The Goddess Directory

Athena

Greek goddess of wisdom and strategic war

Athena is a Greek goddess of wisdom, good counsel , strategic warfare and crafts. She is counted among the Twelve Olympians who ruled from Mount Olympus. She carried a spear and shield, and wore the aegis, a breastplate bearing the head of Medusa. Wisdom, courage, and clear judgment all fell under her domain, and she held her place as one of the most respected among the Olympian gods.

Athenas Birth

Athena was born fully grown, armored, and shouting a war cry, straight from the head of Zeus. She was never a child. Her birth came out of a prophecy. Zeus, her father had taken the Titaness Metis as a lover, and word came that any son of hers would grow strong enough to overthrow him, just as he had overthrown his own father. Zeus swallowed Metis whole to stop the prophecy from unfolding. She was already pregnant with Athena, and the child grew inside him instead. When the time came, Zeus suffered a splitting headache, and Hephaestus split his skull open with an axe to ease it. Athena stepped out, fully grown.

Athenas Attributes

She ruled over wisdom and strategic warfare, the kind of fighting that depends on a clear mind rather than blind rage. Her half brother Ares embodied the chaos and bloodlust of battle but Athena was a General. But she is not only a warrior. She is also the goddess of intellectual pursuits, art and crafts, strategy and justice. She is the protector of cities and heroes. Athens took her name after she won a contest against Poseidon by gifting the city an olive tree. The tree offered food, oil, and wood, and the people chose her gift over Poseidon’s saltwater spring. It says something about her that her offering was practical and lasting rather than flashy.

She kept close companions among mortals. Odysseus received her favor throughout his long journey home, and she guided craftsmen, weavers, and inventors as much as kings and soldiers. Her sacred creature was the owl, a bird that sees clearly in the dark. Her tree was the olive, humble and useful, feeding people for generations.

Athena never married and bore no children in the traditional sense. She was self-possessed, courageous and strong. A woman complete on her own terms. She fought fiercely for those under her protection and rewarded cleverness and hard work wherever she found it.

Oracle Altar Card Athena

ATHENA
Greek goddess Athena is one of the twelve Olympians. Athena is the goddess of wisdom and war. Her birth was a little unorthodox as she leapt fully grown and armored from her fathers forehead after he swallowed her mother.
Athena has a long list of attributes. She is a goddess of intellectual pursuits, art and crafts, strategy and justice as well as a warrior, courageous and strong.
Athena is the voice of reason and rational thinking. She is logical, fair and fearless.
Call to Athena, for guidance and wisdom when in conflict or indecision.
She can help you gain clarity, assertiveness and resilience when you are in the trenches, whether it be a matter of justice, an artistic endeavour or strategic warfare.

The Coventina Press

Head over to The Coventina Press where you can find all my current goddess artwork, including the Athena Oracle Altar card to add to your collection.