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Athena is the goddess of victory wisdom and intellectual activity,
being born from her father, Zeus's, head after he swallowed her mother
whole. It had been said that if Metis, Athena's mother, were to bear a
son, that he would kill kill his father, so Zeus got rid of the mother
only to be stricken suddenly with a headache so outrageous that he began
to beat his head against a rock. Hephaestus immediately came to his aid,
splitting Zeus's head with his mallet, and out sprang Athena, a tall gray-eyed
maiden, fully armed and ready for battle, making her also the goddess of
victory. She is also known as a great weaver and artist as well as being
known as the Maiden goddess, who remained a virgin forever. She is prayed
to by scholars for enlightenment, inventors for inspiration, judges for
fair-mindedness and clarity, and captains to sharpen their tactics on the
eve of battle. She is the protector of Athens, which was named after her
and is where she is most worshiped and honored. She is constantly trying
to make men wise and taught them how to make the plough, spinning wheel
and sail. Both the olive tree and owl are sacred to her.
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