Athena

1
Chapter 8

• Athena

2
Birth of Athena

• Cf. Homeric Hymn 28 (To Athena)
• Cf. Hesiods account (Theogony 886-898)
• What is the effect of Athenas birth on the gods?
  Why so?
• How is it that Metis (Wisdom) is so easily
  tricked?
• Is Athena simply Zeus brain-child?
• I thought this threatened birth involved Thetis.

3
Whats Athena look like?

• Consider the pictures on pp. 158, 162, 165, 168).
• What are some things that would help you identify
  the figure as Athena?

4
Athena v. Arachne

• Recap the story from Ovids Metamorphoses VI,
  5-145.
• How is this story an example of an etiological
  myth?
• What might be a moral for this story?
• What does Ovid say that might lead you to believe
  he respects Arachne?
• In what way is Athenas action unusual?