In Myth Shrinking Banshee Presents:
Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, Warfare and Weaving
In Myth
Athena may have been a
descendant of the goddess worshipped in the second millennium B.C.
by the Minoans. The Minoan, so called, snake goddess idols
resemble the classical Athena by the animal figurines worn on the
head and the peplos, the serpent fringed cape. But by the fifth
century B.C., it is Athena, more than any other goddess, who
personifies the Greek ideal. She is patroness of art, science,
and learning. Moreover, she is the symbol of wisdom and
intelligence.
When the titan Metis (Zeus' first wife) was pregnant with Athena,
Zeus swallowed her whole because an Oracle had told him his next
child would be greater than himself. Months later Zeus developed
a horrible headache and ordered Hephaestus to split his head open
and Athena sprang from his head fully armed and grown. As Athena
Nike (victory) she is the Goddess of War. Other surnames given to
her are Athena Polias (of the city), Athena Ergane (worker),
Athena Hygeia (health), and Athena Parthenos (virgin). Athena
lived on Olympus and at the Acropolis of Athens.
Unlike Ares, who represents the brute side of war, Athena derives
more pleasure from settling disputes and upholding the law by
peaceful means. However, Athena was instrumental in the gods war
with the giants, killing Pallas and immobilizing Enceladus by
throwing the island of Sicily on top of him. As for her mercy,
she always casts the liberating vote when the judges' votes are
tied in a criminal trial.
The city of Attica took the name Athens in Athena's honor after she and Poseidon had a contest to become protectorate of the city. Poseidon pointed his trident at the acropolis and a salt-water spring arose from the ground, but Athena gave the city the first Olive tree, as a symbol of life, and was judged the winner.
In August, the Athenians
celebrated the anniversary of their protectress. Every fourth
year a magnificent festival, the Panathenaea, was held. The four-day
festival began with dancing, singing and a torch race, and
included athletic games and musical competitions, but a great
procession was the central feature of the Panathenaea. The people
gathered at dawn at the foot of the Acropolis for the procession.
At the head of the procession was the peplos, the ritual gift to
the goddess. The destination was an antique statue of Athena atop
the Acropolis. Behind this peplos, which was displayed on a
special wagon, walked the women who had woven this sacred
garment, young women carrying sacred objects, sacrificers with
animals, priests, cavalry units and other civic personalities.
This great procession has been idealized for us in the frieze of
the Parthenon, now in the British museum.
In 447 the Parthenon erected in Athena's honor and was to be a
symbol of the Imperial might of Athens, and its strong democratic
ideal. Phidias, a sculptor decided to construct a building large
enough to contain a forty foot high statue of Athena. When
completed in 432, the statue, a gold and ivory standing figure,
was clothed in a peplos and wore a helmet decorated with a sphinx
and two winged horses. Her lance leaned against her shoulder and
the shield was grounded. In her right hand she held the Winged
Victory.
In addition, Athena denoted the conquest of barbarity and
coarseness by the nobility of the beautiful. But beautiful
without softness or gentleness, and her lack of softness makes
her appearance seem odd for a female deity. She is oblivious to
tender-heartedness, and alien to our concept of woman. In the
Eumenides she speaks of her masculine nature: No mother bore me,
in all things my heart turns to the masculine. . . . Aeschylus,
Eumenides, 736
Athena
Today
Athena was portrayed by Amanda Lister in the Hercules episode "The Apple", Jane Fullerton-Smith on Young Hercules and by the fabulous actress Paris Jefferson in the Xena Episodes "Amphipolis under Siege", "Eve" and "Motherhood". Paris was born in London, England, but grew up in Sydney, Australia. Her mother and grandmother were dancers, so following in her mothers footsteps Paris trained in dance ans Jazz, then made the inevitable jump to theatre. At 17 she moved to San Diego to study at The San Diego Performing Arts Centre where she played Madge in "Picnic", Isabelle in "Ring around the Moon." and others. After returning to Sydney she attended classes at the Actors Centre, Sydney, the Sailes Academy, the Rodenweiser Dance Centre and the N.S.W College of Dance (Sydney) before turning professional.
Her theatre credits include, the Bay St.
Theatre, Sydney’s performance of "The Merchant of
Venice" and "It had to be Yol.l.", "Carousel"
for the Regent Theatre, Sydney, Julia in "The Good Doctor"
and Sonja in "Uncle Vanya". She then went to London
where she acted on several TV shows and did more theatre. Ms.
Jefferson spends much of her down-time campaigning for
GreenPeace, which she says "as important to me as acting".
Paris is currently working with the independent theatre group
'The Impulse Company' and writing screenplays.
For More Athena pictures check out the Amphipolis Under Siege, Looking Death in the Eye and Motherhood Galleries.
The Athena Episodes
Xena: Warrior Princess
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Young Hercules
Filmographies
Paris has also been in the following:
Jane Fullerton Smith has also appeared in:
Paris Jefferson Links
Athena Links
The Shrine of the Goddess Athena has not only mythology, but links, an atlas, virtual temple, Athenaeum and timelines of important dates in Athena's myth.
The Homepage of Pallas Athena has extensive mythology and images of the Goddess.
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