Athena

Janay White

Background InformationBackground Information(Athena)(Athena)

• Daughter of Zeus.Daughter of Zeus.• She is also the She is also the

goddess of goddess of wisdom.wisdom.

• Athena was an Athena was an artisan.artisan.

• Athena Athena leaped from leaped from her fathers her fathers head Zeus head Zeus already adult already adult and dressed and dressed in her armorin her armor..

• Athena doesn’t have a Athena doesn’t have a mother.mother.

• She was the favorite She was the favorite child of Zeus.child of Zeus.

• Her symbol is an owl.Her symbol is an owl.• Athena was never Athena was never

married but was very married but was very fond of Odysseus and fond of Odysseus and helped him whenever helped him whenever she could on his long she could on his long journey home.journey home.

• Athena's name is Athena's name is sometimes spelled sometimes spelled Athina or Anthene.Athina or Anthene.

Athena Background Athena Background Info Cont.Info Cont.

• She was responsible for fruiting Olive trees.She was responsible for fruiting Olive trees.• Hephaestus attempted to rape Athena.Hephaestus attempted to rape Athena.• Athena is the lady of Athens.Athena is the lady of Athens.

In the small In the small town of Ledia town of Ledia there was a there was a maiden named maiden named Arachne. Arachne. Arachne was Arachne was famous in her famous in her town for being town for being a skillful a skillful weaver. Girls weaver. Girls and Nereid's and Nereid's stopped by stopped by everyday to see everyday to see her weave.her weave.

Arachne liked to boast Arachne liked to boast about her skill in weaving. She about her skill in weaving. She had claimed that she had learned had claimed that she had learned the skill of weaving by herself and the skill of weaving by herself and nobody could compete against nobody could compete against her not even the goddess of the her not even the goddess of the skill Athena.skill Athena.

When When Athena had Athena had heard about heard about Arachne Arachne bragging bragging and and boasting boasting she got she got disappointedisappointed. Athena d. Athena was going was going to dress up to dress up as an old as an old lady and lady and appear right appear right in front of in front of Arachne.Arachne.

When she arrived When she arrived in front of Arachne in front of Arachne she said “My Dear” she said “My Dear” “I am old and have “I am old and have much experience much experience from life, so let me from life, so let me give you one give you one advice: don’t ever advice: don’t ever mess up with a mess up with a goddess; no mortal goddess; no mortal can compete can compete against Athena, against Athena, take back your take back your words and kindly words and kindly ask for ask for forgiveness.”forgiveness.”

   

After hearing this Arachne was furious. She After hearing this Arachne was furious. She threw the thread at the old woman telling her she threw the thread at the old woman telling her she didn’t need her advice and that if Athena really didn’t need her advice and that if Athena really

cares then she should come here herself to compete cares then she should come here herself to compete against her. Athena gave up her disguise and against her. Athena gave up her disguise and

returned back to herself. Everybody kneeled to returned back to herself. Everybody kneeled to Athena except Arachne.Athena except Arachne.

The The

competition had competition had began. The were began. The were both doing well. both doing well. Athena was Athena was weaving the weaving the Parthenon and her Parthenon and her contest with god contest with god Poseidon. Arachne Poseidon. Arachne on the other hand on the other hand was making fun of was making fun of the gods in her the gods in her weavings.weavings.

Even though Arachne’s weaving was Even though Arachne’s weaving was better than Athena’s Athena didn’t care. She better than Athena’s Athena didn’t care. She pointed her finger at Athena and suddenly pointed her finger at Athena and suddenly Arachne transformed into a small spider and Arachne transformed into a small spider and Athena cried “You want spin” “Go ahead and Athena cried “You want spin” “Go ahead and spin” Now arachne would weave forever and spin” Now arachne would weave forever and have all her weavings destroyed.have all her weavings destroyed.

Work Cited George, Roy. “The goddess Athena.” Goddess-Athena.org. 2001. 25 March 2010.

http://www.goddess-Athena.org/Encyclopedia/Athena/index.htm

“Greek God Myths- Athena- Athena, Arachne and the weaving Contest.” www.greek-gods.info. 2010. Athena, Arachne and the Weaving Contest. 1 April 2010. http://www.greek-gods.info/greek-gods/athena/stories/athena-arachne/

Tuccinardi, Ryan. “Athena” Athena. 26 may 1999. 5 April 2010. http://www.pantheon.org/articles/a/athena.html