Index : A : Athena

Structure Sub-topic of: Greek Myth* Interesting Questions, Facts and Information There are a total of 10 general entries. Frequently Asked Questions & Answers There are 3 user-asked question matches ( goto )

Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information

Athena

Who was the man who was blinded by Athena when he saw her naked after a bath and then given (by her) the gift to foresee the future?

Athena (mc98025)


Tiresias. When Athena blinded Tiresias, she was very angry at him, but then she felt sorry for him and gave him that capability. Tiresias foresaw many great events of the Greek Mythology.



Which were Athena's main symbols?

Athena (mc98025)


The olive tree and the owl. The olive tree stands for peace and the owl stands for wisdom.



When Athena was arguing with Arachne about who was the best weaver, they had a contest. Did Athena win the contest?

Athena (mc98025)


No. Arachne had been taught the art of weaving by Athena herself, but she was ungrateful and told everyone she was better than her teacher. Athena was (of course) angry, so they had the contest. Arachne's work was very fine, although the decoration on the textile insulted the gods. Since Athena couldn't find anything wrong with Arachne's textile she got even madder and tore it apart.



What creature did Athena transform Arachne into?

Athena (mc98025)


spider. Arachne tried to hang herself after Athena insulted her, but the goddess stopped her, transformed her into a spider, a creature which would always weave, but never finish its work. Also a creature whose work would never be appreciated by man. In Greece we still use the word 'arachne' for the spider.



Was the Parthenon, the best known temple of Athens and Greece in general, dedicated to Athena?

Athena (mc98025)


Yes. The temple was built between 447 and 432 B.C. and was dedicated to Athena Parthenos (Athena the Virgin). It was built by the architects Ictinus and Callicrates, while the artist Phidias supervised the design of its sculpture, which he and other sculptors executed. It has 17 columns along each of its sides and 8 columns on each end. It is built with great knowledge of certain optical distortions, so that every line looks straight, although it isn't. The central part of the Parthenon was a chamber that had two rooms separated by a wall. One room housed a big ivory and gold statue of Athena. In the ancient years, there was also a big festival dedicated to the goddess, called the Panathenaea. The Lesser Panathenaea was held annually, the Greater every 4 years. At the end of the festival there was a great march from the Ceramic up to the Acropolis, during which Athenian women offered the goddess a veil they had weaved. This scene can be seen on the frieze of the Parthenon.



Was Athena born a baby?

Athena (mc98025)


No. Athena was not only born a woman, but she was also fully armed, waving her pike, which gave her the name 'Pallas' (it means the one who is waving something).



From what part of Zeus was Athena born?

Athena (mc98025)


head. Athena's mother was Metis, another goddess. The Fates had decided that, after Athena, Metis would give birth to a son, who would overturn his father, Zeus, from the world's throne. To prevent this from happening, Zeus swallowed(!) Metis, already pregnant with Athena. When the time of the birth came, Zeus had terrible headaches, so he asked Hephestus to tear his head apart with an axe (not a problem when you're immortal!) That's how Athena came out.



During the Trojan War, was Athena on the Greeks' side?

Athena (mc98025)


Yes. Athena always protected Greek warriors. She gave supernatural courage to Diomedes, who at some point even hurt Aphrodite and confronted Ares (both on the side of Trojans), she held Achilles back when he wanted to kill Agamemnon, but most of all she protected Odysseus. She was the one that inspired him to build the Trojan Horse and she also helped him with his adventures when he was trying to return to his home island, Ithaca.



Athena was the ruling goddess of the city of Athens. With which god did she contest to gain that title?

Athena (mc98025)


Poseidon. That is when the city took its name. Poseidon hit the earth with his trident and a saltwater spring and a horse emerged as gifts to the Athenians. His gifts meant victory on sea and land. Athena hit the earth with her pike and an olive tree emerged, small in the beginning, which soon grew up and gave flowers and olives. This gift meant the goods of peace and the Athenians appreciated it more.

• After accidenally killing her mentor, the Greek goddess Athena changes her name. This is sometimes called her poetic name. What is it? ( goto )



• What mighty Greek soldier in the Trojan War was struck mad by Athena after he became so enraged that he did not receive the armour of Achilles that he vowed to kill the Greek leaders? ( goto )



• In Greek myth this goddess was the daughter of Pallas and Styx. She is a constant companion of Athena. She presided over all contests, and representations of her in Greek sculpture portray her as a winged figure. Name this goddess. ( goto )