To the Greeks I am known as Athena, but to the Romans I am known as Minerva.
My birth was an interesting one, my father Zeus had heard of a prophecy that a child born from Metis, my mother, would become more powerful than him, and overthrow him in the future. So Zeus decided to swallow Metis and her unborn child whole. After a while, Zeus developed an unbearably painful headache and as a solution, Hephaestus split open Zeus` head. I was birthed out of his skull, fully grown and dressed in a full set of armour. Due to this birth, I became the goddess of wisdom and I was known for my logic and intellect. My symbols are the spear, the distaff(a spinning tool) and the aegis(a goatskin shield) which has the head of the gorgon medusa fastened onto it. My sacred animals are the owl and dove, and my sacred tree is the olive tree. The olive tree is my sacred tree because it got me a city named after me. It all began when Poseidon and I competed to be the patron deity of the city-state, we were to create a gift and whoevers gift was better, would win. Poseidon created a saltwater spring, and I created the olive tree. Obviously my gift was way better and thus Athens was named. I am the goddess of wisdom and intelligence but also of strategic war, mathematics, the arts, crafts, and skill. I taught mankind many skills and created many inventions. I am a virgin goddess with no spouse or children. I also played a major role in the Trojan war. I was one of the three goddesses who took