Katie Lynch

Mrs. Dietrich

Honors English 10

6 March 2017

Athena Research Essay

Have you ever wondered how Athens got its name? Imagine if it was called Poseidons.

Had the god Poseidon won a contest against the goddess Athena, the well-known Greek city

could have been named that! Luckily, because of Athenas famous wisdom, Athens was named

after her. Of all the gods and goddesses in Greek mythology, Athena is the wisest, most

influential, and best-rounded. She also plays a crucial role in The Odyssey, and it would not have

had the same happy ending without her.

It cannot be denied that Athena is the wisest goddess. The most obvious reason for this is

because she is known as the patron goddess of wisdom and battle strategy. Within battle, unlike

her male counterpart, Ares, she focuses on the strategic ways of winning. According to The

Editors of Encyclopdia Britannica, she represented the intellectual and civilized side of war

and the virtues of justice and skill, whereas Ares represented mere blood lust (Athena). A

well-known story about Athena is about a snake-headed woman named Medusa. The Greek hero

Perseus went on a quest and had to kill her, but he could not look directly at her without turning

into stone. It is said that Athena provided Perseus with her polished shield. Using it, he was able

to see Medusa as if looking in a mirror (Facts and Information on Greek Goddess Athena).

This is a wise move because it saved Perseus life, and he was able to kill her.
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Athenas symbolic birth also supports the claim that she is the wisest of all Greek gods

and goddesses. Her birth was quite unique, and many stories are known about it. Basically, she

sprang full grown and clad in armour from Zeus' forehead (Karas and Megas). Firstly, this is

symbolic because she is the goddess of battle strategy. Being born in full armor shows how she

is ready for battle at any moment. Additionally, the fact that she was born from Zeus forehead

symbolizes her wisdom and thoughts. She was created almost out of thought, and is subsequently

famous for her own.

Athena is famous even to this day, as she has influenced multitudes of people across all

ages, nations, and fields of study. She is believed to have influenced ancient Greek life with her

many inventions. According to one source, Athena was a great inventor, giving the Greeks

chariots, bridles, trumpets, and flutes, rakes, plows, and ships (Boyett 66). These objects are

used even to this day, besides the chariot, and have had great influence on our culture.

One major event that shows Athenas influence on ancient Greek life is the Panathenaic

Games. In Athens, much like the modern-day Olympics, Athenians held the Panathenaic Games,

which were in honor of Athena. They made sacrifices to her and also raced chariots, boxed, and

participated in other athletic competitions (Boyett 67). She is remembered through literature,

battle, and now also the celebration of sports and other activities.

Perhaps the most obvious reason to argue why Athena is superior to all others in Greek

mythology is the fact that an impressively advanced Greek city was named solely after her. She

became the patron goddess of Athens after winning a contest against Poseidon by offering the

olive tree to the Athenians (Karas and Megas). According to the myth, Poseidon struck the

rock with his trident and a salt water spring gushed forth (George). Additionally, within
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Athens is a temple focused solely on her, as she is the guardian of Athens. It is known as the

Parthenon (Athena).

Athena is well-known across all fields of study, including battle, education, intellects, and

sports. This shows how she is by far the best-rounded goddess on Mt. Olympus. While other

gods and goddesses are known for one thing in particular, Athena is known for many things. For

example, as stated before, she is the goddess of battle strategy. One interesting fact about her

thoughts on war is she only took part in wars that defended the state and home from outside

enemies (Karas and Megas).

Battle can be seen as a bloody and gruesome event, so it is interesting that Athena would

also be known as creative in art and literature. The fact that she takes part in complete opposite

activities shows how she truly is the best-rounded and has the right attitude for whichever one

she partakes in. One source describes her characteristics by saying, Athena is as benevolent in

peace as she is redoubtable in war (George).

In most art and statues, Athena is portrayed as a warrior, fully clad in armor and helmet

carrying a shield and lance (The Editors of Encyclopdia Britannica). For example, The sacred

image of Athena, a wood statue called the Palladium, protected the Trojans as long as they had

it (Athena). This statue symbolized Athenas strength in battle, which the Trojans believed

protected them during their own battles.

Athena has been described as fierce in battle, generous to the Athenians, and wise beyond

all others. She is also known to be one of the three virgin goddesses. She defended her virginity

and was unshakable by love or temptation (George). For these reasons, Athena is obviously the

best-rounded goddess on Mt. Olympus.

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Of course, the goddess of battle strategy played a major role in The Odyssey, a famous

literary work written by Homer. It follows the long journey of the hero Odysseus on his quest to

go home. He faces many fierce creatures and trying obstacles. Athena helped him throughout the

whole book by acting as a messenger, disguising him, aiding him in battle, and reuniting him

with his wife at the very end.

The first thing Athena did for Odysseus when he returned home was tell him just that.

When he [Odysseus] awakens, he fails to recognize his homeland until Athena appears and tells

him that he is indeed home Athena goes to Telemachus and tells him to return home (Homer

1142). In this scene, Athena worked as a messenger for two people. She first told Odysseus that

he was home. Then she told his son, Telemachus, to return home. This was so he could see his

father and help fight off the suitors.

One of the most important things Athena helped Odysseus with was when she disguised

him upon his arrival home to Ithaca. Athena disguises Odysseus as an old man so he can surprise

the suitors in his home. She also tells him to go to the swineherd, Eumaeus. He listens, and this

ends up being an important visit, as Eumaeus ends up helping Odysseus (Homer 1142). This is

where Telemachus sees his father for the first time in twenty years, although he does not know it

at first because of Odysseus disguise.

After Telemachus reunites with his father, Athena aids them in battle. Athena urges

Odysseus on to battle, yet holds back her fullest aid, waiting for Odysseus and Telemachus to

prove themselves. Six of the suitors attempt an attack on Odysseus, but Athena deflects their

arrows (Homer 1160). Athena does not take over for the heroes she helps but instead just gives

them aid. This quote describes how she keeps Odysseus alive but allows him to fight on his own

to prove himself.
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During the battle, Athena held off at first. She did not officially make her presence

known. She just aided Odysseus and his men a little bit at a time. However, towards the end, she

did indeed make her godly presence known. Athenas symbol in battle is a shield, so while the

fighting ensues in the great hall, she makes her presence known by showing the shape of her

shield in the air (Homer 1160-1161).

The last thing Athena helps Odysseus with is his reunion with Penelope, his wife. After

the bloody battle, Athena helps clean Odysseus up by making him look better than before to meet

with his wife for the first time in twenty years (Homer 1162). Athena was a necessary part of

Odysseus journey. She gave him important information, disguised him, helped him survive and

win the battle, and cleaned him up for his wife.

As one can plainly see, Athena is the wisest because she is known to be the goddess of

wisdom and battle strategy. She is the most influential because of all her inventions and effects

on human history. Athena is also the best-rounded because she is known across all fields of study

and activity. Plus, Odysseus owes her his life.

Given these points, Athena is the Greek goddess of wisdom and battle strategy for a

reason. She uses her wisdom to aid her and other heroes in battle. She has influenced Greek

culture and society by inventing various things we use to this day. Plus, she is known across all

different subjects, like literature and war. Athena played a major part in The Odyssey. She helped

Odysseus on multiple occasions, especially in the last battle that reunited him with Penelope. He

owes her his life and happiness.