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Much has been written about the goddess Athena. As the patron deity of the city of Athens, she played an enormous role in the lives of not only the residents of that illustrious polis (Greek for city), but in many respects all of the Greek speaking world. Our oldest sources of Greek literature - the works of Homer and Hesiod - discuss Athena. The goddess appears in several significant passages of Homer's Iliad, and she is one of the most influential deities in the Odyssey in her role as Odysseus's patron and ally. Therefore, Athena's attributes were codified early in the epics and poetry of Greece: she was the divine sponsor of warriors and heroes, she introduced several of the arts and crafts necessary for civilization, and she represented wisdom. Obviously, the goddess played a prominent role in Greek mythology.
Birth of Athena
The poet Hesiod states that Athena emerged from the head of Zeus; indeed, she sprang out fully grown and armed for battle. Furthermore, the legend of her birth reveals another odd aspect. According to the story, Zeus became enamored with Metis (the name Metis, incidentally, means "thought"). Together, they conceived a child, but Zeus, fearing that his offspring would be a powerful male god who would eventually overthrow him, swallowed the pregnant Metis. In time, it was Zeus himself who gave birth to a daughter, with the assistance of Hephaistos, who played the part of a midwife by striking Zeus's head with an axe and thereby releasing Athena. This instance of Zeus giving birth is not unique: the god also gave birth to Dionysos. Indeed, this is significant, as the birth of Athena from the head of her father emphasizes a couple of important features about the goddess. The idea that she was born from a male underscores her relationship with men, both divine and human. In the human realm, Athena consistently becomes a protector of heroes; while in the divine she completely avoids sexual liaisons with gods
Athena and the Contest for Athens
Another myth that reveals Athena's nature and importance is found in the story of her contest with Poseidon for the city of Athens. According to the legend, both deities wanted Athens as the site of their primary sanctuary. In order to settle the duel in his favor, Poseidon created a spring from which salt water flowed. However, Athena responded by conjuring up an olive tree on the Athenian Acropolis, and this second divine gift was judged by the people to be the more useful (and indeed, Greeks both ancient and modern are credited with the cultivation of some of the best olives in the world). This contest was immortalized on that magnificent Athenian monument, the Parthenon, a temple that was dedicated to the goddess Athena. The myth appeared on one of the pediments of the temple, while the birth of the goddess was depicted on the other.
More Myths of Athena
Myths of Athena and her interactions with mortals are quite numerous in Greek literature, poetry, drama, and art. One intriguing example is the tale of Arachne and her challenge to the goddess who was considered the patron of crafts. The story itself demonstrates the ancient Greek belief that one ought not compare oneself with the gods, lest a deity should suddenly materialize and punish the offending mortal. This comparison to the gods even had a term: it was hubris, which means, roughly, excessive pride. There are indeed many other stories in Greek mythology in which a human is punished by the gods for his or her arrogance, including several that involve Athena herself. For it appears that even the gods were not immune to those human traits of envy, desire, and jealousy.