentelic marble. The white marble was brought from Mount Pentelicus. It stood about 60 feet high.

The cella, a central enclosed space, is divided into two rooms.One room held a great statue of Athena that was made of gold and ivory.