Athena: Goddess of Wisdom, Crafts and War

~Basic Information~

Name: Athena

~Appearance & Personality~

Description/Picture:
She mostly wears a long white flowing dress that is cut over one shoulder, which is encrusted with gold. She has a golden shield (as pictured) and matching armour that covers her whole body when she commands tactics of war. She has just below jaw length red hair, and pale grey eyes that show a lot of depth and thought. She is slim, (also as pictured) but has very strong arms to wield her spear and shield. She also carries a sword that is kept in a brown belt that sits on her hips loosely.
Height: Any height he wants to be Mostly stands at 5 foot 8.
Weight: Any weight he wants to be Mostly weighs 90 lbs with battle armour on, 85 lbs in normal clothing.
Personality: Athena is a very soft spoken woman despite being so hardened through battle. She has great respect for anyone who is with her, as long as they don't show her otherwise. Despite her very seemingly gentle and mild nature, Athena is very strong willed and deadly to double-cross. She also has a motherly side to her, and will nurture her children no matter what.
Powers: Athena has been blessed with amazing knowledge and craftsmanship. Alongside this, she is a fearsome fighter and is very skilled in combat. So much so, there isn't a battle that she has lost.
Symbol of Power: In birth she is a symbol of the threatening force of dominance and aggression, and has been blessed with the immense respect of mortals and Gods alike.

~History~

Athena's mother, Metis, was the first wife of Zeus and her name (Metis) might mean ‘wisdom’. If this is true, then it would be more proper to call Athena ‘The Daughter of Wisdom’ instead of ‘The Goddess of Wisdom’.

When Zeus saw that Metis was pregnant, he was afraid that the child, if allowed to live, would be his doom. He swallowed Metis to prevent the birth. It didn’t work. Athene sprang, fully armed and armored, from the head of Zeus but Metis was never seen again.

Then Athena grew up and witnessed many battles of which she made strategies for. She was also known to resist completely Aphrodite's spells and charms, with her being a proud virgin goddess.

Athena gave more to mankind then just her protection. Not only was Athena a patron goddess of Attica, and later all of Athens, but she delivered inventions, health and healing, and academic principals. Some of her inventions include the flute, a symbol of hope, and the war chariot. She was also the idea behind the Trojan Horse in the Odyssey. The horse is an example of Athena's cleverness that saved Athens in the war. During the war, Athena had the Greeks build the horse that she would send to the Trojans under her name so that they would accept a gift from the patron goddess. The Trojans were led to believe that if they let the horse enter their gates then they would be victorious. As the myth reveals, the horse harbored the Greek army that siege the city once the horse was inside. Athena's ideas also encouraged Argos to build the biggest longship of the time, the Argo. She taught Prometheus of architecture, astronomy, mathematics, navigation, medicine, and metallurgy which he in turn gave to mortals.

Athena's worship as the patron goddess seemed to evolve over generations. She eventually won her right in a contest of the gods to take her place as patron of all of Attica. There was a dispute between Poseidon and Athena as to the status of the presiding power of Athens. The contest between Athena and Poseidon involved the offering of the most beneficial attribute to the Athenians that would determine the ruler. The contest took place on Mount Olympus and was judged by the twelve Olympic deities. Poseidon was the god of the sea kingdom and is often shown with his trident and crown. He created a flowing salt spring on the Acropolis and Athena produced an olive tree. The olive tree was declared the most efficient gift and Athena was granted rule over Attica.

Along with her benevolence to the state she supported many of the Greek gods and goddesses. Her foresight and intellect was of great value to the gods in binding situations. When Perseuschallanged the grim Medusa, who could turn any man to stone, Athena devised a clever plan to help the fearless warrior. Since the Gorgon could only turn one to stone if they looked upon her, Athena gave Perseus a mirror to see Medusa's reflection. With a quick stroke of his sword, Persues cut off Medusa's head and gave it to Athena to put on her shield. With the Gorgon's powerful magic on her shield, Athena could fend off the most aggressive enemies. Athena's maternal qualities resound in her support of others. From the temples and civic prosperity she created benevolence towards humanity resembling the strong maternal figure. Although she is a virgin goddess, Athena uses this towards her warrior character and does not become emotionally or intimately attached. Her personality is twofold though, and reveals a sensitive, feminine aspect. In her artistic crafts like weaving and wool working her feminine attributes are most strong but she also carries a maternal aura that is evident in the story of the goddess and Hephaestus.

Athena was pursued by many gods, especially that of Hephaestus, who fell madly in love with her. He finally cornered her on the Acropolis and brushed against her. Athena wiped herself with a shard of cloth and this fell to the ground and fertilized the earth, known as Gaea. The god, Erichthonius was produced and Athena took on the role like that of a foster mother. After she put him in a chest that she gave to the three daughters of Cecrops, their father, the King of Athens, eventually handed over his powers to him. Athena watched over Erichthonius and raised him as her own son in the city of Athens. Her maternal qualities are the strongest in her care of this son. The myth of Prometheus is also a testament of Athena's maternal instincts. Athena created the first man out of clay and water with the help of Prometheus. She had the ability to create as well as sustain life.

~RP Sample~