Athena pallas myths of ancient greece. Athena - Greek goddess of wisdom and knowledge

Goddess Athena, in the legends of Greece is considered the goddess of wisdom, just war and crafts. The myth of the goddess Athena tells that she was the daughter of Zeus and the Titanides Metis. Zeus, having learned that the son from Metis will deprive him of the throne, swallowed his pregnant wife.

One day, Zeus had a terrible headache. He became gloomy and sad. Seeing this, the gods left, so as not to fall under hot hand thunderer. The pain didn't go away. Zeus could not find a place and almost screamed in agony.

Then, the lord of Olympus sent Ganymede for Hephaestus. The divine blacksmith came running in what he was, covered in soot and with a hammer in his hand.

“My son,” Zeus turned to him. “Something happened to my head. Hit me on the back of the head with your copper hammer.

Hearing these words, Hephaestus stepped back in horror.

- But how? he protested. - I can not...

- Can! Zeus ordered sternly. “Like hitting an anvil.”

And hit Hephaestus, as he was told. The skull of Zeus cracked, and a maiden in full armor came out of it and stood next to her parent. From the powerful jump of the girl, Olympus hesitated, the earth lying around trembled, the sea boiled, snow fell, covering the tops of the mountains. The gods could not come to their senses for a long time. Hephaestus dropped his hammer in horror.

Zeus was amazed, but, not wanting to show that he was not omniscient, as if nothing had happened, he turned to Hephaestus:

“This is your sister Athena. Since the blow of your hammer helped her to come into the world, she will, like you, master the skill.

Hephaestus was unhappy, because he was used to being the only artisan on Olympus.

“Your hammer will remain with you,” Zeus reassured him. Athena will receive a spindle and will spin. So the prudent goddess Athena appeared. She, sparing no effort, spent time at work in order to dress and shoe the gods of Olympus. When the whistle of arrows or swords reached her ears, she threw the spindle, put on armor and, with a sword in her hand, rushed into the battle.

Athena - goddess of wisdom

Athena - was wiser than all other gods, as she was born from the head of Zeus. Zeus knew about this, and consulted with her before doing anything. People, wanting to arrange their lives, turned to Athena, the goddess of wisdom, for help and advice. It was she who taught the virgins to draw threads from wool, and then weave them into a dense fabric, decorate with patterns. She showed the young men how to clean skins, how to soften leather in cauldrons and make soft shoes out of it, she gave sharp axes to others, teaching them carpentry, making furniture, and gave the third a bridle to tame wild horses that began to serve people. It was the goddess Athena who helped artists decorate life with colors. All people praised the virgin goddess, calling her the Worker and Poliada (from the word "polis", which denoted the city-state among the Greeks), because she accustomed the people to urban life.

But, as you know, the human race is not grateful - everything good is quickly forgotten. Everyone began to talk about the Lydian maiden Arachne, who assured that she could embroider no worse than Athena. The warrior goddess heard this and immediately descended to the ground. Appearing in the form of an old woman, Athena advised Arachne to pray to the great goddess for forgiveness for bold words and pride. But Arachne rudely interrupted Athena, who was trying to imitate her.

“Old age has robbed you of your mind!” she screamed. “Athena is just afraid to enter into a fair competition with me!”

"I'm here, stupid!" Athena exclaimed, assuming her divine form. And she's ready to show her skills.

Athena depicted in the center of her canvas the twelve Olympian gods in all their grandeur, and in the corners she placed four episodes of the defeat of mortals who challenged the gods. The goddess is merciful to those who admit their guilt, and it was not too late for Arachne to stop. But the presumptuous Lydian woman looked with contempt at the work of the goddess and, having started her canvas, weaved scenes with the love affairs of the gods on it. The figures of the gods were completely alive, it seemed that they were about to speak. Athena, seized with rage, hit Arachne with a shuttle. The princess could not stand the insult and hanged herself. But Athena did not let her die, but turned into a spider. Since then, Arachne and her offspring have been hanging in the corners and weaving a thin silver net.

