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Athena
(3,382 words)

(Ἀθήνη/Ἀθηνᾶ; Athḗnē/Athēnâ).

[German version]

A. Etymology and Origin

Central Greek polis deity, daughter of Zeus and Metis, born from her father's head, virginal patron of war, crafts and female work (Hom. Hymn. Ven. 7); her common epithet, Pallas, is understood to mean ‘girl’ (Chantraine s.v. παλλακή). The Romans identified her with  Minerva (Etruscan, Menrva), the Greeks with numerous Eastern deities, for instance the Lycian Maliya [1], the Egyptian  Saïs (Hdt. 2,28), the Ug…

Cite this page
Graf, Fritz (Columbus, OH) and Ley, Anne (Xanten), “Athena”, in: Brill’s New Pauly, Antiquity volumes edited by: Hubert Cancik and , Helmuth Schneider, English Edition by: Christine F. Salazar, Classical Tradition volumes edited by: Manfred Landfester, English Edition by: Francis G. Gentry. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e205490>
First published online: 2006
First print edition: 9789004122598, 20110510



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