The Greek goddess Athena is usually portrayed as one of the most benevolent goddesses . . .strong, fair, and merciful. Athena is known as one of the three virgin goddesses, referred to as virgin because they were able to remain independent, unswayed by the spells of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, and the consequent pull of marriage and motherhood. Romance and marriage did not feature in Athena's mythology. In Greek mythology Athena was, in essence, the prototype of the contemporary "career woman".
The birth of the Greek goddess Athena was more than unusual, it was truly amazing!
It was the headache to end all headaches! Zeus, the mighty king of the Olympian deities, regretted having swallowed his first wife, Metis. When Zeus had learned that she was pregnant, he feared that she was carrying the son that had been prophesied to supplant him on the throne. Though swallowing Metis had seemed a good idea at the time, it was now causing him great suffering which eventually proved to be totally unnecessary. Ready to risk anything to get rid of the pain that tormented him, he allowed one of the other gods to split open his head, and . . . Voila! Out came, not the son he feared, but a beautiful full-grown daughter, dressed in golden battle armour, who instantly became the "apple of her father's eye". A motherless child, the goddess Athena quickly became his favourite. Athena was the only one of his children that Zeus ever entrusted with his magic shield and the secret of where his lightening bolts were stored. The goddess Athena remained his constant ally and fierce protector, promoting his interests, serving as his advisor.
Persona:
- Goddess of wisdom
- Goddess of civilization; the strategist
- Goddess of the art of persuasion
- Known as the Warrior Goddess
- Embodies independence and self-sufficiency
- Known as her father's daughter
- Book lover and inclined towards studies
- Goddess of intelligence
- Interested in a career
- Counsellor, arbiter
- Therapist
- Teacher
- Guide
- Peace maker
- Can heal, restore and move the dark elements within humans and bring them into cooperation
- Represents the expression of logos, the male principle
- Involved with law, justice, and politics
- Embodies the ability to think well
- Has the ability to form strong alliances with men
- Achievement oriented
- Can reject her feminity; needs to recognize her feminine power
- Has negative, harmful thoughts
- Can be crafty
- Can have emotional distance
- Can have a lack of empathy
"Act as if everything you think, say and do determines your entire life - because in reality, it does!"
