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Athena and her shield
by ArtemisToxia @ 2007-12-18 - 17:15:32

Moonwoman has asked me about the significance of Athena and her shield. According to myth, Athena sprang fully-grown and fully-armed from the head of her father, Zeus, ruler of the gods on Mount Olympus.

Hesiod’s The Theogony is the only account we have which describes the birth of Athena from her father's head:
‘From his own head he gave birth to owl-eyed Athena,
the wonderful, battle-rousing, army-leading, untiring Lady,
whose pleasure is fighting and the metallic din of war.’

Athena was her father's favourite child and possessed the keys to his thunderbolts. She was the only one entitled to wear his aegis, his shield. In the centre of the aegis is the head of Medusa. Athena did not have the Medusa’s power – the ability to turn people into stone so Athena persuaded Perseus to kill Medusa and Hermes mounted Medusa’s head onto the aegis.

The Aegis was a shield that protected whoever wore it, however one required wisdom to benefit from it, or as Horace wrote:

Vis consili expers
Mole ruit sua.

‘Strength without wisdom falls by its own weight’

athena aegis shield

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Tags: aegis, athena, hermes, hesiod, horace, medusa, shield, zeus,

 
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kevinwilsonkevinwilson pro
2007-12-18 @ 18:05

horace knew what he was talking about, didn't he?

wendlanewendlane pro
2007-12-18 @ 18:57

Great post -thanks! :)

UsksiderUsksider pro
http://www.usksider.co.uk
2007-12-18 @ 19:29

Another winner. :yes:

Now I come to think of it, I know a battle-rousing, untiring Lady,
whose only pleasure appears to be fighting... does this mean I'm living with a goddess? 88|

technomisttechnomist [Member]
2007-12-18 @ 20:20

Very interesting. :)

moonwomanmoonwoman [Member]
http://www.moonwomenspirituality.com
2007-12-19 @ 00:06

Oh, you have just explained something else I always wondered about. Athena's often seen with an owl! I have such an affinity for owls and have to go outside when I hear them hooting hauntingly at night. Oh my gawd ... and thunderbolts - she had the keys to the thunderbolts! I'm making all kinds of connections here! Thunderbolts means being struck by sudden inspiration in other traditions. Awesome!

In Athens, Greece, at the Acropolis Athena's statue showed her with her shield and the owl sitting on her shoulder. I was awestruck by the beauty of that statue particularly.

So why is Athena renowned for her wisdom? Now you have me even more curious?

Thank you so much for this fabulous research! What an awesome gift!

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ArtemisToxiaArtemisToxia [Member]
2008-02-28 @ 16:25

Hello Moonwoman,
I am sorry I have not been blogging sooner but thankyou for raising such an interesting question. So why is Athena renowned for her wisdom?

It was during the Classical period of Greece (5th century) that Athena became known for her wisdom. During the fifth century Athens experienced a philosophical movement and as Athena was the patron saint of the city it seems obvious that she would become associated with this movement.

She was regularly called upon to settle disputes and was known for her knowledge of weaving, metal-working and also protected Odysseus who was known for his cunning intellect.

I hope this gives you more insight into Athena! :))

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magistramagistra [Member]
2007-12-19 @ 13:40

You have been meme-tagged.

mayanicmayanic [Member]
2007-12-20 @ 17:34

In Kabbalah Athena is connected with the second Sephira on the Tree of life. That second Sephira is called (in hebrew) Chokmah, when translated means Wisdom.
"The second path is that of illuminating intelligence; it is the Crown of Creation, the Splendour of the Unity, equalling it, and it is exalted above every head, and named by the Kabalists the Second Glory."-32 paths of wisdom

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ArtemisToxiaArtemisToxia [Member]
2008-02-28 @ 16:27

Thankyou Mayanic, you learn something new everyday! :))

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jackfrostjackfrost [Member]
2007-12-22 @ 18:28

Vis consili expers
Mole ruit sua.

‘Strength without wisdom falls by its own weight’

is that where this phrase finds it's roots

Discretion is the better part of valor

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ArtemisToxiaArtemisToxia [Member]
2008-02-28 @ 16:29

'is that where this phrase finds it's roots

Discretion is the better part of valor'

- it might well be - interesting thought - thanks!

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miramazemiramaze [Member]
2008-01-08 @ 23:10

How interesting !
"Vis consili expers
Mole ruit sua.

‘Strength without wisdom falls by its own weight’

Latin is cool ... will try and learn :yes:

Thanks and happy new year !
XX

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ArtemisToxiaArtemisToxia [Member]
2008-02-28 @ 16:31

Hello Miramize,
A belated Happy New Year to you too!! I am sorry to not have got around to blogging sooner, hopefully I will get back into the swing of things! :)

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Zoe(jb) [Visitor]

2008-01-17 @ 09:52

Hello ArtemisToxia;

I don't know if you've ever had chance to visit my blog, but one of my great 'loves' is archery. I've been a competitive archer for many years, and ultimately aspire to learning the Moorish technique on a beautiful Ottoman Turkish bow -- using the thumb-ring of course.
Another great love since childhood has been for Greek mythology. Do you know how Athena got in Zeus's head to begin with?
I would love to co-author some work with you, and would like to invite you to become a 'friend'.
Please come visit over at DefinitelyNOTtheVillageIdiot.
I look forward to hearing from you.

Zoe(jb)

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