Ch 8: Athena

Background of Athena (Minerva)

• Athena's Epithets: Bright-eyed, quick-minded, chaste, mighty virgin, protectress of the city, Tritogeneia.

• Athena is portrayed as powerful and divine from the moment of her birth.

• Close bond between Athena and Zeus is emphasized.

• She is a goddess of war but distinct from Ares—she values strategy, justice, and protection over blind rage.

• Athena is a virgin goddess, but unlike Artemis, her chastity reflects self-control and focus on higher ideals, not fear or disgust.

• Athena is deeply tied to the rise of civil law and rational justice

The Birth of Athena

• Zeus gives birth to Athena from his forehead.

• She emerges fully armed, clad in golden armor, wielding a spear.

• Her sudden appearance causes awe among the gods:

• Athena removes her divine armor and Zeus rejoices at her birth.

• Helpers at Athena’s Birth:

  • Hephaestus, Prometheus, or Hermes may split Zeus’ head open.

Zeus and Metis Backstory

• Zeus marries Metis ("wisdom").

• Prophecy: Metis will bear:

  1. Athena, equal to Zeus in wisdom and strength.

  2. A son destined to overthrow Zeus.

• On advice from Gaea and Uranus, Zeus swallows Metis while she is pregnant.

• Significance:

  • Swallowing Metis prevents the birth of a threatening son.

  • Athena is born from Zeus alone—symbolizing divine wisdom and authority.

What was the Parthenon and who was it dedicated to?

• The Parthenon was a grand temple on the Acropolis in Athens, dedicated to Athena Parthenos ("virgin" Athena).

• Built between 447–438 B.C., it symbolized Athenian courage and piety after defeating the Persians, who had destroyed the Old Parthenon in 480 B.C.

Who oversaw the Parthenons Sculptural Program?

• Pheidias, who also created the statue of Zeus at Olympia, directed the sculpture.

What scene was depicted on the east pediment of the Parthenon?

showed the dramatic birth of Athena in front of Zeus’ throne, likely with Hephaestus and Hera present.

What was shown on the west pediment of the Parthenon?

depicted Athena’s victory over Poseidon for control of Athens

Athena created an olive tree, Poseidon a salt spring;

Athena won.

Athena as Tritogenia

• thena’s title, Tritogeneia, is obscure.

  • seems to refer to a region sometimes associated with her birth, the river or lake Triton, or Tritonis, in Boeotia or in Libya.

    • Some ppl think this is bc Athena has origins as a goddess of water or the sea

Athena as Pallas

• Triton had a daughter named Pallas (maiden) and she trained with Athena

• They trained and zeus scared her which lead to Athena killing Pallas

• In her grief athena made a wooden image of the girl and decked it with the aegis.

• Cast down by Zeus, this statue, called the Palladium

• In honor of her friend, Athena took the name Pallas for herself.

Athena and Arachne

• Minerva (Athena) hears of Arachne’s fame in weaving, which rivals her own.

• Athena disguises as a old women to tell Arachne to show humility but she doesnt listen

• Minerva doesnt like how good Arachne tapestry is so she destroys it and hits her

• Arachne tries to hang herself. Minerva pities her and transforms her into a spider, doomed to weave forever.

What does Arachne and Minerva weave?

• Minerva - Her tapestry shows her contest with Neptune (Poseidon) over Athens and a border of mortals punished for defying the gods, framed by an olive tree.

• Arachne - shows the gods’ immoral affairs—exposing Jupiter, Neptune, Apollo, Bacchus, and Saturn’s deceit and abuse.