Athena/Minerva

''*Owl Faced; Ever Powerful; Hard Bargaining Spirit of the Marketplace; Lady of the Coal Pan*

**Also known as:** Athene; Pallas-Athene

**Origin:** Probably Libya

**Pantheon**: Greek

**Title**: Goddess of Wisdom

**Classification:** Olympian spirit

**Authority**: Wisdom

## Information

Athena, or Athene, daughter of Zeus, is the goddess of wise counsel, both in peace and war, wisdom, war, the arts, industry, justice and skill, of intelligence, reason, negotiation and all forms of the arts and literature and an important deity in Wicca and Paganism . The owl is her sacred bird and the olive her symbol representing peace, healing and nourishment.

At her most primeval, Athena is a snake and owl goddess, creatures profoundly associated with reproduction. (Owls are ancient uterine symbols.) Athena may be the primordial Eye Goddess whose staring eyes appeared throughout the Neolithic world. Her associations with owls, snakes, and pomegranates unite realms of fertility and death.
Snakes and owls are also emblems of another strong-minded independent goddess, Lilith, who reacted to male domination by fleeing from civilization. Athena took the other tack: when she saw the writing on the wall, Athena allied herself with the male principle.

Athena’s origins may lie in the Libyan tradition of the Great Mother who has dominion over life and death. In her earliest Greek incarnations, she retained her associations with women’s mysteries: she was married to Hephaestus, the Smith Lord, gave birth to a serpentine child, and allied herself with serpentine families in Athens.

Eventually she recreated herself as Zeus’ favourite child, born from his head, not a womb. (Another myth suggests that she was found on the shores of North Africa’s Lake Tritonis by three snake priestesses.) She began covering her tracks, destroying all remnants of her past:

* She abandoned the bone flute she invented (a snake charmer’s instrument, too sexually provocative).
* She encouraged Orestes to commit matricide, declaring that she was “always for the father.”
* She eliminated Medusa, Pallas, Arachne, and the Aglaurides and denied her child Erichtonios.

Athena and Poseidon vied to be presiding spirit of Athens. The vote split along gender lines: men voted for Poseidon; women for Athena. There were more women and Athena won. The result, allegedly to appease Poseidon’s wrath, was a triple punishment imposed on Athenian women: they lost their right to vote; children were no longer called by their mother’s name as they were previously, but by their father’s; and women were no longer considered Athenian citizens: only men.

Emphasis on Athena’s physical virginity became absolute. (This may be understood in the context of her role as a war goddess: virgins were perceived as fonts of concentrated, suppressed potential energy ready to
 explode with the energy of an atom bomb. Sexual relations would
dissipate and redirect this esoteric energy.)

Athena’s mother was Metis, the goddess of wisdom, and her father was Zeus. When Metis was pregnant, Zeus was afraid that she would bear a son who would be greater than he, so he swallowed Metis. Inside him, she began to hammer out a helmet for her daughter and make a robe. The hammering gave him a headache. His son Hephaestus, god of thunder and the forge, split his skull open, and out came a fully grown and clothed Athena. Her birth triggered earthquakes and tidal waves. Hesiod describes her as “a Goddess Queen who delights in war cries, onslaughts, and battles.” Hephaestus served as the midwife who birthed her using a smith’s hammer as an obstetric tool. Athena was sent to a foundry in North Africa to be raised by a Cyclops.

Athena is a goddess of crafts but not just any crafts. She presides over smithcraft, metal-working, and traditional “women’s work,” like spinning, weaving, and wool working, all traditionally also mystical arts.

Athena is petitioned for virtually anything. She becomes profoundly attached to people, especially heroic, clever men. If she loves you, she will protect you like a mother. Athena protects weddings, brides, and grooms and secures conception. She is the matron of shipbuilders. She is the only one, other than Zeus, who knows where he hides his lightning bolts and the only other spirit empowered to use them.

She is a reasonably gregarious spirit, historically venerated beside Zeus, Hera, and Hephaestus. (Her image was traditionally placed in the secondary position in Temples of Hephaestus.) Athena has a tenuous relationship with Aphrodite and can’t stand Ares. They should be kept apart.

Athena and Neith, another spinning goddess, are believed linked although the connections between them are subject for debate. Both derive from Libya, ancient stronghold of women’s Mystery traditions. Some believe Neith, an incredibly primaeval deity, crossed the Mediterranean and transformed into Athena. Alternatively, Neith and Athena once formed a trinity with Medusa.

**Manifestations:** She is a beautiful woman with grey eyes. She also manifests as an owl. Athena appeared on the battlefield as an owl during Greece’s war with Persia.

**Iconography:** An armed, helmeted woman wearing the Gorgon’s head on her breast

**Attributes:** Spear, lance, bridle, spindle, distaff; Gorgon’s head or a Gorgon
mask; loom, metal-working, or other artisanal tools; grave digger’s
tools; lightning bolt

**Colour:** Red

**Numbers:** 3, 7

**Day:** She celebrates her birthday on the third day of every month. Alternatively it is celebrated on the first day of the dark moon.

**Planet:** Moon

**Trees:** Olive, oak, willow, pear, pomegranate

**Bird:** Owl, carrion crow, vulture, sea eagle, swallow dove

**Animals:** Snake, spider, wolf, dog, horse, lion, goat, sheep, griffin, sphinx

**Altar:** Reproductions of her ancient votive images are readily available, as are new interpretations. The Queen of Spades playing card is also used to represent Athena.

