Athena's Role In Greek Mythology

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A myth, according to Merriam-Webster, is a fictional story used to elucidate practices, beliefs or natural occurrences, often dating back to ancient times. The people of ancient Greece relied on an elaborate web of myths to explain the happenings of the world; many of which featured gods and goddesses, heroes and heroines as well as imaginary creatures, such as the Cyclops and the hydra. Athena, the Goddess of War and Wisdom, was much more than just a measly piece of the intricate puzzle that is Greek mythology; she was the daughter of Zeus, she assisted in the fulfillment of many quests, and above all else, she was remembered for being a dauntless and tactical warrior. In addition, there are many symbols recognized to this day as representations …show more content…
Both she and her brother, Ares, were Goddess and God of War respectively. However, they were polar opposites. While Ares was brutal and craving bloodshed, Athena always took the most tactical approach. She never jumped the gun, always analyzing before acting. When possible, Athena would try to negotiate for the things she desired as opposed to waging immediate war on her adversaries, like Ares would do. Notwithstanding her reluctance for war, there were still situations that arose that landed Athena in a state of confrontation. In these circumstances, Athena was quick on her feet and came up with impressively creative and intelligent ways to overthrow her enemies. A perfect example is the Trojan Horse, created by the Greek to gain the upper hand against the people of Troy. As recounted by Theoi.com, "Athena […] inspired Odysseus and Epeios to contrive the device of the Trojan Horse by which they might gain entry to the city." It is explained that Athena influenced the fabrication of this peace offering which doubled as a hiding place for a small army of Greek soldiers. These soldiers stayed hidden until nightfall inside the large wooden horse and then made their attack when their enemies least expected it. Thanks to Athena, the Greeks emerged victorious from the Trojan
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