The city of Attica, which received her name, enjoyed special patronage of Athena. The Athenians believed that they owed their well-being to Athena. There is a legend saying that the cult of Athena in her city was strengthened by the son of the Earth Erechtheus. The goddess of wisdom, Athena, raised him in her sacred grove, and when the boy grew up, she rewarded him royal authority. There is interesting fact- an owl, a bird with bulging reasonable eyes was dedicated to Athena. The image of an owl was minted on Athenian silver coins, and everyone who accepted the “owl” in exchange for goods seemed to be paying tribute to Athena herself.

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Special place in Greek mythology occupied by the goddess Athena (Ἀθηνᾶ), she was ranked among the 12 main Olympic gods.

The Greeks respected and loved the goddess, believed that Athena was always next to them, wanting to help. Athena was the goddess of wisdom, strategy, war, knowledge, was the patroness of Athens, art, culture, philosophical thought and martial arts.

Birth of Athena

The appearance of Athena happened in an unusual way. The first wife of Zeus was Mitida (Μήτιδα), who was wiser than gods and people. After she became pregnant, Moira, the goddess of fate, predicted to her that Mitida would give birth first to a daughter, and then to a son who would overthrow Zeus from the throne. To avoid this, Zeus swallowed his pregnant wife. Then he called Hephaestus and ordered him to cut his head. He complied with his will and hit the skull with an ax. A beautiful Athena jumped out of there, in full uniform and with sparkling weapons.

Athena became the favorite child of Zeus. She fought next to him in the fight against the giants, and after he drove the giant Enceladus away, Athena chased him in her chariot, who threw a stone with her killed the giant and became the island of Sicily.
The cult of Athena began at the time of Kekrops (Κέκροπα) in ancient Athens and from there spread throughout Greece. Endless celebrations and holidays in all cities were dedicated to the goddess Athena, but the brightest were in Athens. Pericles dedicated the entire Citadel to Athena.

The goddess Athena had many names, the ancient Greeks at various times added divine and sacred names to their beloved Goddess:

Pallas (Παλλάδα) was given to Athena at birth when she was born from the head of Zeus with a new sparkling spear. According to another version, Athena killed the giant Pallantus (Πάλλαντα).
Promachos (Πρόμαχος) warrior, refers to the goddess's combative nature and her status as brave in battle, her "strategic" plans are to support her heroes.
Virgin (Παρθένα) intact, Athena was a virgin, the Parthenon temple on the Acropolis is dedicated to Athena the Virgin.
Blue-eyed (Γλαυκώπις) light-eyed. sacred bird goddess Athena the owl (γλαυξ), comes from the same root, perhaps because of the large and bright eyes.

Athena and the owl

Since ancient times, the owl has been identical with wisdom. The ancient Greeks considered it a symbol of the goddess Athena.

The owl flies, does not walk, does not crawl. The gods of Olympus also flew, they took the form of birds when they appeared among people. Owls are special birds, predators, they see very well at night. The owl has a large round head, a disk-shaped face, large eyes that provide stereoscopic vision. This ruthless predator seizes prey with sharp claws and kills on the move, hitting the head with a hard and strong beak.

Such features of an owl seemed cult to the ancient Greeks.
The owl has the ability to see "the far sides of things", where others, due to darkness, are not able to see, thus it symbolizes "wisdom". Maybe for this reason the owl became the companion of the wisest Greek goddess, Athena.

ATHENA - in Greek mythology, the goddess of wisdom and justice
live war.
The myth of the birth of Athena from Zeus and Metis ("wisdom",
Greek metis - "thought", "reflection") - the period of registration
classical Olympic mythology.
The birth of Athena is depicted in this myth from the position of heroic
which mythology of the period of patriarchy, in which
elk is a male organizing principle. Athena is, as it were, unpos-
a mere continuation of Zeus, the executor of his plans
and will. She is the thought of Zeus, carried out in action. Post-
the foamy motherhood of Metis takes on an increasingly abstract and yes-
the same symbolic character, so that Athena is considered a product of
one Zeus and assumes the functions of the deity of wisdom,
just as Zeus received them from Metis.

