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Athena: a divine idea is born

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Athena: a divine idea is born

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    1. Athena: a divine idea is born Three views of the birth of Athena. Top left, black-figure exaleiptron (ointment box), ca. 570-565 BC, the earliest known depiction. An unknown goddess stands at far left. Hephaestus, having just split Zeus’s head open, moves away holding his axe, looking back. Eileithyia stands behind the throne. An unknown goddess, perhaps Hera, stands in front of Zeus, who holds both his staff and a thunderbolt. Behind her is Poseidon holding his trident, with an unknown goddess on the far right. Right, bronze shield armband from Olympia, ca. 550 BC. Eileithyia stands behind to assist as midwife at the birth. Zeus, holding a thunderbolt, sits in his throne while Athena emerges from his head. Hephaestus, moves to the right, looking back. Bottom left, a red-figure image of the same scene, ca. 550-540 BC, but without Eileithyia. Three views of the birth of Athena. Top left, black-figure exaleiptron (ointment box), ca. 570-565 BC, the earliest known depiction. An unknown goddess stands at far left. Hephaestus, having just split Zeus’s head open, moves away holding his axe, looking back. Eileithyia stands behind the throne. An unknown goddess, perhaps Hera, stands in front of Zeus, who holds both his staff and a thunderbolt. Behind her is Poseidon holding his trident, with an unknown goddess on the far right. Right, bronze shield armband from Olympia, ca. 550 BC. Eileithyia stands behind to assist as midwife at the birth. Zeus, holding a thunderbolt, sits in his throne while Athena emerges from his head. Hephaestus, moves to the right, looking back. Bottom left, a red-figure image of the same scene, ca. 550-540 BC, but without Eileithyia.

    3. Athena’s Home Town Partial reconstruction, based on remains, of the Parthenon and other structures on the Acropolis in Athens in the 5th century BC. Each year a great celebration, the Panathenaea, was held in Athena's honor and a large parade would ascend from the city to the Acropolis, where animal sacrifices would be made. Every four years (probably) there occurred the Greater Panathenaea, in which a new shawl or peplos, on which were embroidered scenes from the Gigantomachy, was brought in stately procession and offered to the goddess's statue. There were also athletic and musical/literary competitions.Partial reconstruction, based on remains, of the Parthenon and other structures on the Acropolis in Athens in the 5th century BC. Each year a great celebration, the Panathenaea, was held in Athena's honor and a large parade would ascend from the city to the Acropolis, where animal sacrifices would be made. Every four years (probably) there occurred the Greater Panathenaea, in which a new shawl or peplos, on which were embroidered scenes from the Gigantomachy, was brought in stately procession and offered to the goddess's statue. There were also athletic and musical/literary competitions.

    5. Protector-and Destroyer-of Cities On the left, a reproduction of the famous colossal statue of Athena Parthenos (Virgin) in her temple the Parthenon on the acropolis of Athens. Made by the great sculptor and designer Pheidias of chryselephantine, she held a winged Nike (Victory) in her right hand. On her head was an ornate helmet. A spear leaned against her left shoulder and she held her left hand on her shield. Under the shield a giant serpent coiled up. On the right, Athena Promachos, the Battle Maiden. She held up her shield and balanced her spear, ready to attack.On the left, a reproduction of the famous colossal statue of Athena Parthenos (Virgin) in her temple the Parthenon on the acropolis of Athens. Made by the great sculptor and designer Pheidias of chryselephantine, she held a winged Nike (Victory) in her right hand. On her head was an ornate helmet. A spear leaned against her left shoulder and she held her left hand on her shield. Under the shield a giant serpent coiled up. On the right, Athena Promachos, the Battle Maiden. She held up her shield and balanced her spear, ready to attack.

    6. Aegis: the apotropaic goatskin The aegis (lit. “goatskin”) was originally an attribute of Zeus. One story is that it was the skin of the magic goat Amalthea who nourished him as a baby on Mt Dicte in Crete. In the Iliad we find Zeus either using the aegis himself or lending it to another, esp. Apollo. It has magical properties: not even Zeus’ thunderbolts can penetrate it; it guarantees victory for its wearer; and terrifies anyone who sees it (‘apotropaic’ means “turning away”). But, esp. after the military, political, and cultural dominance of Athens, it becomes most frequently associated with Athena, who wears the Gorgoneion, the head of Medusa, in its center as a medallion. This was a gift to her from the hero Perseus, whom she helped in his quest. The second king of Athens, Cecrops, was said to have a serpent’s tail. Both he and his descendant, the king Erectheus, were believed to be autochthonous, “born from the earth,” as serpents were thought to be. Thus the aegis is fringed with live snakes, covered in serpent scales, and ornamented with the serpent-haired Gorgoneion.The aegis (lit. “goatskin”) was originally an attribute of Zeus. One story is that it was the skin of the magic goat Amalthea who nourished him as a baby on Mt Dicte in Crete. In the Iliad we find Zeus either using the aegis himself or lending it to another, esp. Apollo. It has magical properties: not even Zeus’ thunderbolts can penetrate it; it guarantees victory for its wearer; and terrifies anyone who sees it (‘apotropaic’ means “turning away”). But, esp. after the military, political, and cultural dominance of Athens, it becomes most frequently associated with Athena, who wears the Gorgoneion, the head of Medusa, in its center as a medallion. This was a gift to her from the hero Perseus, whom she helped in his quest. The second king of Athens, Cecrops, was said to have a serpent’s tail. Both he and his descendant, the king Erectheus, were believed to be autochthonous, “born from the earth,” as serpents were thought to be. Thus the aegis is fringed with live snakes, covered in serpent scales, and ornamented with the serpent-haired Gorgoneion.

    7. Athena, by Gustav Klimt (1921). Athena, by Gustav Klimt (1921).

    8. A City Deified Left: Athena holds out her aegis by the neck of a snake at its fringe. She is battling a Giant in a scene from the Parthenon, representing the victory of civilization against monstrous, barbarian violence. Above right: a silver tetradrachm from Athens showing Athena’s head on one side and her owl (bubo), the symbol of Athens, on the other. Lower right: Athena and Poseidon compete for the patronage of Athens. Poseidon gave the city a salt-water spring (a symbol of Athenian naval power in the Aegean Sea), but Athena won by giving the olive tree. From the west pediment of the Parthenon.Left: Athena holds out her aegis by the neck of a snake at its fringe. She is battling a Giant in a scene from the Parthenon, representing the victory of civilization against monstrous, barbarian violence. Above right: a silver tetradrachm from Athens showing Athena’s head on one side and her owl (bubo), the symbol of Athens, on the other. Lower right: Athena and Poseidon compete for the patronage of Athens. Poseidon gave the city a salt-water spring (a symbol of Athenian naval power in the Aegean Sea), but Athena won by giving the olive tree. From the west pediment of the Parthenon.

    9. EPITHETS AND ATTRIBUTES Pallas Tritogeneia Grey-eyed Aegis-bearing Parthenos (Virgin) Destroyer of Cities In Rome, Minerva Armor: helmet, spear, shield Aegis Owl (bubo) Snake(s) Olive (tree) Know the epithets, attributes, and jurisdictions of Athena.Know the epithets, attributes, and jurisdictions of Athena.

    10. HER CROSS-GENDERED JURISDICTIONS Feminine: domestic crafts, esp. weaving, economy (i. e. household management); Masculine: war, esp. battle strategy, heroes on their quests (with Hermes), male crafts (carpentry, metalwork). What is ‘wisdom’ anyway? Think about a city: what does ‘Athena’ “weave together”, metaphorically? Why is it necessary that she’s a virgo intacta?

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