What does the name “Athena” mean?
Possibly derived from “Athens,” her main city. Also associated with wisdom, warfare strategy, and protection.
What does “Pallas” mean in “Pallas Athena”?
Comes from her close friend Pallas, whom she accidentally killed. Also interpreted as “maiden” or “young girl,” reinforcing her virginity.
What does “Tritogenia” mean?
“Created by Triton.” Refers to her upbringing on Earth by Triton (son of Poseidon) for education.
What are Athena’s main personality traits?
Brave, loyal, strategic, calm. Zeus loves her because she never rebels.
How does Athena show loyalty to humans?
She protects her favourites, like Odysseus, guiding them even when invisible to them.
Why is Odysseus especially favored by Athena?
He is intelligent, thinks before acting, and invented the Trojan Horse. Their bond is intimate, steady, and close.
What is Athena’s relationship with Poseidon?
They are rivals. Poseidon resents Zeus and indirectly harms Athena by delaying Odysseus’ return home.
What title does Odysseus give Athena?
“Goddess of Nearness,” meaning she stands beside him in every endeavour.
How was Athena educated?
Born fully grown in body but not mind; sent to Earth for learning, raised by Triton.
Who was Pallas and what happened to her?
Triton’s daughter, Athena’s closest friend and combat partner. Athena accidentally kills her during training.
Why is Athena called “Pallas Athena”?
To honour Pallas and cope with trauma, Athena merges her friend’s identity into her own.
How did Athena win Athens over Poseidon?
Poseidon offered a saltwater spring; Athena offered an olive tree. Athenians chose Athena.
How do Athena and Aphrodite overlap in function?
Both born from male alone, protect cities, connected to Ares and Hephaestus, handle grief poorly, and are rivals in influence.
What is the story of the Golden Apple?
Eris throws an apple for “the Most Beautiful.” Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite fight for it. Paris, a human, judges.
What bribes do the goddesses offer Paris?
Hera offers power, Athena offers battle glory, Aphrodite offers the most beautiful woman. Paris chooses Aphrodite.
How did the Judgement of Paris affect the Trojan War?
Aphrodite supports Troy, Athena supports Greece. Both hold grudges for Paris’ choice.
What is the Palladion story with Athena and Troy?
Athena and Odysseus steal her temple statue. Symbolic “penetration” predicts Troy’s fall.
What is Athena’s role in the story of Arachne?
Athena warns Arachne against pride, competes in weaving, destroys her tapestry when Arachne refuses to submit, and transforms her into a spider.
What does Arachne’s transformation show about Athena?
Athena is compassionate: Arachne keeps her weaving talent and continues forever as a spider.
How does Athena relate to virgin sacrifices?
Protects city “virginity.” When a city is threatened, a virgin may be sacrificed instead of the city being violated.
How is Aphrodite linked to the virgin sacrifice ritual?
The sacrifice symbolically represents sexual violation. Death replaces loss of virginity; the funeral is the symbolic wedding.
Why were virgin sacrifice victims gagged?
To appear willing so the ritual is not “jinxed” and to prevent curses from affecting participants.
How was Athena worshipped at the Parthenon?
People prayed outside to her reflection in water, not the statue. Worship inside was forbidden.
What happened to the Parthenon sculptures?
Lord Elgin removed them to Britain. Greece still requests their return.
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Intro, ages and archaelogy30
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Greek Creation & Cosmology38
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Titans and Succession myth30
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Zeus: the slut and mortals16
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Creation of women15
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The Great flood20
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Pandora, Golden Age, and Human/Nature Relations25
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Totemism and fetishism29
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Hephaestues21
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Ares and Hera in depth21
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Aphrodite24
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Aphrodite : lovers and kids33
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Artemis22
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Apollo24
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Dionysus23
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Dionysus 217
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Hermes22
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Hermes 221
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Heroes (1)39
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Roman Material (Unique to Rome)60
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Athena26
