The image she was gazing at wavered and suddenly, instead of her own features, it was the face of Athena that Medusa saw reflected back at her. This angered Athena who visited Arachne and challenged her to a weaving contest. Her skill was truly a work of Arachne’s work seemed to be perfect technically, yet it was not beautiful because it was showing disregard of the gods. One of Zeus' many loves was an Oceanid named Metis. This is the story of Athena's birth. In the Olympian pantheon, Athena was the favorite daughter of Zeus who mated with Metis, the goddess of crafty thought and wisdom. Athena is said to have emerged fully formed from the head of Zeus, but there is a backstory. She sprang full grown and fully armed from the head of Zeus after his head was hit with an axe. One of Zeus' many loves was an Oceanid named Metis. As the story goes, Zeus regretted the union because a prophecy stated that Metis' child would become stronger than its father. Athena. It was built between 447 and 432 B.C. The Story of Arachne and Athena A rachne was a beautiful young woman and the most wonderful weaver. The stories about Athena are actually older than the stories about Zeus whose head she was supposed to have come out of. She had a unique birth story and was known for her braveness in battles. Arachne was this Lydian princess who was a fabulous weaver. She is goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, strategic warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill. “Vain and foolish girl,” Athena said angrily, “You think you are prettier than I am! She was so good that people said she was better than Athena. Athena was an Olympian goddess of wisdom, strategy, warfare and skill.Also known as a goddess of civilization, inspiration and laws, she was the virgin patroness of the city of Athens.The ancient Greeks even built Parthenon on the acropolis of Athens in her honour. Even before Zeus learned of Metis being pregnant, he grew worried because of a prophecy that foretold children from this union would become mightier than Zeus himself. Athena Born From The Head of Zeus. Her skilled fingers wove detailed multicolored tapestries and rugs. She was the virgin goddess of reason, arts, literature and intelligence. Athena's favorite city was the city of Athens. Athena, also referred to as Athene, is a very important goddess of many things. It was named after her and she competed with Poseidon to see who would be the God of the city. I doubt it to be true, but even if it were -- there is more to life than beauty alone. The one time Athena really lost it for something petty was in the story of Arachne, and that story isn't even really Greek. The mere fact that, out of twelve Olympian gods, two deities were devoted to armed conflict indicates the important role warfare played in … The City of Athens. Greek Goddess of Wisdom and War. 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