**Rituals:** Her ancient statues were bathed in river water. Priestesses in some of her shrines were night owls: all responsibilities were carried out at night.

**Sacred site:** Athens is her city. Center of her veneration was the Parthenon built on the Acropolis circa 447 BCE. Her votive statue was thirty-nine feet (twelve meters) high and wore clothing woven by Athenian women. A Roman Emperor stole the statue in the fifth century CE; its whereabouts are unknown. It has never been found. Nashville has a full-scale replica of the Parthenon complete with Athena’s statue.

**Offerings:** Incense; candles; the fruits of your labour and creativity; images of owls, spiders, and ships; young Athenian women once offered Athena sacrifices of their own hair curled around spindle whorls.

**See Also:** Aglaurides; Aglauros; Alastor; Aphrodite; Arachne; Ares; Artemis; Erichtonios; Erinyes; Gorgon; Hephaestus; Hera; Iodama; Medusa; Metis; Neith; Pallas; Poseidon; Prometheus; Sphinx; Zeus

## Smite Lore

In war, there are two kinds of soldiers: those that fight for blood, and those that fight for honour. The first crave the clash of steel and smell of slaughter, the latter know the wisdom of justice, the kindness of mercy, and that life should never be taken wantonly. These different warriors seek different Gods. Ares, God of War revels in the bloodletting, but his sister, Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, is patron to those who fight with dignity, and only when there is no other alternative.

Favoured daughter of Zeus, wise as ten thousand scholars, just as the scales themselves; Athena is a paragon of incorruptible virtue, and worshipped with righteous fervor. So revered is she that Athens, greatest city in all the world, is named for her, and regal temples adorn the countryside in her honour, each tended by loyal priestesses. To Athena, a life is a precious thing that need not be wasted in frivolous battle. Bloodthirsty Ares, on the other hand, is reviled by their father and chained by his ravenous subjects.

At the Siege of Troy, Ares disobeyed Zeus and joined with the battle, fighting for the mortal Trojans. Athena rose to stop him, indirectly championing the Greeks, but directly keeping the order of divine law. Their fierce battle clashed in unspeakable proportions, ending only when Ares limped from the battlefield, cowed by his sister and rival. With Ares diminished, the tide of the war shifted and the heroes of the Greek Army toppled Troy. In times of war, prayers are sent to both Gods. Ares, for bloodstained victory, Athena for honour, valor, and the wisdom to fight with dignity.

## Appearances in Modern Media

From SmitePallas Athena from Persona 4 ArenaFrom HadesFrom Immortals: Fenyx RisingFrom Dawn of GodsFrom Age of MythologyFrom Puzzle & DragonFrom Unison LeagueFrom Yu-Gi-OhFrom Reign of DragonsFrom Rage of BahamutFrom Kamihime ProjectFrom Age of IshtariaFrom Monster StrikeFrom Force of WillFrom Brave FrontierFrom Sid Story
## Minerva

**Also Known As:** Menerva; Menrva

**Origin:** Italy

The Romans received Minerva from the Etruscans, who may or may not have received her from the Italian tribes. Minerva was worshipped throughout Italy. The origin of her name is unclear, but it is believed to be related to mental. She has dominion over the intellect, mental processes, and activities.

The Romans identified Minerva with Greek Athena. She is now so subsumed by Athena that it is difficult to disentwine the two goddesses, although they were originally distinct. The rites of Brigid in Kildare are described as resembling those of Minerva.

In her guise as Minerva Medica, Minerva presides over the medical profession and healing arts.

* In 1899, Guatemalan President Manuel Es trada Cabrera (1857–1924) initiated and tried to promote Feasts of Minerva, which involved honoring teachers and students.
* The most famous modern Minerva may be Harry Potter’s Minerva McGonagle.

**Favoured People:** Artisans, artists, crafts people, teachers, philosophers, musicians, writers, poets

**Iconography:** Images of Athena are generally used to portray Minerva. The Queen of Spades playing card traditionally represents Minerva.

**Attribute:** Embroidery tools

**Spirit allies:** She was worshipped with Juno and Jupiter as part of the Capitoline Triad.

**Feasts:**

* 19 March-23 March, Festival of Artisans; Minerva is honoured by artisans, artists, and teachers.
* The full moon in June; flautists honour Minerva.

**Sacred Sites:**

* She was venerated alongside Juno and Jupiter on the Capitoline Hill.
* Her temple sanctuary on the Aventine Hill was a centre for the arts.
* Rome’s Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva was built over Minerva’s temple.

**See Also:** Brigid; Juno; Jupiter; Sulis; Victoria

## Deity of Wisdom

Minerva is the Roman goddess of wisdom, who ruled with Jupiter and Juno as the triumvirate of justice and wise power. She also controlled commerce and all crafts and is credited with the invention of music. She is often depicted in armour. Minerva, whose creature is the owl, can be invoked in employment rituals and for the development of skills, retraining and musical ability as well as for truth and justice. Unlike Bellona and the warlike gods, both Athena and Minerva are used in rituals for using legal means or oratory and persuasion, rather than direct action, to overcome injustice.

## Appearance in Modern Media

From Monster StrikeFrom Kamihime ProjectFrom Puzzle & DragonsFrom Reign of DragonsFrom Rage of BahamutFrom Blood Brothers
## Information Source

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses by Judika Illes

The Encyclopedia of Witches, Witchcraft and Wicca by Rosemary Guiley

A Guide to Occult Power of White Magic by Dr S.P. Bhagat