Athena

Athena or Athene, often given the epithet Pallas, is an ancient Greek goddess associated with wisdom, warfare, and handicraft who was later syncretized with the Roman goddess Minerva. Athena was regarded as the patron and protectress of various cities across Greece, particularly the city of Athens, from which she most likely received her name. The Parthenon on the Acropolis of Athens is dedicated to her. Her major symbols include owls, olive trees, snakes, and the Gorgoneion. In art, she is generally depicted wearing a helmet and holding a spear.

Quotes

• Three maidens, Pallas, give their gifts to thee.
    The slender woof can they like spiders spin
  Demo her basket brings, Arsinoë
    The distaff whence the thread falls fine and thin,
  And Bacchylis the shuttle that doth sing
    A busy nightingale among the thread,
  For pure, and far from every shameful thing,
    These maidens maidenly would win their bread!
  • Antipater of Sidon, Anth. Pal. VI, 174
  • Andrew Lang, "Gifts", Grass of Parnassus (2nd. ed., 1892), p. 162