Zeus, knowing from Gaia and Uranus that his son is from Metis
deprive him of power, swallowed his pregnant wife and then
with the help of Hephaestus (or Prometheus), who split his head
with an ax, he himself gave birth to Athena, who emerged from his
heads in full combat armor. Since this event is
supposedly came out at the lake (or river) Triton in Libya, Athena received
la nickname Tritonida or Tritogenei.

Athena is one of the most important figures not only in the Olympic
mythology, in its significance it is equal to Zeus and sometimes even

Surpasses it, rooted in ancient period development of
Greek mythology - matriarchy. She is equal in strength and wisdom
Zeus. She is honored after Zeus and her place is close
closest to Zeus. Along with the new functions of the goddess of military
soup, Athena retained her matriarchal independence, showing
who appeared in the understanding of her as a virgin and protector of chastity.
The origins of Athena's wisdom go back to the image of the goddess with snakes
Cretan-Mycenaean period. The image of the goddess with the shield of Mycenae
some time - the prototype of the Olympic Athena. Among the indispensable
attributes of Athena - aegis - a shield made of goat skin with a snake's head
Eulas Medusa, who has great magical power,
frightens gods and men.
Numerous information about the cosmic features of the image of Aphi-
us. Her birth is accompanied by golden rain, she keeps
lightning of Zeus. Her image, the so-called. palladium fell from the sky
(hence Pallas Athena).
According to Herodotus, Athena is the daughter of Poseidon and the nymph Tritonis.
Athena was identified with the daughters of Kekrop - Pandrosa ("all-
lazhnoy") and Aglavra ("light-air"), or Agravla ("field-
furrowed").
The sacred tree of Athena was the olive. The olives of Athena count
thawed "trees of fate", and Athena herself was conceived as fate
and the Great Mother Goddess.
The powerful goddess of the archaic, the owner of the aegis, Athena in the
The era of heroic mythology directs its strength to fight against
titans and giants. Together with Hercules, Athena kills one
of the giants, on the other she piles the island of Sicily, with
of the third one rips off the skin and covers his body with it during the battle
zheniya.

She is the slayer of the gorgon Medusa and bears the name "gorgon slayer".
Athena demands sacred reverence, not a single death
he can't see her. There is a myth about how she deprived
sight of the young Tiresias (the son of his beloved Chariklo), when he
accidentally saw her ablution.

Classical Athena is endowed with ideological and organizing functions
yami: she patronizes heroes, protects public
row etc. . Zeus sent Athena to help Hercules, and he brought
from Erebus the dog god Hades. Athena's favorite was Odysseus, smart and
brave hero. In the poems of Homer (especially the Odyssey) not a single
an important event is not complete without the intervention of Athena. She is -
the main protector of the Greek Achaeans and constant enemy Trojans
although her cult existed in Troy. Athena - protector of Greek
some cities (Athens, Argos, Megara, Sparta, etc.), bearing the name
"city protectors".
Huge statue of Athena Promachos ("forward fighter") with
with a spear shining in the sun, adorned the Acropolis in Athens, where
The temples Erechtheion and Parthenon were dedicated to the gyna.
Monument to the glorification of the wise ruler of Athens
states, founders of the Areopagus, is the tragedy of Aeschi-
la "Eumenides".

Athena is always considered in the context of artistic
crafts, arts, craftsmanship. She helps potters, weavers,
boor, needlewomen, working people in general. Athena helped Pro-
I can steal the fire from the forge of Hephaestus.

Athena is credited with inventing the flute and teaching the game.
Apollo is on it. One touch is enough to
to make a man beautiful (she exalted Odysseus with a camp,
endowed with curly hair, clothed with strength and attractiveness
ness). She gave Penelope on the eve of meeting with her husband
amazing beauty.
Athena is the goddess of wisdom. She is characterized by wisdom in
public affairs. For late antiquity, Athena appeared
the principle of the indivisibility of the cosmic Mind and the symbol of the all-embracing
shchi world wisdom. As legislator and patroness
Athenian statehood revered Athena - Phratria
("brotherly"), Bulaya ("advisory"), Soteira ("savior"),
Pronoia ("seer").

