Question about Athena (Greek goddess)?

Question

Okay, I have heard many people say she was the goddess of wisdom, but her mother, Metis, was also supposedly the goddess of wisdom.

Which is which? Please also provide a link to where you found your answer.

Thanks,

-David

Answer 1

they both were. the gods were often gods of several things, so there could be more than one god/goddess of wisdom.

Answer 2

Athena, who just happens to be a personal friend of mine, is one of the most important Olympian deities. According to myth, after Zeus seduced Metis he learned that any son she bore would overthrow him, so he swallowed her alive. Later Hephaestus split Zeus' skull with an ax, and out sprang Athena, fully armed. Athena was a deity of diverse functions and attributes. Her most conspicuous role was perhaps that of a goddess of war, the female counterpart of Ares. However, she was also a goddess of peace, noted for her compassion and generosity. Like Minerva, with whom the Romans identified her, she was a patron of the arts and crafts, especially spinning and weaving. In later times she was important as a goddess of wisdom. Athena was also a guardian of cities, notably Athens, where the Parthenon was erected as her temple. In a contest with Poseidon concerning dominion over Attica, Athena made an olive tree grow on the Acropolis while Poseidon caused a saltwater stream to gush from the Acropolis. The other Olympians, asked to judge the contest, decided in favor of Athena. Her statue, the Palladium, was supposed to protect the city that possessed it. It was said that because she accidentally killed Pallas she set the name Pallas before her own. Although a virgin goddess, she was concerned with fertility, and at Athens and Elis her worship was notably maternal. Athena is represented in art as a stately figure, armored, and wielding the aegis. Her most important festival was the Panathenaea, which was celebrated annually at Athens. It included athletic and musical contests, poetic recitations, and sacrifices. At the end of the festivities a grand procession carried a richly embroidered peplos to the Acropolis as a present to Athena.

Answer 3

The Olympian Gods are not what you probably equate with the word God today. Gods could be killed, though did not die of ageing. Athena was the daughter of Metis, who was swallowed by Zeus because he feared she would bear a son more powerful than himself who would overthrow him; just as Zeus had overthrown his father, the Titan 'Cronos'. Before the Titans were what are referred to as the 'old Gods', ie the Furies, Muses, Gorgons etc, by whose rules the Titans and Olympians were still bound.

Answer 4

They both were. But, Athena was also the goddess of war, the arts, industry, justice, and skill.

Answer 5

Well, in my opinion She is alive today... Also, I don't think She'd want any job we might have for Her. But that's beside the point... I would put Her at the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the head military man/person in the USA. areas of expertise would include: - extreme experience in conducting wars, both pre-emptive and protracted, many victories - extreme experience in marshaling and running armies - superlative logical, strategic, and tactical skills - resourceful and inventive, talented and acomplished - extreme political ability, from finesse to warfare "in God we trust" will have special meaning, as She is God.

Answer 6

I've always thought Athena was the godess of arts.

Answer 7

Smiles,,,

Answer number one, is spot on. Perhaps we both have AOL?

In aol search wikepedia is second in the links list.

Steven Wolf

Answer 8

their both goddes of wisdome it's like their gens or something just saw it on my old note about greek methology

Answer 9

greek goddess from not from uranus- greek men love it there