ATHENA

ATHENA

Untitled Slide

ATHENA

• She was known to be Zeus’ favorite child.
• She had a lot of siblings.

Athena’s Birth Story
Before Athena was born, her mother, Metis, was told by Mother Earth that if Zeus were to have a boy, that he would dethrone Zeus just as Zeus had dethroned his own father, Chronos. Metis was worried that Zeus was going to have a boy so she went into his head through his mouth as a fly and when she saw that it was a girl she sat and made a helmet and a robe for the baby. Then Zeus screamed and all the gods came running. Hephaestus split open Zeus’ head and Athena came out of his head dressed in a robe and helmet.

ZEUS

METIS

ATHENA’S FUN FACTS

• Athena always had her wise owl, her bird, perched on her shoulder.
• Athena was the namesake and protector of the city of Athens.
• The Athenians grew famous for their arts and crafts.

Athena and Arachne
When Athena wasn’t fighting battles with her companion, Nike (the spirit of victory), she was teaching pupils fine and useful arts. One of her pupils was Arachne, a simple country girl, Arachne hurt Athena’s pride by saying that she didn’t learn anything from Athena. Athena disguised herself as an old lady and went to talk some sense into the girl. Finally after Arachne had annoyed Athena beyond compare, she ripped off her disguise and said that Arachne could have her wish. Athena challenged Arachne to see who could weave the best tapestry.

Athena and Arachne (continued)
Athena wove an amazing tapestry that pictured the gods in all of their glory and majesty. Arachne wove a tapestry of an irreverent (showing a lack of respect for someone) scene of Zeus and his wives. Athena became raged and turned Arachne into a spider. Now, Arachne can spend her life as a spider weaving webs that are completely empty and they will never be filled. That is the story of Athena and Arachne.