Home Forum Members Newsletter Photos Symposia Rituals Temenoi Eranoi & Thiasoi Exegetai Mantikoi Agon Retreat The Gods Hellenismos Shop Links Join Contact

Athene Blessing: Athene helps us to cultivate wisdom, reason, and purity. As a Goddess of noble combat, she aids in the defending of home and country, and by inspiring just laws and civil intercourse, she is a Goddess of peace as well. She helps us to see our cities as thriving communities, as extended families, instead of just a bunch of people who live together. The duties owed to family and friends she extends to our neighbors in the community. She is also the Patron of craftsmen, weavers, and artists, and delights in simple things done well. Epithets: Aglauros (Dewfall), Agoraia (of the Market), Aithuia (Sea Bird), Alalkomene (Repeller of Danger), Alea (Protectress), Apatouria (of the Apatouria festival), Areia (Warlike), Boulaia (of the Council), Ergane (Workerwoman), Glaukopis (Grey-eyed, Owl-eyed), Gorgopis (Gorgon-Eyed), Hellotis (Broad-Faced), Hephaistia (of Hephaistos), he Theos (the Goddess), Hippia (of Horses), Hugieia (Health), Itonia (of Itonos) Khalinitis (of the Bridle), Khalkioikos (Dwelling in a Brazen House), Khruse (Golden), Kourotrophos (Protector of Youth), Kranaia (Fulfiller), Meter (Mother), Nike (Victory), Nikephoros (Victory-Bringing), Pallas (alternate name), Panakhais (Goddess of the Akhaean League), Pandrosos (All-Bedewing), Parthenos (the Virgin), Phatria (of the Phratry), Poliakhos (City-Holding), Polias (of the City), Polumetis (of Many Counsels), Promakhos (Champion), Pronoia (Providence), Salpinx (War-Trumpet), Sophia (Wisdom), Soteria (Savior), Sthenias (Mighty), Tritogeneia (Born on Lake Triton) Symbols: aegis, helmit, spear, owl, olive Animal(s): owl, snake Sacrifices: olive oil, olive leaves and branches, aromatic herbs, almond, oak, flax, wool, star ruby, turquoise, amaranth, tiger lily, geranium, yew, galbanum, asafoetida, scammony Primary Cult Center(s): Athens, Argos, Sparta, Troy Festivals: Arrhephoria: 3 Skiraphorion (June-July) Kallunteria: 24-25 Thargelion (May-June) Khalkeia: 30 Puanepsion (October-November) Oskhophoria: 7 Puanepsion (October-November) Panathenaia: Hekatombaion 28 (July-August) Plunteria: 24-25 Thargelion (May-June) 3rd day of the month Ways to honor: Become involved in your community and your city. To neighbors, be friendly. To children, be a mentor. To strangers, be helpful. To your community, be of service, whatever its needs are. Learn new things. Study philosophy. Take up arts and crafts. Support veterans. For more information: Aeschylus' Eumenides Apollodorus' Library 1.3.6, 1.4.3, 1.6.2 1.9.17,1.9.23, 2.4.3, 2.5.6, 2.5.12, 2.7.4, 2.1.5, 3.4.2, 3.6.8, 3.10.3, 3.12.3, 3.14.2, 3.14.7 Apollodorus' Epitome 3.2 , 5.6, 5.23, 6.6 Apollonius Rhodius' Argonautica Euripides' The Suppliants, Ion, Rhesus, Trojan Women, and Iphigeneia among the Taurians Herodotus' The Histories 4.180.5, 8.55 Hesiod's Cataluges of Women 7, 10 Hesiod's Shield of Heracles 325-344, 443-471 Hesiod's Theogony 315, 575, 885-900, 924-929 Hesiod's Works and Days 60 Homer's Iliad 1.206, 1.190, 4.127, 4.60, 4.85, 5.730, 5.764, 5.115-121, 5.239, 5.280-318, 5.363, 5.825-835, 6.270, 6.297, 7.15, 7.43, 21.361, 21.400, 22.177, 22.224, 22.260, 22.289 Homer's Odyssey 1.44, 1.80, 1.110, 1.125, 1.178, 1.230, 1.280, 2.115, 2.260, 2.267, 5.5, 5.380, 5.408, 6.10, 6.225, 7.10, 7.37, 13.190-416, 20.299, 20.345, 22.205-210, 22.225, 22.292 Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite 5.8-15 Homeric Hymn to Apollo 3b.305 Homeric Hymn to Athene 11, 28 Hyginus' Fabulae 142, 165, 168 Ovid's Metamorphoses 4.790-803, 6.1-145, 8.251-253 Pausanias' Description of Greece 1.14.6, 1.18.2, 1.24.1-7, 2.30.6, 4.30.5, 8.26.6, 9.11.2, 9.33.7 Pindar's Olympian Odes 7.32, 13.63-82 Pindar's Pythian Odes 10.43, 12.6-27 Plato's Laws 920d Plutarch's Alcibiades 2.5 Plutarch's Themistocles 19.3 Sophocles' Ajax 1, 36, 74, 101, 748 Links: The Shrine of the Goddess Athena About Athene by El Sharra