Athena: history of Greek deusa and meaning

Athena is powerful deusa gives war in Greek mythology. Very rational, the war that she promotes is, in truth, a strategic fight, without violence. A divinity is also related to knowledge, justice, arts and manual labor.

This figure of enormous importance for Western culture is the patron saint of one of the most relevant cities of Ancient Greece and the capital of the country, Athens.

History of Athena

The myth of Athena tells that she is the son of Zeus - or the most powerful two gods - and Métis, his first wife.

Zeus, fearing the prophecy that a Metis son would take his place, resolves to challenge his wife, asking that she be transformed into a drop of water. Assim é feito e ele immediatly engole.

Passado um tempo, or deus começa to feel fortes dores de cabeça. In fact, it was an unbearable suffering, so much so that it was necessary for God to Hephaestus Open your skull with a machado to finish curing it. and assim that from inside the head of Zeus is born Athena.

Statue of Goddess Athena with a blue head in the background — Sculpture in homage to deusa Athena in Greece

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Different from all other beings, she now sees the world as an adult, dressed in her warrior clothes and wielding a shield. Contrary to deus Ares, associated with violent and ruthless war, this divinity is rational and prudent.

Athena and Poseidon

The relationship between these two characters is not a myth that there was a dispute between them to see who would have the honor of being revered by the people of the city.

Então os deuses oereceram dádivas à população. Poseidon presents you to the Greeks, opening or just for a fountain of water to sprout. Já Atena deu-lhes a huge olive tree with many fruits.

Athens and Poseidon — Representation of Athena with an olive tree and Poseidon with a fountain of water

In this way, there was a vote to choose the best present and Atena was the winner, for is the name of the most important city of Greece.

Athena and Medusa

There are many stories in mythology that involve the participation of deusa.

One of them says I respect Medusa, who was originally a beautiful woman with golden handles, more received A harsh punishment from Athena, bothered as the fate of the young woman had relations with Poseidon in her temple.

Assim, the girl was transformed into a horrifying being with scales and serpent hair.

Later, Athena helped Perseu kill Medusa, offering her her powerful shield as a defense. Depois that Perseu cut the head of the creature, levou-a for Athena, which he placed on his shield as an ornament and amulet.

Symbols of Athens

The symbols associated with essa deusa são a coruja, oliveira and armor, like the shield and the lance.

A coruja is the animal that accompanies you by your sense of perception is sharp, managing to stretch long and at various angles. The bird also symbolizes wisdom, an important attribute of Athena.

Representação da deusa Atena con corija — Representação da deusa Atena with a coruja

Já a oliveira, sacred ancient tree for the Greeks, represents prosperity for being the raw material for the oil, which feeds and illuminates, when used in lamps.

The armor is the symbol of just war and is always seen in this clothing.