Athena

* Biography
* Threat Assessment
* Trivia and Notes
* Gallery

Council of Twelve, God of Athletics, God of Astronomy, God of Banquets, God of Boxing, Goddess of Education, Goddess of Handicraft, Goddess of Intellect, Goddess of Heroism, Goddess of Justice, Goddess of Strategy, Goddess of Warfare, Goddess of Wisdom (Purviews)

### Relatives

Zeus (Father)
Metis (Mother, Deceased)
Hera (Step-Mother)
Apollo, Ares, Hephaestus, Hermes, and Hercules (Half-Brothers)
Artemis, Hebe, Ilithyia, Eris, Diana, and Cassandra Sandsmark (Half-Sisters)
Kalliste (Daughter, Deceased)

## Biographical Information

### Date of Birth

Late Autumn, 236 Years Before Titanomachy

## Physical Description

### An Accounting of Athena

When Zeus fled the wrath of Kronos, he had to leave behind his wife and unborn child. Rhea had assured Zeus that they would be protected, but even Rhea could not fathom the true depths of Kronos's rage. Born in Tartarus, Athena grew up nothing to do but plan, study, and train. She knew nothing of joy or love, except for the love her own mother had for her. A love that Athena had to abandon when afforded the chance to escape.

Upon her release from Tartarus, Athena proved to be a master strategist and warrior, holding her own against Ares, Hephaestus, and even Poseidon (all considered the best in the exile camp at that time); but such merits did not impress Hera, who did all she coud to discredit Athena's legitimacy as the daughter of Zeus's first wife and the child of a Titan.

Athena found comfort with Poseidon's son, Triton. After courting for some time, the two were wed in the exile camp. The pair had a daughter named Kalliste that they loved very much and who grew to become a capable sailor and admiral in her own right.

In the war against the Titans, Athena proved her true place in the Olympian pantheon, by deploying a key strategy that won the war for the exiles, but came at the cost of the Kalliste's life, as she was killed by the Titan Oceanus while executing her key part in the strategy. As a result of this, Triton left Athena chose to work through her grief by accepting a position on the Olympian council as Goddess of Justice, Wisdom, Strategy, and Artisans. Athena's loss also meant she was worshipped as a figure of pure, neverending love, much to Hera's anger.

After an escaped Titan nearly killed Zeus, the Quorum of the Six Elder Gods met and determined who would become the monarch should Zeus ever be killed. After the vote came back locked many times at a three-to-three vote, Zeus issed a royal decree that Athena would succeed him as his first-born child. Again, this decision put Athena further at odds with her father's wife, Hera; as well as Hera's favored son, Ares.

In Elysium, Athena founded the Athenian Republic and there she works to transform the nation into a civilization worthy of the gods. Though she and Triton are still distant, Athena has made amends with her uncle Poseidon and the two have recently worked together to make airships a common sight in Elysian skies.

## Threat Assessment

### Resources

* **Goddess:** Born from Zeus and his first wife, the nymph Metis, Athena is a truly powerful being with her father's talent for leadership and her mother’s innate wisdom.
	+ **Goddess of Justice:** Elysian tradition holds that judgments, sentences, and punishments be issued in Athena's name. Furthermore, if such a tried mortal is given such in Athena's presence, she can instinctively sense if such is a fair decision. By decree of the Six, Athena has full pardoning power in all mortal realms, republics, and kingdoms.
	+ **Goddess of Strategy:** Though she may lack the pure martial skill and strength of Ares and Poseidon, Athena has proven able to defeat both gods through her tactical superiority and exploiting her enemies' weakness against them. Also, Athena developed the ability to sense her opponents' thoughts in battle, giving her the appearance of better reflexes.
	+ **Goddess of Wisdom:** An innate gift from her mother, Athena has an intelligent and able mind, capable of having a near-perfect memory and incredible rates of learning. Further, with focus, Athena can train herself in any skill or discipline through mere thought alone, without the need of a book, mentor, or practice.
* **The Beautiful Trinity:** Considered to be one of the three most beautiful goddesses, Athena shares the title of 'Goddess of Beauty', with Aphrodite and Hera As a result, Athena receives worship from those wishing to be beautiful.
* **Keeper of the Aegis:** Though rarely carried on her person anymore, Athena is the keeper of the indestructible shield of her father, the Aegis. The Aegis once held the power of Medusa to render mortals to stone, but no more.
* **Keeper of the Empyrean Spear:** A creation of Hephaestus, Athena is able to use this weapon to cut through any armor and shield (except her own Aegis) with little effort. The spear will only ignite if its user truly believes they are in pursuit of a just and noble cause.

