What Was Athena the Goddess Of? Her 3 Domains

Athena is one of the most famous deities from Greek antiquity. Born in full armor, springing forth from the head of her father Zeus, the virgin goddess was her father’s favorite daughter. She was also a favorite among the Greek people as the patron of not just Athens but also Pergamon and Sparta, among others. But what did the ancient Greeks believe Athena was the goddess of? Why was she so popular?

One of the principal domains associated with Athena was wisdom. Born out of the mind of Zeus, the association existed from the moment of her divine creation. From her wisdom grew many characteristics that came to define perceptions of the goddess in Greek culture.

She was viewed as having unmatched cunning, and was known for her calculated reasoning and pragmatism. As such, she was a major figure in military conflict, representing the strategic aspect. This intellect was also found outside the battlefield. Her wisdom was sought by those looking for insight and those who required good counsel.

Probably representing Athena in her guise as the goddess of wisdom, she was, and still is, associated with the owl. While academics have many theories on why the owl was represented in depictions of Athena, the owl is still considered a symbol of wisdom today, largely thanks to Athena.

War

The Greek world was not constrained by having one deity to represent a single concept. Gods were multifaceted with many associations, and there was often significant crossover between the domains of different gods.

Athena and Ares were the two Greek gods most closely associated with war. This led to a rivalry between the two beings, who, through the epic stories, came into conflict on more than one occasion.

However, while Ares represented the fury and bloody nature of battle, Athena represented the strategic side of military conflict. Athena also had influence over other aspects of war.

She counseled Zeus in his war against the Titans, and it was Athena who gave Zeus the potion that he used on Kronos, causing the Titan to regurgitate all of Zeus’ siblings. Thus Athena was instrumental in Zeus’ victory. As such, Athena was the goddess of victory.

Athena was also a commanding figure in the realm of personal skill in martial prowess. She was often depicted wearing the armor of a warrior or a soldier. The most striking symbols of her role as a warrior were her helm, shield, and spear. Most depictions of Athena include these three objects.

Athena wasn’t only tied to the serious business of war and outsmarting her enemies. She was also associated with handicrafts. She was most closely associated with the art of weaving, and she was seen as a protector of those whose livelihood revolved around the loom. By extension, Athena came to symbolize patronage of all handicrafts.

According to the mythological tales, a mortal, and pupil of Athena, Arachne, challenged Athena to a weaving contest. Such was Athena’s ire upon seeing the quality of her opponent’s work that she chastised her pupil, tearing her work to shreds. Arachne was so dismayed she hanged herself, after which Athena took pity on her and turned her into a spider.

Such was Athena’s importance to the weaving industry that every four years, a new peplos (robe worn by women in ancient Greece) was woven for the statue of Athena on the Acropolis. This was a major undertaking, as the statue was 38 feet (12 meters) tall!

Athena embodied the spirit of much that the Greek world held dear, and reverence for her was widespread. From the realm of war to far more peaceful pursuits, she was a beloved part of the Greek pantheon.