**Pallas
Athena
is
a
very
interesting
Goddess
in
the
heavily
patriarchal
Greek
pantheon.
She
is
a
virgin
goddess,
she
is
one-in-herself,
not
a
reflection
of
her
sexuality,
but
of
her
source
of
power
being
centred
in
herself.
Her
story
starts
with
Zeus
swallowing
the
pregnant
goddess,
Metis
(ancient
water
goddess
of
wisdom)
because
of
a
prophecy
that
she
will
bear
a
child
who
will
take
his
place.
Soon
due
to
an
excruciating
headache
Zeus
begs
Prometheus
(the
giver
of
fire
to
mankind)
to
cleave
his
head
open
with
a
double
edged
axe.
When
this
is
done
Pallas
Athena
emerges
fully
grown
and
becomes
Zeus's
second
in
command.
A
female,
born
from
a
male.
It
is
assumed
in
this
story
that
Zeus
not
only
does
the
impossible
and
birth
a
child,
previous
the
sole
ability
of
women,
but
also
that
she
is
parthanogentically
conceived
and
born
fully
developed,
an
achievement
that
no
woman
could
mimic.
Care
and
nurturing
from
child
to
adult
is
eliminated.
The
focus
shifts
from
the
body
to
the
head,
the
intellect.
But,
in
reality,
Pallas
Athena
is
birthed
from
the
feminine-Metis.
However,
it
is
into
the
body
of
Zeus
and
it
is
from
that
body
that
she
seeks
release.
A
release
through
the
"head"
or
socio/political
environment
of
the
time:
Greek
male
domination.
Thus
we
begin
to
understand
her
connections
to
the
arts,
and
wisdom
of
the
city/state.
Her
feminine
skills
of
intuition
and
nurturing
exist,
but
involve
the
larger
realm
of
community
and
large
group
relationships-the
city.
Metis's
origins
can
be
traced
back
from
Greece
to
Thrace,
Crete
and
Libya,
home
of
the
powerful
snake
goddess
worship
in
very
ancient
history
thus,
the
head
of
the
snake
haired
Medusa
upon
the
breastplate
of
Pallas
Athena's.
The
snake,
multivariously
administers
wisdom,
healing,
divination
and
protection
of
the
Goddess.
The
mother
may
not
be
remembered,
but
she
does
form
a
foundation
of
the
daughter's
power
as
evidenced
on
Pallas
Athena's
aegis
(breastplate).
Pallas
Athena,
though
seemingly,
male
oriented,
is
revealed
as
capable
of
forming
deep
intimate
bonds
with
women
through
the
stories.
Her
name
alone
alludes
to
this.
Pallas
was
a
childhood
friend
that
Athena
accidentally
kills.
Deeply
regretful,
Athena
takes
on
her
friend's
name
granting
Pallas
a
form
of
immortality
for
depriving
her
of
a
full
lifetime.
Zeus's
involvement
as
"birthing"
Pallas
Athena
can
be
seen
as
the
shift
in
cultural
focus
from
Earth
Mother
to
Sky
God
patriarchal
domination.
Thus
Pallas
Athena
emerges
fully
developed
and
creates,
encourages,
and
shares
the
arts
of
civilization
with
humanity.
She
represents
a
rediscovery
of
the
mother
relationship
and/or
to
the
feminine.
Personally,
Pallas
Athena
can
speak
to
the
mis-mothered/lack
of
mother/daddy's
girl
in
us
all.
She
can
represent
the
forgotten
feminine,
the
differently
feminine,
the
feminine
that
"births
and
mothers"
the
larger
group.
Nurturing
and
support,
protection
and
martyrdom
all
take
on
new
perspectives
when
viewed
in
this
larger
context.
Pallas
in
the
cardinal,
fire
sign
of
Aries,
urges
us
to
initiate/activate
support
for
what
we
believe
in.
Thus
bringing
the
path
indicated
by
the
moon
back
into
our
awareness.
Finally,
the
stories
of
Athena
are
many
and
varied.
She
has
other
sub
personalities,
besides
her
Pallas
aspect,
reflecting
her
long
time
worship
and
movement
from
culture
to
culture.
This
is
the
nature
of
most
known
goddesses.
Sometimes
it
is
just
best
to
choose
an
aspect
and
focus
on
that,
but
be
aware
that
this
is
an
imposed
limitation
and
that
like
us
there
are
hidden
gifts
and
insights
only
to
be
revealed
over
time
like
any
other
intimate
relationship.
References:
Downing,
Christine
THE
GODDESS;
Mythological
Images
of
the
Feminine;
Continuum,
NY
1999.
George,
Demetra
ASTEROID
GODDESSES:
The
Mythology,
Psychology
and
Astrology
of
the
Reemerging
Feminine,
ASC
Publishers,
Ca.
1986.
Spretnak,
Charlene
LOST
GODDESSES
OF
EARLY
GREECE:
A
Collection
of
Pre-Hellenic
Myths,
Beacon
press,
Boston
1978.
**Christine
Downing's
writing
was
very
influential
in
developing
the
perspective
of
Athena's
birth
and
her
ability
to
form
deep
bonds
with
other
women.
Other
sources
or
other
people
may
have
come
to
the
same
or
similiar
conclusions
outside
of
my
awareness.
Sharing
of
this
information
will
be
greatly
appreciated
and
credited
appropriately.
Written
permission
from
original
author
is
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to
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