Athena


 

Athena was born, wearing armour, from the head of Zeus, her father. There were two sides to her character. She could be mighty and terrible or open gentle and pure. She led the way through victory in battle to peace and prosperity. She was a virgin goddess, pure in her dedication to wisdom and artistic beauty. In addition to teaching men the art of war, she is also credited with inventing spinning, weaving and the flute. To the Romans she was known as Minerva.



Athena is depicted in this detail from a Greek airmail stamp issued in 1954.


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