Athena

Goddess of weaving, strategy, and war. Famously the protector of Athens, enshrined on the Acropolis.

Epithets

  • Nikê: Victory
  • Areia: Of War
  • Salpinx: War-Trumpet
  • Zôstêria: Girder in Armor
  • Sthenias: Strong
  • Hippia: Of Horses
  • Khalinitis: Bridler of Horses
  • Eryma: Defender
  • Sôteira: Savior
  • Alalkomenêis: Protectress
  • Polias: Of the City
  • Polioukhos: City Protectress
  • Poliatis: Keeper of the City
  • Erganê: Worker
  • Paiônia: Healer
  • Hygeia: Of Good Health
  • Alea: Of Refuge
  • Amboulia: Counselor
  • Pronoia: Foresight
  • Apatouria: Deciever
  • Makhanitis: The Contriver
  • Ophthalmitis: Of the Eyes
  • Oxyderkês: Sharp-sighted
  • Koryphasia: Of the Head
  • Koryphagenês: Born of the Head
  • Parthenos: Virgin
  • Koriê: Maiden
  • Xenia: Of the Foreigner/Hospitality
  • Axiopoinos: Returning Vengeance

Offerings

  • Frankincence, myrrh
  • Olive oil
  • Milk and honey mixed together
  • Poetry
  • Miniature shields
  • Weavings

Prayers and Hymns

“Hear me, daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus, you who spy out all my ways and who are with me in all my hardships; befriend me in this mine hour (your request here).”

-Homer The Iliad

“So now with a pure mouth I piously invoke Athena, lady of this land, to come to my aid.

Without the spear, she will win me and my land and the Argive people as faithful and true allies for all time.

But whether in some region of the Libyan land, near the waters of Triton,

her native stream, she is in action or at rest, aiding those whom she

loves, or whether, like a bold marshal, she is surveying the

Phlegraean plain, oh, let her come—as a goddess, she hears even from far away—to be my deliverer from distress!”

-Aeschylus,Oresteia

"Of Pallas Athene, guardian of the city, I begin to sing. Dread is she, and with Ares she loves deeds of war, the sack of cities and the shouting and the battle. It is she who saves the people as they go out to war and come back. Hail, goddess, and give us good fortune with happiness!”

-Homeric Hymns

"I begin to sing of Pallas Athene, the glorious goddess, bright-eyed, inventive, unbending of heart, pure virgin, saviour of cities, courageous, Tritogeneia. From his awful head wise Zeus himself bare her arrayed in warlike arms of flashing gold, and awe seized all the gods as they gazed. But Athena sprang quickly from the immortal head and stood before Zeus who holds the aegis, shaking a sharp spear: great Olympus began to reel horribly at the might of the bright-eyed goddess, and earth round about cried fearfully, and the sea was moved and tossed with dark waves, while foam burst forth suddenly: the bright Son of Hyperion stopped his swift-footed horses a long while, until the maiden Pallas Athene had stripped the heavenly armour from her immortal shoulders. And wise Zeus was glad. And so hail to you, daughter of Zeus who holds the aegis! Now I will remember you and another song as well."

-Homeric Hymns