Although the cult of Athena was spread throughout the mainland and
island Greece (Arcadia, Argolis, Corinth, Sikyon, Fessa-
lia, Boeotia, Crete, Rhodes), Athena was especially revered in Atti-
ke, in Athens (the Greeks associated the name of the city of Athens with the name
goddess - the patroness of the city). She was dedicated to the earth -
business holidays. During these festivities,
washing the statue of Athena, the young men took the oath of civil
service to the goddess.

In Rome, Athena was identified with Minerva. Roman feast-
two large excerpts from the "Fast" of Ovi-
diya. Throughout antiquity, Athena remains a witness
by the organizing and directing power of the mind, which
completes space and public life, glorifying strict
the foundations of a state based on democratic legislation
authority.

The image of Athena is reflected in many significant pa-
pennies of Greek sculpture. giant statue"Athens Parfait-
nose "Phidias, set in Athens in the Parthenon in 438 BC
AD, has not been preserved and is known to us from several reduced
copies. Numerous statuettes of the goddess have survived. Separate-
scenes of the myths about Athena are reflected in relief plastic
temples, for example, a multi-figure group on the eastern pediment
The Parthenon depicts the birth of Athena from the head of Zeus,
the pediment embodied the dispute between Athena and Poseidon for possession
land of Attica.
In Greek vase painting, scenes dedicated to
born to the birth of Athena, her participation in Trojan War, argue with
Poseidon. There are images of Athena on Pompeian frescoes.
kah.
During the Renaissance, Athena is depicted in accordance with
ancient artistic tradition - in a shell and a helmet. In a number
scenes, Athena appears as the personification of wisdom and symbolizes
the triumph of reason ("Minerva conquers ignorance" B. Spranger,
"Kingdom of Minerva" by A. Elsheimer), virtue and chastity
("Pallas and the Centaur" S. Botticelli, "Victory of virtue over
sin" by A. Mantegna), the world ("Minerva and Mars" by J. Tintoretto,
P. Veronese and others).
In the musical and dramatic art, the myths about Athena are
served as a plot for the libretto of several works 17-18
centuries, including the operas "The Birth of Athena" by A. Draghi, "Miner-
va" by R. Kaiser, "Pallas and Mars" by M. Grimani, "Pallada solemn
blowing" by F.B. Conti; cantatas "The Dispute of Pallas and Venus" by L. Caldara
and "Pallada" by P.V. Guglielmi.

Ancient Greek mythology is very bright, due to the many gods and goddesses represented in it. One of the extraordinary representatives is the beautiful fair-haired goddess Pallas Athena. Her father, none other than the supreme god Zeus himself, the lord of heaven. In its significance, Athena is not inferior, and sometimes surpasses her imperious father. Her name is immortalized in the title Greek city- Athens.

Who is Athena

The appearance of Athena is shrouded in secrets, from the text ancient source"Theogony" follows that Zeus learned: his wise wife Metis should give birth to a great daughter and son. The ruler did not want to give his reins of government to anyone, and swallowed his pregnant wife. Later, feeling a severe headache, Zeus asked the god Hephaestus to hit him on the head with a hammer - this is how Athena, the goddess of war and wisdom, appeared in all her weapons. Possessing the strategies and tactics of waging just wars, Athena succeeded and also became the patroness of many types of crafts:

• public order - Athena in public affairs, established supreme court in Athens;
• shipbuilding and navigation - the architects Ferekl, Arg and Danai, under the mentorship of Athena, created their own ships, one of which Argo was sent by the goddess to heaven;
• metal craftswoman - the statue of Aphrodite is considered the work of Athena herself;
• weaving and spinning craft - she made clothes for herself and other goddesses. Athena taught women to weave. The spinning wheel is a symbol of Athena;
• music - a trumpet and a two-horned flute, the invention of Athena;
• healing - healed and resurrected with the blood of the Gorgon medusa;
• patroness - in many other positive aspects. Athena is loved for her timely assistance. Hercules, Odysseus, Perseus, Achilles, Jason, Telemachus heroes ancient Greek mythology, called in difficult moments Athena.

What does Athena look like?