## Trivia and Notes

### Trivia

#### General

* Athena is a wise goddess and values knowledge above all else. She is fond of spending time among the mortals, especially those of the New Republic of Athens. Athena gets on well with most of the other gods, with the exception of Ares. Athena is often called upon by her father to assist Hermes in the most important errands and as such the two have developed a very close working relationship.
* During one battle with the Titans Medusa tripped Athena when she was trying to save Kalliste and her daughter was killed by the Titan Pallas. Sometime after the war, Athena felt compelled to pursue Medusa and her Gorgons. Poseidon and Athena were at odds at the time and Poseidon gave the Gorgons a warning and provided them with favorable waters as they sailed away from Aeolis and settled into a cave under the Temple at Delphi, where the strong essence from the carcass of Python, a dragon slain by Apollo, would mask their presence from Athena. By the time they were discovered by Athena, the Gorgons had been feeding on the dragon's remains and that combined with the earthen essence of the cave they called home had mutated the nymphs, transforming them into serpentine creatures with snakes replacing their hair and the ability to petrify anyone who locked eyes with them. When Athena tried to kill the Gorgon's chieftess, Apollo intervened. As the patron of Delphi and God of Prophecy, he told Athena that he had decided that Medusa and the Gorgons were under his protection as they were guardians of the temple and its precious oracle. Eventually, the Gorgons became such trusted guardians that the Olympians began storing their sacred relics in the cave where the ambient essence would recharge the depleted essence of the relics. Athena grew upset at this appointment and gave the demigod hero Perseus an adamant sword, tasking him with kill Medusa.
* For a while she kept her father's shield upon which Medusa's head had been affixed. For centuries, Medusa paid off her debt to Athena by aiding her in battle in this manner, eventually becoming strange friends. Shortly before the voyage to Elysium, Athena went to Delphi and returned Medusa's head to her body which had been had been preserved by the Gorgons who sewed it into Python's heart.

#### Apple of Discord

* Eris had tossed the apple into the crowd at a wedding attended by all the gods. This apple was plucked from the Garden of the Hesperides. It had been engraved with the inscription "To the Most Beautiful" and endowed with a purview. Whoever ate this apple would receive the title of Goddess of Beauty. This apple had an effect on Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite. Athena wanted it because she felted the need to feel desirable after the loss of her daughter and abandonment by her husband, Triton. However the apple gave the three compulsion also made each goddess willing to do just about anything to gain this apple. When the goddesses resorted to violence, it looked like Athena would be the one to bite into and receive its gift, but Hermes swooped in and plucked it from her hand. Hermes gave the apple to Zeus to judge who should receive it. However, Zeus did not wish to have any part in this contest and had tell Hermes find a mortal to be the judge of the beauty contest. Though Hermes had left with the apple it still had an effect on the three goddesses. However they did agree to honor the decision of whatever mortal Hermes found to judge the contest.
* Before this beauty contest, the goddesses all set out to prepare. Athena ventured into the Underworld and sought Hecate's aid. The witch was known for asking for strange costs for her services. Athena was prepared to pay anything but did not expect Hecate to ask for a kiss. Athena collected her potion after the payment was given but paused before leaving the witch's den. The goddess felt a stirring inside her that she had forgotten. Returning to the witch and giving her another kiss, this one without any expectation of getting something in return. Much to Athena's surprise, Hecate embraced her, and the two soon found themselves in the throes of passion.
* Though Athena would lose the contest, having wasted her potion in anger in another contest, she learned she did not need that apple as much as she thought.

### Notes

* In Mythology, Athena was not born in Tartarus, born sprang forth from Zeus' forehead in full armor.
* Triton did not have a daughter with Athena in Mythology, as Athena was a virgin and never had any biological children. The two were also never married.
* Athena's lack of consorts and children in NeOlympus is explained by the pain she feels having lost her only child.

## Gallery

Athena (Modern).jpgAthena (Modern)Athena.jpgAthena (Classic)Athena (Classic - Variant).jpgAthena (Classic - Variant)

## Links and References

* Appearances of Athena

1. ↑ An Accounting of Athena
2. ↑ Neonomikon: Athena
3. ↑ RepCap: Medusa