Athena was the most important goddess of Greece mythology. She was the goddess of wisdom, war, the arts, industry, justice and skill. She was the goddess of the city, handcrafts, and agriculture. She invented the bridle which permitted man to tame horses, the trumpet, the flute, the pot, the rake, the plow, the yoke, the ship, and the chariot.

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. 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 ax, and Athena sprang forth fully armed.

Athena was the virgin daughter of Zeus and patron goddess of Athens. [See the Parthenon.] She was goddess of crafts, wisdom, and warfare. Athena helped many of the Greek heroes with advice or other aid. She is described as glaucopis which can be translated as 'grey-eyed", and is associated with the owl. You'll usually see a helmet perched on her head. For her shield, Athena carries the aegis of Medusa, the snaky-haired monster-woman Perseus decapitated with the help of the goddess.