This is a learning module about the mythological story and background of the Goddess Athena. It also includes a short summary of the Myth of the Birth of Athena and other myths related to Athena. .

1. Athena (Greek Mythology) – Summary
Athena or Athene was the Greek goddess ofwisdom,weaving, diplomacy, craft, justice and war.
She had a calm temperament, and moving slowly to anger. She never fight without a purpose and believed
to only fight for just causes. The Parthenon in the Acropolis was constructed by the Athenians in honour of
Athena. The symbols attributed to her are the following: Olive tree, helmet, snakes, and armour.
Birth of Athena
Zeus, king of the Gods, came to lustafter Metis, a Titaness, and chased her in his directway. Metis
tried to escape, going so far as to change her form many times. They transformed into various creatures:
First, they transformed as hawks, then, they changed into fish, and finally as serpents. However, Zeus was
both determined and equally proficientatchanging form. He continued his pursuit until she relented.
An Oracle of Gaea then prophesied thatMetis first child would be a girl but, her second child would
be a boy that would overthrow Zeus as had happened to his father and grandfather. Zeus took this warning
to heart. When he nextsaw Metis he flattered her and put her at her ease. Then with Metis off guard, Zeus
suddenly opened his mouth and swallowed her whole. This was the end ofMetis but possibly the beginning
of Zeus's wisdom.
After a time Zeus developed the mother ofall headaches. He howled so loudly itcould be heard
throughout the earth. At that time, Metis was developing the helmetand armour for her child. The other gods
came to see what the problem was. Hermes realized whatneeded to be done and directed Hephaestus to

2. take a wedge and splitopen Zeus's skull. Outofthe skull sprang Athena, full grown and in a full setof
armour. Due to her manor ofbirth, she has dominion over all things ofthe intellect.
Rivalry with Arachne
Arachne was a mortal woman who lived in Lydia. She was a good weaver and spinner that she
practiced when she was at a young age. She wove all sorts ofbeautiful images into her cloth, and people
came from all around to see her beautiful cloth. At one point, Arachne began saying to other people thatshe
could weave better than Athena. Athena heard this, and became very angry. So she decided to have a
weaving contestbetween her and Arachne. The contestwould testwho is the better weaver, and the loser
must promise notto touch the machines ofweaving and sewing again or simply notto wave again. The
contestlasted for a week. Athena dominated the competition. She wove a tapestry ofthe people ofthe
Greece, with Poseidon and Athena over them. Arachne wove a tapestry about Zeus, and his seduction of
Europa and others. The work of Arachne was so beautiful and even Athena was very amazed ofher work.
Arachne could nottake the result ofthe competition, so she decided to hang herself. Athena saw this, so
she decided to bring her back to life, butnotas a human, but as an arachnid, so that she could weave
anytime and anywhere. Her arms and legs gotlong and skinny, and her ears and nose disappeared.
Story of Medusa
Once, there was a beautiful maiden named Medusa. She lived in the islands ofGreece, particularly
the capital of Athens. Although there were many lovely and beautiful girls around, Medusa was considered
as the most appealing one. But, everyday she boasts ofhow pretty she was and her boasts become more
outrageous. On Sunday, Medusa bragged to the miller that her skin was more beautiful than fresh fallen
snow. On Monday, she told the cobbler that her hair glowed brighter than the sun. On Tuesday, she
commented to the blacksmith’s son that her eyes were greener than the Aegean Sea. On Wednesday, she
boasted to everyone atthe public gardens that her lips were redder than the reddestrose. When she wasn’t
busy sharing her thoughts abouther beauty with all who passed by, Medusa would gaze lovingly ather
reflection in the mirror. She admired herselfin her hand mirror for an hour each morning as she brushed her
hair. She admired herselfin her darkened window for an hour each evening as she gotready for bed. She
even stopped to admire herselfin the well each afternoon as she drew water for her father's horses -- often
forgetting to fetch the water in her distraction. On and on Medusa went about her beauty to anyone and
everyone who stopped long enough to hear her -- until one day when she made her first visitto the
Parthenon with her friends. The Parthenon was the largesttemple to the goddess Athena in all the land. It
was decorated with amazing sculptures and paintings. Everyone who entered was awed by the beauty of
the place and couldn’thelp butthink of how grateful they were to Athena, goddess ofwisdom, for inspiring
them and for watching over their city ofAthens. Everyone, thatis, exceptMedusa.

3. When Medusa saw the sculptures, she whispered thatshe would have made a much better subject
for the sculptor than Athena had. When Medusa saw the artwork, she commented that the artist had done a
fine job considering the goddess's thick eyebrows -- butimagine how much more wonderful the painting
would be ifit was ofsomeone as delicate as Medusa.
And when Medusa reached the altar she sighed happily and said, “My, this is a beautiful temple. It
is a shame it was wasted on Athena for I am so much prettier than she is – perhaps someday people will
build an even grander temple to my beauty.” Medusa’s friends grew pale. The priestesses who overheard
Medusa gasped. Whispers ran through all the people in the temple who quickly began to leave -- for
everyone knew thatAthena enjoyed watching over the people ofAthens and feared what might happen if
the goddess had overheard Medusa’s rash remarks. Before long the temple was empty ofeveryone except
Medusa, who was so busy gazing proudly ather reflection in the large bronze doors thatshe hadn't noticed
the swift departure ofeveryone else. The image she was gazing atwavered and suddenly, instead ofher
own features, it was the face of Athena that Medusa saw reflected back ather.
Athena became very angry atMedusa and said that the beauty of mortals fades very swiftly and her
fate shall serve as a reminder to others to control their pride. And with those words, the face of Medusa
transformed into a hideous monster, her hair twisted and thickened into horrible snakes that hissed and
fought each other at the top of her head. And with that, Athena sent Medusa with her hair of snakes to live
with the blind monsters -- the gorgon sisters -- at the ends ofthe Earth, so that no innocents would be
accidentally turned to stone at the sightof her.