The Shrine of Athena

Detail of Athena and Arachne
By Jacopo Tintoretto, 1579

Athena is a Goddess who has recently requested my notice. While popularly known as the Virgin Goddess of Just Warfare, She is also known for her wisdom and her peace-keeping skills. She is the matron deity of skilled craftsfolk, such as weavers and embroiderers. It was, in fact, She who turned the unfortunate Arachne into a spider for daring to compare her weaving expertise with that of Athena�s.

Athena�s father, Zeus, swallowed her mother, Metis, while she was pregnant with Athena. Soon afterward, Zeus began to suffer a horrendously painful headache. The Smith-God, Hep�stos, came to his aid and, chopping open the head of Zeus, freed Athena, who sprang out full-grown and armor clad.

Pallas Athena I shall sing
The glorious goddess whose eyes gleam,
Brilliantly inventive, her heart relentless,
Formidable maiden, guardian of cities,
The courageous Tritogeneia.

Wise Zeus gave birth to her himself
Out of his majestic head
Golden armour clothed her,
Warlike, glistening.
All the gods who saw her
Were overcome with awe.
��from The Homeric Hymns

Minerva�or, to call her by her other name,
Pallas Athena�was thinking to herself
About the connection between praise and virtue.
Praise, she thought, is what we offer when
We think someone has acted for the highest good.
But is that enough return for actions of that sort?
And if it is, why do we not praise ourselves?
Why, she asked, do I not praise myself, my dignity,
My special virtue? All excellence, Minerva thought,
Demands respect and praise�even our own.
��from Metamorphoses by Ovid

Of Pallas Athene, guardian of the city, I begin to sing.
Dread is she, and with Ares she loves deeds of war,
the sack of cities and the shouting and the battle.
It is she who saves the people as they go out to war and come back.
Hail, goddess, and give us good fortune with happiness!
��from The Homeric Hymns

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