Athena Olympios, Minerva, Goddess of Wisdom, Strategic Warfare and Craftsmanship, Athene Parthenos, Patroness of Athens.

Athena, known as Minerva to The Romans, is an enormous Protogen, usually depicted as 41 feet tall, with white fur, pointed triangular ears, blue LED eyes and mouth on his visor face, a rather lean and muscular build and a long fluffy tail. She’s often depicted wearing a long white linen dress and a bronze breastplate with a flared skirt, along with a Corinthian style helmet adorned with a horizontal plume, wielding a tall Doru Spear with a shaft of olive wood, a leaf shaped spearhead of iron and a spiked bronze counterweight at the other end, and a large round Hoplon shield charged with the head of a gorgon.

One morning on Mount Olympus, Zeus The King of The Gods awoke with a splitting headache, unable to bear it anymore, he ordered The God of War Aries to cut his head open, after piercing his forehead, Athena emerged from the cut, already fully grown and clad in her armor. Years before Zeus was married Metis, the original Goddess of Wisdom and of Deep Thought, but accidentally swallowed her after she turned into a fly. Athena immediately took over Metis’ role as The Goddess of Wisdom, as well as The Goddess of Strategic Warfare and Craftsmanship. Athena also took an oath to never take a consort and remain a virgin, leading many sources to refer to her as Athene Parthenos, literally meaning “Athena The Virgin”.

One evening, Poseidon The God of The Sea, and his younger sister Athena, appeared before a group of settling Protogens who were in the middle of building a city, both demanding patronage. Unable to choose, the two then came up with a deal to let them choose their own patron, Athena commanded an olive tree to grow, offering wood, food and oil, while Poseidon struck the ground with his Trident, causing a spring to burst from the rock, promising access to trade and protection during long voyages across the sea. However the spring was salty, proving useless to the settlers, and thus Athena got the city, which would soon bear her name as Athens.

The city state of Athens soon became a center of trade and cultural development, its people priding themselves on their art, philosophy, theater, and science, laying foundational ideas for Western civilization and democracy.

In the Iliad Eris, the Goddess of Discord, tossed a golden apple inscribed with "For the fairest" at a divine wedding, causing a dispute between Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. Paris of Troy was chosen to judge. Aphrodite bribed him by promising him Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world, who was already married to the Spartan king Menelaus. Paris accepted, spiriting Helen away to Troy and sparking the decade-long Trojan War. Athena would bless the Greek hero Diomedes with supernatural strength and clarity, allowing him to wound and drive back Trojan allies and even deities like Aphrodite and Ares. During the final duel, Athena disguised herself as Hector's brother Deiphobus, tricking the Trojan prince into facing Achilles outside the walls and abandoning him at his moment of need. Athena then inspired Odysseus to construct the legendary Trojan Horse, granting the tactical wisdom required to trick the Trojans into bringing the structure inside their impenetrable walls.

Later during The Odyssey, Athena was one of the few Gods who defended Odysseus, routinely intervening on his behalf and saving him and his crew on multiple occasions. Athena appeared as various mortals or in animal forms, and changing Odysseus into an old beggar when he finally reaches Ithaca so he can plan his revenge on his wife’s suitors.

Athena is often accompanied by an owl named Glaux, literally “Little Owl”, representing her wisdom and the pursuit of knowledge, as well as guidance.

Like most Gods, Athena was honored with the sacrifice of goats, rams and cattle, which were placed before her alters or burned.

Her greatest alter was The Parthenon, a large complex located in the center of The Acropolis in Athens, which features a colossal marble statue of Athene Parthenos, covered in gold leaf, depicting her with a spear and shield while holding her owl with her right arm and a serpent uncoiled at her feet. The Parthenon also acted as a bank, hospital, courthouse, guildhall and was the unofficial headquarters of The Delian League.

Despite stance to remain a virgin, Athena became the adopted mother or mentor of various Gods and heroes, most notably Erichthonius, the son of Hephaestus and Aphrodite, but like Hera before her, Aphrodite was unsatisfied with her son’s appearance and sent the infant Erichthonius down a river in a basket. Thankfully the child was found by Athena, who sent the child to King Cecrops, Athena then warned his daughters to not look into the basket, but of course they refused and upon seeing Erichthonius, went mad at fell from a cliff. Eventually Athena would return him to Hephaestus, who then swore to have no more children.