Parents: Zeus and Metis

Birth: Zeus swallowed Athena's mother Metis when she was pregnant, fearing a prophecy that foretold Metis would bear a son who would be more powerful than Zeus himself and overthrow him — just as Zeus had overthrown his own father Cronus. By swallowing Metis, Zeus hoped to prevent this, but Athena still emerged — born fully grown and clad in armor, springing from Zeus's head after Hephaestus split it open with an axe. Despite the dramatic entrance, Athena became Zeus's favorite child. He trusted her above all the other gods, even allowing her to wield his thunderbolt and his powerful shield, the aegis — honors he gave to no one else.

Story: Athena was the goddess of wisdom, warfare, and crafts. Unlike Ares, who represented the brutal violence of war, Athena stood for military strategy and disciplined combat. She was the patron goddess of Athens after winning a contest against Poseidon by gifting the city an olive tree. Athena was a protector of heroes — she guided Odysseus on his long journey home, helped Perseus slay Medusa, and aided Hercules in his labors. She was one of the three virgin goddesses and was deeply respected by both gods and mortals.

Athena and Arachne: A mortal woman named Arachne boasted that her weaving was superior to Athena's. Athena, the goddess of crafts, challenged her to a contest. Athena wove a tapestry showing the power of the gods, while Arachne wove scenes of the gods' failures and foolishness. Arachne's work was flawless — which only made Athena angrier. In a fury, Athena destroyed Arachne's tapestry and struck her. Overcome with shame, Arachne tried to hang herself, but Athena took pity and transformed her into a spider, condemned to weave for all eternity.

Athena and Medusa: In one version of the myth, Medusa was once a beautiful priestess in Athena's temple. When Poseidon violated her in the temple, Athena was furious — not at Poseidon, but at Medusa for desecrating her sacred space. Athena cursed Medusa, transforming her beautiful hair into writhing snakes and making her face so hideous that anyone who looked at her would turn to stone. Later, Athena helped the hero Perseus slay Medusa by giving him her polished shield to use as a mirror. After Medusa's death, Athena mounted the Gorgon's head on her shield, the aegis, as a weapon.

Symbol: Owl, olive tree, shield (aegis), spear.

Represents: Wisdom, warfare and strategy, crafts, and civilization.