~ * NEW ATHENA * ~ by luciferino

Poser • Fantasy • posted on Dec 30, 2007

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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.

Description

Athena's cult seems to have existed from very early times as the patron of Athens and was so persistent that myths about her were rewritten often to adapt to cultural changes over the multiple eras of Ancient Greek traditions. The Greek philosopher, Plato (429-347 B.C.E.), identified her with the Libyan deity Neith who was the war-goddess and huntress deity of the Egyptians since the ancient predynastic period. She also would come to be known as the goddess of wisdom as philosophy became applied to cult in the later fifth century. She was the patroness of weaving especially, and other crafts (Athena Ergane) and the more disciplined side of war, where she led the battle (Athena Promachos). The metalwork associated with the creation of weapons fell under her patronage. Athena's wisdom also includes the cunning intelligence (metis) of such figures as Odysseus. She is attended by an owl, and is often accompanied by the goddess of victory, Nike, whom in established icons she offers upon her extended hand. Wearing a goatskin breastplate called the Aegis in late myths said to have been given to her by her father, Zeus although she was associated with this long before in other cultural contexts. She often is shown helmeted and with a shield bearing the Gorgon Medusa's head, the gorgoneion, the hallmark of the early goddess cult in Greece that was given the highest position in the apex of the front facade of the Parthenon. Her shield was later said to be a votive gift of Perseus. A serpent often accompanies this goddess and frequently is depicted at the base of the staff of her lance. The sea and ships as well as horses and chariots are associated with her, but with less frequency.Athena is an armed warrior goddess, and appears in Greek mythology as a helper of many heroes, including Odysseus, Jason, and Heracles. In Classical Greek myths she never had a consort or lover, and thus, often was known as Athena Parthenos ("Athena the virgin"), hence the name of her most famous temple, the Parthenon, on the Acropolis in Athens. In a remnant of archaic myth, she was the mother of Erichthonius by the attempted rape by Hephaestus, which failed. Other variants relate that the serpent who accompanied Athena, also called Erichthonius, was born to Gaia, Earth, when the rape failed and the semen landed on Gaia, impregnating her, and that after the birth he was given to Athena by Gaia. In her role as a protector of the city, Athena was worshiped throughout the Greek world as Athena Polias ("Athena of the city"). She had a special relationship with Athens, as is shown by the etymological connection of the names of the goddess and the city

Production Credits

Selene Hair

By Mairy

$14.95 USD

Comments (52)

gr8lykr

3:10PM | Sun, 30 December 2007

well done nicely presented

stevey3d

3:13PM | Sun, 30 December 2007

Superb Image! Excellent narrative too! 5+

efron_241

3:23PM | Sun, 30 December 2007

Very cool SF image.. great mix of Colors and B/W

pregiato

3:29PM | Sun, 30 December 2007

Very very nice.SUPERB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MarciaGomes

3:41PM | Sun, 30 December 2007

MARAVILHOSA OBRA,A MOÇA É LINDA,EXCELENTE CARACTERES.EU ADORO HISTÓRIAS SOBRE MITOLOGIA,TUA HISTÓRIA É FANTÁSTICA SOBRE ATHENA.+++++++++5 UM MARAVILHOSO ANO NOVO A VOCE E SUA FAMILIA.