Athena:Greek Goddess of Wisdom, War, the Arts,
Industry, Justice and Skill

      Athena was the Goddess of wisdom and women's crafts in the mythology of the Greeks. She was also a defender against evil and as such she was a warrior Goddess par excellence. The daughter of Zeus and Metis, when her mother became pregnant, Gaia and Uranus told Zeus that after giving birth to a daughter, Metis would then have a son by Zeus who would later dethrone him. On Gaia's advice, Zeus swallowed Metis. When the time came for the child to be born, Zeus was afflicted with a dreadful headache and sought the help of Hephaestus who split his skull with a bronze axe to relieve the pain. 

     A girl in full armor sprang forth from his head: It was Athena. Athena's attributes were the spear, the helmet and the Aegis (a goat-skin shield). She attached the Gorgon's head (which Perseus had given her) to her shield, and this turned to stone every living thing that looked at it.

     This wise warrior Goddess' attributes are self-confidence, power, courage, intelligence and diplomacy -- wonderful qualities to share as a gift with any mentor, mother, sister or friend!  The Parthenon was constructed on the Acropolis just to house statues of her magnificent image. Athena's importance was maintained even after warfare had transformed Greek goddess civilization. The Romans called her Minerva.

     Athena was the favorite child of Zeus. She is the virgin mother of Erichthnonius.