Athena was born from a mortal woman named Metis, (meaning wisdom) and fathered by Zeus, king of the gods. The story starts off by Zeus taking Metis as his wife. Soon after she became pregnant. The gods Gaea, mother-earth, and the starry Uranus, god of the sky, found out that Metis was with child and gave Zeus some advice. They both told Zeus that Metis would give birth to a child who would come to be wiser and a far better warrior than he. Under advisement of Gaea and Uranus he swallowed Metis before she could give birth fearing that the child would overthrow him. In newer text, the story of Athenas birth is portrayed with trickery, by a crafty Zeus, in which he first turns Metis into a fly and then swallows her. When time came for the birth of the child, Hephaestus (son of Zeus and Hera) took an ax to the head of Zeus and split it open. Again, in newer text, Athena is born inside her father and releases herself with her sharp blade cutting herself out. With a roarin!
g cry Athena sprung out of Zeuss head. She was fully grown and dressed in her battle armor. In one hand she carried a shield and in the other a spear and she wore a helmet of gold. Athena daughter of Zeus was very close to her father since she was born from him. Zeus grew to admire her. And this is the birth of Athena, goddess of war and wisdom. Athena is the daughter of Zeus. She was very close to her father since she was born from him.
This is a story that shows that Athena, like many gods, have petty emotions, like jealousy, and they are not unlike that of mortals. Arachne was a student of Athena. Arachne was born from a low class family. Her father Idmon, dyed wool for a living. Athena had taught Arachne well in arts and crafts. Arachne would draw a crowd of nymphs every time she started a tapestry. They would watch with awe as she gathered unworked wool and turned it into a tapestry that only a god could create.
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She would never admit that Athena had taught her. Arachne would challenge Athena openly. She would say things like let her compete with me; if she wins I deny her nothing. Athena overheard her challeng and disguised herself as an old woman and told Arachne the she should watch what she is saying and pray for forgiveness. Arachne did not heed the words of the old and brushed her off. This enraged Athena. The old woman threw down her disguise and reveled her true form, the goddess Athena. The nymphs and the women of Lydia bowed in worship, but Arachne did not. Athena accepted the challenge and they both started to weave. As both finished their tapestries Athena could not find a flaw in the work of Arachne. This made Athena jealous that a mortal could be at the same level that she was. Out of this jealousy she turned Arachne in to a spider to live eternally as a master weaver of webs.
The goddess Athen had basic gifts, her powers, her wisdom, and the masculinity of her virgin nature. She is known as Athena Parthenos (parthenos meaning virgin). She was the patron goddess of Athens. She watched and protected the people of Athens. They would pay tributes to their goddess by having processions and festivals in her honor. Other than being the goddess of war and wisdom. She was also the goddess of other specific arts, crafts, and skills. The hissing of serpents inspired her to invent the flute. She was a good-hearted goddess. She had great devotion in helping out the heroes of the ancient times like Perseus, Telemachus (son of Odysseus), and Odysseus himself, as you will see in these two short clips of the movie The Odyssey.
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Uranus God and the Birth of Athena: A Tale of War, Wisdom, and Jealousy. (2023, Jun 19). Retrieved from https://phdessay.com/uranus-god-and-the-birth-of-athena-a-tale-of-war-wisdom-and-jealousy/
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