Athena was the goddess of crafts and the domestic arts and also those of war. She was the patron goddess of Athens. Her symbol was the owl. She was originally the Great Goddess in the form of a bird. Zeus was once married to Metis, a daughter of Ocean who was renowned for her wisdom. When Metis became pregnant, Zeus was warned by Earth that a son born to Metis would overthrow him, just as he had usurped his own father's throne.

So Zeus swallowed Metis. In time he was overcome with a splitting headache and summoned help from the craftsman god Hephaestus (or, some say, the Titan Prometheus). Hephaestus cleaved Zeus's forehead with an axe, and Athena sprang forth fully armed She is called Athene in The Iliad but after 500 B.C.E. she if referred to as Athena.

Athena was known as the virgin goddess of intellect and invention. She is one of the only three who could take Aphrodite's charms and spells. Athena is sometimes referred to as the grim goddess because the head of the Gorgon, Medusa is on her aehis, but Athena’s gift of the olive tree rendered her grimness tolerable.

Athena aided the heroes Perseus, Jason, Cadmus, Odysseus and Herakles in their quests. Athena helped Perseus in his quest to slay Medusa because she wanted the Gorgon's head to decorate her shield.

Both Athena and Poseidon wanted to be patron deity of Athens. To prove her worthiness for the honour, Athena caused an olive tree to spring up on the citadel of Athens, the Acropolis. Poseidon sought to outdo her by striking the ground with his trident and causing a spring of water to gush forth. But as he was god of the sea, the water was salty. Athena's gift to the Athenians was considered to be more useful, so she became the city's patron deity.

The city, Athens, was named in her honour. Her love and protection of Odysseus permitted the long -suffering hero to finally return home to his wife and son.