Athene
The etymology of Athene’s name is uncertain. Some say it is derived from the word for ‘mind’. The name relates to the city of Athens – but most stories agree that the city took it’s name from her. She was the daughter of Zeus and Metis.
Zeus discovered that if he had a son by Metis this son would be mightier than him. So he tricked Metis into becoming a fly and swallowed her. However, Metis was pregnant with Athena at the time and when Athena was born, Zeus was plagued with headaches. He went to Hephaestus (Smith God) and begged him to open his head. Hephaestus did, and out popped Athena, full grown and ready for battle.
Athene was in interesting and complex goddess. She invented the flute, the trumpet, the earthenware pot, the plough, the rake, the ox-yoke, the horse-bridle, the chariot, the ship and the science of numbers (all things generally though of as masculine arts) but she was also the first teacher of women’s arts: weaving, cooking, and spinning.
She was goddess of wisdom, strategic battle and crafts. She, along with Artemis and Hestia, was a virgin goddess.
imago corvi 