Minerva at The British Museum, London

myminifactory

Athena was a virgin goddess of arts, crafts, and war, patroness of the city of Athens. Zeus' first wife, wise goddess Metis, was pregnant with Athena when Zeus heard that a second child would usurp him. He swallowed his wife to prevent her bearing another baby. Regretting his haste, Zeus asked either Prometheus or Hephaistos (traditions differ) to release the child that Metis had been carrying. With a blow from an axe, Athena was released and emerged, fully armed, from her father's head - causing consternation among the other Olympians. Athena favored courage and ingenuity, aiding practical tasks. She helped Perseus kill the gorgon Medusa, wearing the gorgon's head on her aegis afterwards. She assisted Herakles, Bellerophon, and Cadmus, playing a part in building the Argo and the Wooden Horse. She also presided over women's household crafts, particularly weaving. The goddess had a shrine in Troy but was angry that Paris had not selected her in the beauty contest. Therefore, she supported the Greeks in the war, particularly Odysseus, whose resourcefulness she encouraged. Athena was widely worshipped, and her most famous shrine was of course in Athens, where the Parthenon was her temple. She is shown in art as an imposing goddess, armed with helmet, spear, aegis, and shield. The owl was her special bird, and the olive tree was her gift to Attica. This object is part of "Scan The World," a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory. Through Scan The World, we are creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from across the globe for public access. Scan The World is an open-source community effort. If you have interesting items around you and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help.