Athena and Athens

Wisdom be to you, mortal, for I am the goddess Athena.

No other goddess has given her name to a whole society of educated and aristocratic humans than I. The Athenians of ancient Greece are my people. I make my presence known in all their affairs and I protect the city in times of war or political strife. I am the virgin goddess of wisdom, warfare, strategy, civilization, arts and crafts, mathematics, and law. These many not seem unusual to you, mortal, but how I was born might strike you as a bit odd.

My father Zeus lusted after and pursued Metis, a Titaness who embodied wisdom and craftiness. He eventually tricked Metis and impregnated her. A prophesy stated that any child born of Metis would grow to be more powerful than its biological father.

This greatly worried Zeus, who acted impetuously and swallowed Metis whole. Unfortunately for the ruler of Mount Olympus, this act did little to prevent the inevitable. My father's began to experience a headache so severe that his cries—in thunderous uproar—startled many of the other gods. His pain was quickly relieved as I burst from his cranium in full armor and carrying a double-headed axe, called a labrys, forged in the Minoan style (though others claim I carried a spear). I sprang forth into the world with a shrill battle cry so intense that even Ares took notice. And, of course, Hera was not pleased.

But I am not here to retell my story to you, mortal. I am here to tell you of Athens, Greece. For I love so much this metropolis that I protect it with every divine fiber in my being.

Athens, Greece
Athens is the capital city of Greece. It is one of the oldest known cities in the entire world—dating back some 3,400 years of recorded history. This antiquated metropolis is credited as being the "cradle of Western civilization," no doubt due to my divine inspiration and influence, and is the birthplace of the popular political system known as "democracy." Athens is where the ancient and modern Olympic Games started. Competition has always been at the heart of Athens and its people—even in ancient times when city-state's major warring opponent was mighty Sparta. Modern-day Athens competes with Greece's second largest city of Thessaloniki for the economic, industrial, political, and cultural center of Greece.

The glory of Athens lies in ruins. You will find many worthwhile places to visit:

·         The Acropolis, which includes the Parthenon—the classical temple dedicated to me

·         The 11th century Byzantine-style Daphni Monastery

·         The Hellenic Parliament building

·         National Library of Greece

·         Athens University

·         Academy of Athens

·         National Archaeological Museum

Of course, the cosmopolitan metropolis has many other ancient and modern attractions to keep even the most finicky tourist happy. So, dear mortal, come to Athens and witness the majesty of Greece as well as the warmth of its people!