The Greek goddess Athena is traditionally depicted in military attire, with a majestic bearing in her hand a spear shining in the sun. Homer, the ancient narrator of the epic poem The Iliad, describes Athena as a bright-eyed, sharp-eyed, full of power in golden armor, a beautiful, but "not soft-hearted" Virgin. The artists depicted the goddess with a stern, thoughtful face, in a long hoodie (peplos) or shell.

Symbol of Athena

In mythology, each piece of clothing, the background around the deity is replete with various symbols that have a sacred meaning. These archetypes are the link between humans and gods. Knowing these symbols, images arise with the help of which one or another character can be identified. The symbolism of Athena is easily recognizable:

• Athena's helmet - made of iron, decorated with 4 horses, or a monster with a snake tail;
• spear - one of the statues of the goddess adorned the ancient acropolis in Athens, her shining golden spear, the first thing sailors saw when returning to the city;
• aegis - a shield made of goatskin, with the image of the Gorgon Medusa;
• Nike - a figurine of the goddess of Victory in the hand of Athena;
• the owl is a symbol of wisdom;
• the snake is a gift of foresight.

Children of Athena

The ancient Greek goddess Athena was considered a chaste virgin, Eros himself ignored the request of his mother, the goddess Aphrodite, to shoot an arrow of love at Athena, as he was afraid to even fly past because of the goddess’s menacing gaze. Nevertheless, the joys of motherhood were not alien to Athena and she raised adopted children:

• Hygieia - the goddess of health, is considered by one source the daughter of Asclepius (healer) and Athena;
• Erichthonius is the son of Gaia and Hephaestus, according to legend, Hephaestus chased Athena and dropped the seed on the ground, Gaia considered this a shame for herself and refused to raise her son. Athena secretly raised Erichthonius. The goddess Athena is often depicted with a snake; researchers believe that this is a symbol of Erichthonius.

The myth of the goddess Athena

Ancient Greek mythology describes gods who are like people: they love, they hate, they strive for power, they crave recognition. The myth about Athena is interesting, in which Kekrops, the first Athenian king, could not decide who should be the patron of the city. Athena and Poseidon (the god of the ocean) began to argue, Kekrops suggested that the gods resolve the dispute as follows: invent the most useful item. Poseidon carved a source of water with a trident, Athena hit the ground with a spear and an olive tree appeared. Women voted for Athena, men for Poseidon, so Athens had two patrons.

The goddess of wisdom and knowledge, the invincible warrior, the protector of cities and the patroness of sciences, Pallas Athena enjoyed well-deserved respect among the ancient Greeks. She was the favorite daughter of Zeus, and it is in her honor that the modern one is named. Pallas Athena helped the heroes of Greece with wise advice and did not leave them in moments of danger. The ancient Greek goddess taught the girls of Greece weaving, spinning and cooking. It is believed that it was Pallas Athena who invented the flute and established the Areopagus (high court).

Appearance of Pallas Athena:

Majestic posture, large gray (and according to some sources, blue) eyes, blond hair - her whole appearance suggests that you have a goddess in front of you. Athena Pallas, as a rule, was depicted in armor and with a spear in her hand.

Symbols and attributes:

Pallas Athena is surrounded by male attributes. On the head is a helmet with a high crest. A shield (aegis) is obligatory present - it is decorated with the head of Medusa Gorgon. The ancient Greek goddess of wisdom Pallas Athena is accompanied by an owl and a snake - symbols of wisdom. It is noted that the goddess of victory, Nike, was her constant companion. The sacred olive tree can also be called a symbol of Pallas.

Athena Pallas is surrounded by male attributes: on her head is a helmet with a high crest, in her hands is a shield adorned with the head of Medusa Gorgon

Strengths of Pallas Athena:

Although Athena was one of the most "sensible" goddesses of the ancient Greek Pantheon, nevertheless, she was characterized by a certain favoritism. This, in particular, is hinted at by the myths of Odysseus and Perseus.

