She helped Perseus kill Medusa, giving him the polished bronze shield he could use to see the Gorgon without being turned to stone, and even guiding his sword when he lopped off the poor gorgon’s head. She often steps in to aid them on their quests, giving them invaluable tools and advice. 480-470 BCĪmong all the gods, Athena is the common patron to the heroes. Athena’s priestesses would also perform dances and songs – albeit fully clothed!Īthena, and Jason being regurgitated by the snake. These were performed nude aside from a helmet and shield.
WHO WAS THE GREEK GODDESS OF STRATEGIC WAR FULL
They would last over a day – some say a full three days – and the winners would receive olive crowns set with gold.īoth festivals also included pyrrhic dances (unrelated to the concept of a Pyrrhic victory, which was named after a real king named Pyrrhus), which Athena was said to have danced after her victory over the giants. Musical contests were also held during the Greater Panathenaia, with recitations of poems and rhapsodies.
The chariot races were also extensive, with various kinds including military competitions, ordinary driving, and an activity where two men would ride on the chariot, one leaping out and back on again as the other drives. Winners received the valuable prize of decorated amphorae of olive oil. The gymnastic contests were generally held for the youths, with age brackets for 12 – 16, 16 – 20, and 20+. The festival included a procession through the city, a large sacrifice, chariot races and later, gymnastic contests. The Lesser Panathenaia was held every year, while the Greater, a more splendid and extended form of the festivals, was held every four years. She is usually depicted wearing a helmet, spear, shield, and greaves – full combat gear. The easiest way to identify Athena, though, is her warrior garb. Other important symbols for Athena are the owl (which you’ll see a great deal in Athens and surrounds), snakes, and the sacred olive tree. It is worn over clothing as a sort of breastplate, has the face of the Gorgon Medusa on it, and makes a sound of roaring dragons when Athena goes into battle.
This shield belonged to Zeus but he gifted it to his mighty daughter as extra protection. She is an important goddess both to men and women, and her domain stretches across large swathes of human endeavour.Īthena’s main symbol is the aegis. She is the virgin goddess of defensive war, battle strategy, wisdom, arts and crafts, and weaving. Polias (Πολιάς) – protectress of the cityĮrgane (Εργάνη) – ‘the industrious’, used to describe her in relation to her patronage of craftsmen Promachos (Πρόμαχος) – she who fights in front Glaukopis (γλαυκῶπις) – ‘bright-eyed’ or ‘of the flashing eyes’ Pallas (Παλλάς) – a name the goddess took on after mistakenly killing her friend, named Pallas Copy of the 2nd century CE after a votive statue by Kresilas in Athens (ca. It was an initiation into citizenship for young men, and an initiation into marriage for young women.īust of Athena, (inlaid eyes are lost). The initiation rites of Athena’s cult was an important part of Greek life. The most important of these are in the warring cities of Sparta and of course, Athens! Long before the Parthenon was built on the Athenian Acropolis, shrines and wooden statues of the goddess sat there high above the city.īut while Athens is the goddess’s most famous city patronage, she was also patron to Argos, Sparta, Gortyn, Lindos, and Larisa. Because of this, her shrines were found throughout Greece, usually on hilltop acropoli and citadels. As well as some interesting details about her worship and her value to Greek society.Īs the goddess of defensive war, Athena’s presence in a settlement was considered important for its protection – particularly in times of war. In this article I’ve put together the most interesting and widely accepted myths and legends regarding Athena. Her worship was widely spread throughout ancient Greece, and festivals in her honour were common and impressive! She is the battle strategist, advisor to Zeus, and, being the goddess of Wisdom among other things, the sensible one among the gods. Athena was one of the most important members of the Ancient Greek Pantheon.
0 kommentar(er)
