Getting to Know Athena Trivia Quiz

Answer: Wine

Athena was one of the more important deities in ancient Greek religion. She was associated with wisdom, strategic warfare, handicrafts, practical skills, and more. Quite versatile. The city of Athens was named in her honor after, according to myth, she won a contest against Poseidon.

Wine, on the other hand, definitely fell under the domain of Athena's half-brother Dionysus. He was all about partying and wild abandon: wine, vineyards, festivities, and ecstatic celebrations. That somehow also included theater. They formed a charming contrast of opposing human natures. Athena was thoughtful and disciplined. Dionysus was exuberant and unpredictable.

What's the difference between war (Ares) and strategic warfare (Athena)? If you're looking for bloodlust, rage, and the more visceral side of conflict, Ares is the god for you. If strategic, intelligent, and disciplined warfare is your thing, you want Athena.

Answer: True

One of the more interesting birth stories in mythology finds us empathizing with Zeus for having developed a terrible headache. According to the more common version of the myth, the pain became so severe that Zeus's head had to be split open with an axe. Out sprang Athena, already fully grown and wearing armor. Never accuse the ancient Greeks of lacking imagination.

Answer: Metis

Metis was a Titaness that the Greeks associated with wisdom, prudence, and good counsel. According to mythology, Zeus took Metis as his first wife. Then he got wind of a prophecy. It said that Metis would give birth to powerful children. In particular, her first child would match its mother in strength and wisdom, while her second would become more powerful than his father.

Zeus didn't like the odds, so he did what one does in these situations: he swallowed his pregnant wife. Zeus doesn't get enough credit for his ability to solve problems. That didn't prevent Athena's birth, though. She later emerged from Zeus's head, fully grown and armed.

Answer: Hephaestus

According to most ancient sources, Hephaestus is the god who split Zeus's head open using an axe or a hammer-like tool to relieve the god's aching head. This is part of the story of Athena's birth, where Zeus, having swallowed the pregnant Metis, later experiences severe pain until Hephaestus performs his cranial caesarean.

This procedure has not been approved by the FDA. Consult your doctor if you are experiencing chronic headaches. The act results in Athena emerging fully grown and ready for action, greeting the world as the goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare.

Answer: Olive tree

Athena won the mythological contest for the future city of Athens by offering the olive tree. It may not sound like a new Daisy Air Rifle, but it beat Poseidon's gift of a saltwater spring by a mile. Athena's gift, on the other hand, provided food, oil, timber, a trade resource, and something to put in your martini.

The olive tree became a symbol of peace, prosperity, and survival in the ancient Mediterranean world. Athens took its name from Athena after she was chosen as its patron deity. Olives, of course, remained a major component to its economy and culture.

Answer: Owl

The owl is the signature companion of Athena, especially the little owl, which carries her name in its scientific classification (Athene noctua). In ancient Athens, the owl became a symbol for wisdom and insight, often appearing on coins and artwork to honor Athena. Over time, the connection stuck, so that even today, owls remain global mascots of wisdom, libraries, schools, and more.

Answer: Perseus

Athena plays an important part in the story of Perseus and Medusa. Perseus is the demigod son of Zeus and the mortal Danaë. He is tricked into slaying the Gorgon, whose appearance is so hideous she turns everyone who meets her gaze into stone. Athena doesn't watch from the sidelines.

She equips Perseus with guidance and tools, including the polished shield that prevents his petrification. Looking directly at Medusa would be a bad move, so the reflective surface solves that problem very simply. After Perseus beheads Medusa, Athena incorporates Medusa's head into her own aegis, turning the Gorgon's final expression into a symbol of power and protection.

Answer: Arachne

Arachne was a very gifted mortal weaver, and her confidence and pride were her undoing. So confident was she in her skills that she challenged Athena to a weaving contest. That's just a bad idea. Athena was associated with crafts and strategic intelligence, and with her honor on the line, she readily accepted. The two produced tapestries, with Athena's work depicting the order and authority of the gods. Meanwhile Arachne's tapestry mocked the gods by highlighting their flaws and misdeeds. Another bad idea.

Ancient sources vary on the result, so things get tricky here. Some sources say that Arachne's weaving was actually the better of the two, some settle for a technical tie. In either event Athena was furious, either at being bested or simply because of the mocking depiction. Sources also vary on what happened to Arachne before her transformation, but they all agree that she became a spider, destined to weave for all eternity.

Answer: The Greeks

Athena sides with the Greeks (often called the Achaeans) throughout most of the story of the Trojan War. In the Iliad, she appears as a regular supporter of Greek heroes like Odysseus and Diomedes. That's her often stepping in with strategic insight or divine intervention at important moments.

The Trojans, by contrast, receive more backing from deities like Apollo, Aphrodite, and at times Ares in a more chaotic, less strategically focused way.

Answer: Parthenon

The Parthenon is the temple on the Acropolis of Athens dedicated primarily to Athena, specifically Athena Parthenos, her aspect as the virgin goddess. It was built in the 5th century BCE during the height of Athens's power under Pericles, serving as a religious sanctuary. Inside once stood a massive chryselephantine statue of Athena made by Phidias of gold and ivory.