Parents:

Pallas Athena was born unusually and spectacularly. Once Zeus was predicted that his wife - the goddess Metis - would give birth to a son who would be smarter and stronger than his father and overthrow him. But first, a daughter had to be born. Zeus, not wanting to be overthrown, swallowed the pregnant Metis. Soon he felt a severe headache and ordered Hephaestus to cut his head with an ax. Athena was born from the head of Zeus. The goddess was already fully armed at birth.

The goddess was born from the head of Zeus and was already fully armed at birth

There are other, less common versions of who the parents of the ancient Greek goddess Pallas Athena were. According to some myths, her mother was the nymph of the river Triton, and her father was the god of the seas, Poseidon.

Place of Birth:

It is impossible to unequivocally state exactly where the goddess Pallas Athena was born: different myths point to different places. So, she could be born near Lake Tritonis or the river Triton, in Crete, in the west of Thessaly, in Arcadia, or even in the town of Alalcomene in Boeotia. The most common version is that the birthplace of Athena is still Crete.

Personal life of Pallas Athena:

The goddess Athena Pallas was a virgin and was proud of it. However, she raised an adopted son. That's what the myths say. Once the god of fire Hephaestus turned to Zeus with a request to give him Athena as his wife. Since Zeus had previously promised Hephaestus to fulfill any of his desires, he had no choice but to agree. Yes, the Thunderer had to agree to marry his beloved daughter, but he, nevertheless, advised her to defend herself.

Majestic posture, big gray eyes, blond hair - her whole appearance suggests that you have a goddess in front of you.

According to one version, ancient greek goddess wisdom had to turn to the god of fire for weapons. Hephaestus, not at a loss, tried to take possession of the goddess. However, the maiden Athena was not going to enter into an intimate relationship - neither with Hephaestus, nor with anyone else. Athena Pallas rushed away from the overly excited god, and he chased after her. When Hephaestus caught up with the maiden, she began to defend herself and even wounded him. Hephaestus spilled the seed on the ground, and soon the baby Erichthonius was born. He was born Gaia - the earth from Hephaestus.

Pallas Athena took Erichthonius under her protection. She fed the baby with her milk and raised him. Erichthonius grew up in her temple and always honored the goddess. It was he who began to hold Panathenaic - festivities in honor of Pallas Athena.

goddess temple

The main sanctuary of ancient Athens and the finest work ancient art - the temple of the goddess Athena (Parthenon) and today is one of the main business cards Greece. This bright building, as if pierced through by the rays of the sun, rises in the very heart of the ancient city.

The temple of the goddess (Parthenon) is decorated with cutters depicting scenes from her life - one of the main visiting cards of Greece

In the same place - in the Parthenon - was the most famous statue of Pallas Athena by Phidias. Being about 11 m in height, the sculpture was made of gold and Ivory on a wooden base. The original of the statue has not survived to this day, but it is known from surviving copies and images on coins.

The main myths about Pallas Athena:

The goddess Athena Pallas is the heroine of many mythological stories.

Among the most famous is the myth of how she gained dominion over Attica, having won the rivalry for the region of Poseidon. Each of the gods made a gift to the city: Poseidon - a water source, Athena - an olive tree. The judges decided that the gift of the goddess is more useful, and gave preference to her. So Pallas Athena won the dispute and became the mistress of Attica, and the city where it all happened was named after her.

Another myth tells how Pallas Athena participated in gigantomachy (battle with giants). The formidable warrior brought down the island of Sicily on one of the giants, tore off the skin from the other and covered it with own body. The details of this battle were depicted on the shield of the statue of Athena.

Frequent companions of the goddess - an owl and a snake - symbols of wisdom, and also Nike - the goddess of victory

Pallas Athena also participated in the Trojan War. She helped the Greeks in every possible way in the capture of Troy, and it is she who is credited with the emergence of the idea that put an end to the long-term siege - about deceiving the Trojans with the help of the Wooden Horse. She suggested that Odysseus be placed in a huge statue wooden horse a detachment of Greek soldiers and leave at the gates of Troy, while the main forces of the Greeks retreated from Troy, allegedly lifting the siege. The Trojans, after some hesitation, dragged this wooden structure into the city. At night, the soldiers hiding inside the horse came out, opened the city gates and let in their comrades.