Athena: Introduction to the Warrior Goddess of War, Handicraft & Wisdom (Greek Mythology Explained)

Greek goddess, daughter of Zeus, born fully grown and in full armour, ready for battle. She is a virgin goddess. There are many different versions of Athena's birth and her conception. Often it is read that Athena did not have a mother, but that Zeus laid with Metis, the goddess and it had been prophesied that Metis would have many children and that they would indeed become more powerful than the sire, including Zeus himself. Zeus simply could not accept this, so he swallowed Metis whole, but it was too late. Metis had already conceived. One day, Zeus experienced a terrible headache. He got herpnase to split his head open to ease the pain and with that emerged Athena, fully grown and in full armour. It is said the skies darkened, the sea got angry and the waves rose. Athena had arrived. Athena is a warrior goddess, a wise woman and is normally depicted with a shield, a sword and a breastplate. She rides a chariot. She is a protective goddess and inspires women to empower their inner strength and courage. She is fierce and brave in battle. The animal associated with Athena is an owl, probably due to her wisdom aspect. Athena, although a battle goddess, used initiative and wisdom to beat her opponents instead of using violence and anger. She did not like fighting without a purpose. Athena is a goddess that gets things done. Nothing is too big for Athena to take on. As well as being a warrior goddess, Athena was also involved in crafts. She invented the horse's bit so horses could be tamed and she is a protective guardian of horses, often depicted in a chariot pulled by them. The olive tree is another symbol related to Athena. She competed with Poseidon to become the patron of Athens, which before that time was unnamed. It is said that Poseidon, god of the sea, struck the earth with a trident and a spring emerged, giving water and means of trade. However, the water was salty and unfit for drinking. Athena gave the gift of the olive tree as it provided wood, oil and food. King Cephalax accepted the tree and gave Athena the patronage. The Athenians founded the Parthenon, which they dedicated to Athena. Athena would stand up and fight for what she believed in, but she would not hold back. If someone crossed her path, she protected her chastity fiercely and woe betide anyone who questioned or challenged it. She was a proud virgin goddess. One of the stories is that one day Athena went to see Hephaestus for some armour. He became amorous with Athena and tried to violate her, but she protected herself so fiercely that Hephaestus could not have what he wanted. Instead, he scattered his seed onto the earth, which shortly gave birth to a son called Erythonias. The child was found by Athena who brought him up. He grew to maturity and became the king of Athens, where he established the solemn cult of Athena. As mentioned before, Athena, although a battle goddess, used initiative and wisdom to beat her opponents instead of using violence and anger. She is a very protective goddess and can be called upon in many situations. She will fight your corner, but at the same time bring a gentleness along too. Athena is a goddess to call upon if you find yourself being treated unfairly, especially in the workplace. If you feel that your work is not appreciated or that you do not get the recognition you deserve, call upon Athena to help you stand up for yourself and she can support you. She will offer a gentle hand, but will not necessarily accept this situation without upsetting everyone. Athena can also be called upon if you work with animals, especially horses. If you have ever experienced a horse being difficult to handle or settle, then call upon Athena. She was a very skilled horsewoman. She always made sure the horse's needs were looked after first and foremost. She will help you become a better handler or be more understanding of that horse's nature as well as her warrior aspect and skill with horses. Athena also is a goddess of arts and crafts. She can be called upon if you experience artist block or need inspiration for a piece to paint, create and make. She can inspire you to think outside the box. Remember that you are a unique individual and what you do will be different from the work of others, but that is never a bad thing. If we all created the same things, it would be pretty dull. Athena is often depicted with an owl that accompanies her. Many people believe it's due to the wisdom aspect attributed to her. Other attributes of Athena are wisdom, courage, justice, inspiration, strength, arts, strategy and studies. Through her embodiment of wisdom, courage and creativity, Athena, the Greek goddess, serves as a powerful example of strength and inspiration. As a skilled warrior and protector, she uses her strategic mind and wise approach to overcome obstacles. Her diverse talents, including her association with crafts, horses and justice, highlight the breadth of her abilities. For those seeking guidance in facing workplace injustices, handling horses or finding inspiration in arts and crafts, Athena is a beacon of hope and empowerment. With her symbolism of wisdom, justice, strength and inspiration, Athena represents the potential for greatness within all of us. If you would like to go deeper with Greek goddesses and how to form connections with them, then I recommend you begin with our books, a selection of which are on the screen right now. Thank you so much for watching, subscribe for weekly content and we'll see you next time.