Myths
SAMPLE STORIES
ATHENE
This is especially true with the goddess Athene. She is called Athene in The IIiad but after 500 B.C.E. she if referred to as Athena. Her mother is Metis, the first wife of Zeus, and her name was meant to mean wisdom. When Zeus saw that Metis was pregant, he was afraid that if the child was allowed to live, it would be his doom. So he swallowed his wife to prevent the birth from happening. But it didn't work; Athene sprang out, fully armed and armored, from the head of Zeus but Metis was never seen again. Athene was known as the virgin goddess of intellect and invention. She is one of the only three who could take charms and spells. Athene is called the grim goddess because the snakey head of The Gorgon, Medusa is on her aehis, but Athene's gift of the olive tree made her grimness able to tolerate.
The city, Athens, was named in her honor. Her love and protection of Odysseus permitted the long suffering hero to finally return home to his wife and son again.