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Athens and Its Goddess

Athens and Its Goddess. By Kayla Maedche HIS 325. The Birth of a Goddess. Parents: Zeus and Metis Zeus swallowed his wife Hephaestus split Zeus’ head Fully-grown and armed Wisdom: head of Zeus. Basic Info - Characteristics. Origins in Neolithic times Roman equivalent = Minerva

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Athens and Its Goddess

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  1. Athens and Its Goddess By Kayla Maedche HIS 325

  2. The Birth of a Goddess • Parents: Zeus and Metis • Zeus swallowed his wife • Hephaestus split Zeus’ head • Fully-grown and armed • Wisdom: head of Zeus

  3. Basic Info - Characteristics • Origins in Neolithic times • Roman equivalent = Minerva • Goddess of war, wisdom, the state, weaving, and fertility • www.theoi.com/Cult/AthenaTitles.html#Cult • War goddess (promachos) • Grants victory in battle as Nike or Nikephoros • Aegis was a battle charm • Injured Ares in the Trojan War • Worshiped in Libya as Neith • Glaukopis: “bright-eyed,” association with owl’s (glaux) eyes • Tritogeneia: “water-born” or reared by Triton; also means third-born • Pallas Athena • killed Pallas, daughter of Triton, while practicing the art of war • Refers to virginity in contrast to her fertility epithets • Potnia: Homer recorded this epithet which means queen

  4. Basic Info – Human Interaction • Trojan War & The Odyssey • Libya: how to tame horses • Athens: infantry tactics • King Erichthonius: how to harness a chariot • Present during the building of Jason’s Argo • Welcomed Hercules to Olympus • Guided Perseus against the Gorgons • Saved the heart of Dionysus • Invented the potter’s wheel and the flute

  5. Patroness of Athens – Contest • Chose Attica as her special place • Athena vs. Poseidon on the Acropolis • Gifts: olive tree vs. salt spring • Attica becomes Athens

  6. Patroness of Athens – Customs • Spousal: Athena’s virginity (pallas) was upheld as proper female behavior in patriarchal society • the maiden’s parents offered a sacrifice for the fruitfulness of the marriage • Fertility: priestess would bear the aegis to a couple’s home • the priestess received a payment for each birth and death of an Athenian • Amphidromia • Naming ceremony when it was believed the child would survive • Olive braches = boy • garlands of wool = girl • Nurse carried the child around the fire • Alliances: a tablet was made with a representation of Athena holding the hand of the other city’s patron god • Military: the aegis was hung over the walls of the city to prevent defeat

  7. Patroness of Athens – Festivals • Arrephoria: young, noble girls descended from Athena’s temple to take sacred objects underground near Aphrodite’s sanctuary • Scirophoria: priests and priestesses form a procession under a large parasol (sciron) • Panathenaea: procession to the Acropolis with the sacred robe (peplos) and olive branches; included many events and ceremonies • Greater Panathenaea was held every 4th year where other city-states participated at Athens

  8. Athens - Characteristics • Plain of Attica • Triangular tract in the Aegean Sea • Basin area that is surrounded by hills and mountains • Theater of Dionysus • Plato’s Academy; “Athens is the city hall of Wisdom” • Aristotle’s Lyceum • Cradle of western civilization and the birthplace of democracy • Important center of early Hellenistic Greece • Nicknamed “the glorious city” • Athenians were the most pious and religious of all Greeks

  9. Athens – Brief Timeline • 3000 BC: first settlement on the Acropolis • 566 BC: Panathenaic festival established • 534 BC: first tragedy performed at Dionysian festival • 508 BC: Became a democracy under Kleisthenes • 5th Century BC: Golden Age of Athens under the reign of Pericles • 431-404 BC: Peloponnesian War • 387 BC: Plato founds the Academy • 44 AD: Apostle Paul visits Athens • Acts 17: 21 – locals interested in the latest ideas • 132 AD: Emperor Hadrian’s library is built • 476 AD: Roman Empire falls; Athens declines • 529 AD: became a Byzantine provincial town • 13th Century AD: invaded by the Crusaders • 15th Century AD: occupied by Turks • 1833: became the Greek capital • 1896: first modern Olympic games

  10. Acropolis • Citadel stands 150ft. above the Athenian plain • Fortified along the Cecropian rock • Strongest area in the city • Persians set it on fire

  11. Parthenon • Parthenos: Maiden; also known as “Virgin’s House” • 447 -438 BC: construction time • 438-432 BC: Phidias’ creates its’ sculptures • Built with 230,000 metric tonnes of marble from Mt. Pentelicon • Architects: Ictinus and Callicrates • Western end: held the bank • Eastern end: statue of Athena • Emperor Hadrian’s reign: repaired and beautified • Transformed into a church for Mary • 1687- destroyed by a Venetian battery when used by the Turks

  12. Parthenon

  13. 44 AD: Paul in Athens • Acts 17:16 – greatly distressed (paroxysm) to see the city full of idols in 44 AD • Paroxysm means sudden, violent emotion • Acts 17:18 – spoke with Epicurean and Stoic philosophers • Was called a spermalog (babbler, courtier, or buffoon) • Acts 17:22 – saw their religious nature (deisidaimones) • Vague word meaning cowardice towards the divine, or deep superstition • Acts 17:24 – Paul preached to the Athenians on Mars Hill (Areopagus) • Civic place to hear new ideas; also used for trials before the Council of the State • Truth that God is not man-made and will raise His believers into everlasting Life • Acts 17:34 – mixed responses, but many accepted the faith

  14. Symbolism – The Owl • Owl perched on Zeus’ wrist • Glaux: a small, strictly nocturnal owl • Shorthand mark for Athens • Agathocles let out owls among his troops so that they would gain courage • Representation of wisdom, death, and destruction • Owl’s cry: impending doom

  15. Symbolism – The Olive • Sacred olive tree beside the temple; represented the fate (moira) of the city • Customary to plant one at the birth of each citizen • Blessings of prosperity and good fortune • Eiresione: olive branch hung annually over every family’s door • Victors at athletic games were crowned with branches

  16. Symbolism – The Spindle • Spinning: as early as Homer; “spinner of fate” • Protective care over the peaceful arts of the city • The Peplos (sacred robe) • Wove one for herself and for Hera • Given in special occasions like the Panathanaea • Sign of sovereignty • “net of destiny” • Arachne, the princess of Lydia

  17. Symbolism – The Snake • Legendary snake guarded the Acropolis • Snake’s absence in the Persian attack • Erichthonios was the foster son of Athena • Sign of agricultural fertility • Prophetic animal (Tiresias) • Anyone who ate a snake became wise

  18. Representation in Art • Two general classes: standing with weapons; sitting without weapons (potnia) • Palladium: Standing pose without weapons • originally at the city of Troy; the city could not be defeated while it had the image • Promachos: Standing with feet apart striding forward; dates to the Bronze Age

  19. Modern Homage • State seal of California • US Women’s Navy • US Military Academy • Athens of the South • Over 30 USA locations

  20. Modern Homage

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