Greek Goddess Athena

According to Greek legend Athena was born fully grown when she was sprung from her father Zeus's head. The story that was told was that Zeus was fearful that his wife Metis might give birth to a son more mighty and powerful then himself, so to ease his worries Zeus swallowed his wife to prevent her from doing so.

During the duration of time that Metis was confined inside of Zeus she occupied herself by working on a robe and helmet for the daughter that she planned on bearing for Zeus. The time that Metis spent pounding on and working what was to become the metal helmet caused Zeus constant migraine headaches which left him incapacitated and writhing in agony.

Upon witnessing his fathers immense suffering Hephaestus split open Zeus's skull to relieve his suffering only to have the goddess Athena emerge from his head fully grown and wearing the robe and helmet that her mother Metis had made for her. Archaeological research has dated the cult of Athena the patron saint of Athens to very early times in Greek history and it was such a persistent cult that the myths that surrounded her tended to adapt to changing times.

Athena was in fact credited with giving the olive tree to the Greeks in a contest between herself and her uncle over ownership of the city that is now called Athens. According to the legend both Poseidon and his niece Athena loved the city so much that they each wished to claim it as their own. To settle the dispute between the two of them it was decided that there would be a contest and who ever of the two gave the most wonderful gift to the city, should be declared its owner and the city named after the winner.

A procession of the cities citizenry was led up to the Acropolis on Mount Olympus where Poseidon the god of the oceans hit the side of a cliff with his trident which caused a spring of water to come gushing forth. The gathered crowd was stricken with amazement until they tasted the water and found that it was as salty as the oceans which Poseidon ruled over.

Then Athena stepped forward with her gift which was the olive tree and after the mass of spectators ate the olives, tasted the oil and warmed themselves with a fire fueled with its wood they declared Athena the victor and rightful owner of the city that was subsequently named Athens in her honor. Athena was an warrior goddess who wore a robe and a helmet and never had a consort or a lover so was considered to be a virgin.