Athena, Goddess of War and Wisdom and the House Hold Crafts

"I begin to sing of Pallas Athena, the glorious goddess, bright-eyed, inventive, unbending of heart, pure virgin, saviour of cities, courageous, Tritogeneia (Trito Born). From his awful head wise Zeus himself bare her arrayed in warlike arms of flashing gold, and awe seized all the gods as they gazed. But Athena sprang quickly from the immortal head and stood before Zeus who holds the aegis, shaking a sharp spear: great Olympos began to reel horribly at the might of the grey-eyed goddess, and earth round about cried fearfully, and the sea was moved and tossed with dark waves, while foam burst forth suddenly: the bright Son of Hyperion [the Sun] stopped his swift-footed horses a long while, until the maiden Pallas Athena had stripped the heavenly armour from her immortal shoulders. And wise Zeus was glad.
Hail to you, daughter of Zeus who holds the aegis!" –Homeric Hymn 29 to Athena

Name: Athena, Goddess of War and Wisdom and the House Hold Crafts

Apppearance: Though she isn’t beautiful like Hera or Aphrodite Athena has her own beauty. At 6 foot she is slender but very muscular. When first born her red brown hair was long, but it constantly got in the way during battles so she has chopped most of it off. It is very uncommon to find her not wearing her armor made for her by Hephaestus.

She has an aegis, a goatskin shield which had a fringe of snakes. When Perseus killed the gorgon Medusa, whose face turned men to stone, he gave the gorgon head to Athena, and the goddess placed it on her aegis.

Personality:  Often seen as a golden child Athena is well known for her calm manor and relaxed disposition when it comes to arguments in her family. Never one to back down in a battle she is brave, cunning and ruthless but always plays by the rules of the game. She does find it hard to constantly live up to the expectations that everyone has put on her.

Background: Zeus was once married to Metis, a daughter of Ocean who was renowned for her wisdom. When Metis became pregnant, Zeus was warned by Earth that a son born to Metis would overthrow him, just as he had usurped his own father's throne.

So Zeus swallowed Metis. In time he was overcome with a splitting headache and summoned help from the craftsman god Hephaestus. Hephaestus cleaved Zeus's forehead with an ax, and Athena sprang forth fully armed.

Both Athena and Poseidon wanted to be patron deity of Athens. To prove her worthiness for the honor, Athena caused an olive tree to spring up on the citadel of Athens, the Acropolis. Poseidon sought to outdo her by striking the ground with his trident and causing a spring of water to gush forth. But as he was god of the sea, the water was salty. Athena's gift to the Athenians was considered to be more useful, so she became the city's patron deity.

She is the goddess of the city, handicrafts, and agriculture. She invented the bridle, which permitted man to tame horses, the trumpet, the flute, the pot, the rake, the plow, the yoke, the ship, and the chariot.

Aiding in the quest of hero’s is a favorite past time for Athena. She helped her half brother Hercules on his labors on a couple occasions. She gave the golden bridal to Bellerophon so he could capture the winged horse Pegasus. She also helped Perseus cut off the head of the gorgon Medusa. Hera asked her help when the hero Jason went after the golden fleece. Of course her favorite mortal to help was Odysseus. Even during the Trojan war she helped him then on his adventures home. She even helped his wife in Ithaca to deal with the suitors that were after her.

She isn’t always nice and helpful to mortals though. When Medusa dare say she was more beautiful then the goddess Athena took her revenge by making her so ugly that to look at her would turn you to stone. She also turned Arachne into a spider after the girl claimed she could weave better then the goddess.

Seeing all her sisters and brother's with children made Athena's jealousy rise. One day during a fight with her sister Aphrodite, Zeus interrupted the fighting. After finding out what Athena’s problem was he offered to give her a child. Noting wanting to lose her virginity Athena said no at first but as always Zeus found a way around it.

Placing his hands on her, he impregnated her without having to lay with her. Carrying the child like other mother’s Athena felt the seeds of motherhood growing happily in her. She couldn’t wait for the birth of her daughter. Several immortal months later she gave birth to her daughter.

Now that she is a mother to her beautiful daughter Megalyia, Athena finds herself more devoted to being a mother then a goddess of war. Trying to teach her daughter everything she can takes up most of her time. But she loves motherhood and wouldn’t trade it for all the victories in Greece.

Powers: she has the powers that all gods and goddess.

Favorite City: Athens, it holds her favorite temple and her most devoted followers. She protects them fiercely

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