Athena: Goddess of Wisdom, Warfare, and Athens
Athena, an ancient Greek goddess revered for wisdom, strategic warfare, and handicraft, was the patroness of Athens, a city from which she most likely derived her name. Famous for her unique birth from the forehead of Zeus, she secured patronage of the city by creating the first olive tree, leading to the iconic Parthenon on the Acropolis being dedicated to her as Athena Parthenos ("the Virgin").
As a powerful figure in mythology, she actively aided heroes such as Perseus and Odysseus, and her major symbols include owls, olive trees, and snakes. Athena's main festival in Athens, the Panathenaia, was the most important on the Athenian calendar, celebrating her connection to the city. Later syncretized with the Roman goddess Minerva, Athena has, since the Renaissance, become an enduring international symbol of wisdom, the arts, classical learning, and democracy.