Athena: The Wise Goddess

ATHENA

• This myth focuses around the Goddess of Wisdom, Athena. One of the 12 Olympians, Athena was the Goddess of Wisdom, Arts and Crafts, and War. She is also the patron of the city of Athens, and advisor to Zeus. Athena prefers peace over war, attempting to reason before fighting. Although being the polar opposite of her brother, Ares God of War, she has managed to defeat him multiple times in battle.
• Other minor characters include: Poseidon god of the Seas, Zeus god of the Sky, Hephaestus god of the Forge, and Ares god of War

The myth has multiple settings not taking place in one set location. These include the Acropolis in Athens, Mount Olympus, Troy, and Greece in general.

One day on Mount Olympus, Zeus was suffering from a massive headache. The pain was so painful, that naturally he asked his brother Hephaestus to split his skull open. With a mighty blow from his hammer, the God of the Forge split Zeus' head in two. Out emerged a fully grown Athena, clad in full armor. Athena was Zeus' favorite child, and was trusted with his weapons, and eventually became his advisor. Athena also engaged in a contest with Poseidon for patronship of Athena and won. Her gift to the city, the olive tree, beat out Poseidon's salt water spring, and became one of her symbols. Athean cared deeply for the affairs of humans, and aided heroes whenever possible. Some of these heroes include Perseus, She sided with the Greeks during the Trojan War, who later ended defeating the Trojans. Unlike her brother Ares, she prefers peace, but is a superb war strategist, capable of defeating Ares.


This myth does not have one conflict or plot. It is more of a collection of Athena's myths and her importance in Greek culture. Some subconflicts could be Zeus's headache, Athena competing against Posiedon for Athens, and the Greeks vs. Trojans.

The myth of the goddess of wisdom attempts to explain the importance of wisdom in our everyday lives, as well as in war. It also explains how the most powerful isn't always the best way to go. An example is Poseidon's gift of the "ocean", but it wasn't drinkable and served little purpose.