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Chapter 5
ATHENA:
the goddess of wisdom and crafts,
strategist and his father's daughter
The Goddess Athena
Athena is the Greek goddess of wisdom, the patroness of crafts, known among the Romans as Minerva.
Athena is a virgin who has taken a vow of chastity and celibacy.
Like Artemis, Athena is a stately, beautiful warrior goddess, the patroness of her chosen heroes, the sons of Athens – the city that bears her name.
Of all the Olympian goddesses, only she was depicted in military armor: the visor of her helmet was raised, showing her beauty to the eyes.
She holds a shield in one hand and a spear in the other.
As an emblem, intertwined snakes were depicted on her shield or on the edge of her robe.
As befits a goddess responsible not only for military actions, but also for peaceful domestic crafts, Athena was also depicted with a spear in one hand and with a cup or a spindle in the other.
She patronized not only cities and armies, but also needlewomen and jewelers, potters and weavers.
The ancient Greeks believed that Athena gave people a bridle for taming a horse, a plow, a rake, a yoke for oxen and a chariot and trained the first shipbuilders.
The olive tree was her special gift to the city of Athens.
Thanks to this gift, the Greeks began to grow olives.
Athena was often depicted with an owl, a bird with huge round eyes, symbolizing wisdom.
If there was another figure next to Athena, it was invariably a man.
She stands behind the seated Zeus as a warrior guarding his master, or is depicted together with the main Greek heroes of the Iliad and the Odyssey – Achilles and Odysseus.
Military skills and domestic crafts were associated with the name of Athena, that is, those types of activities that require careful planning and precise execution of the plan.
In other words, it is the embodiment of purposefulness.
The distinctive signs of her wisdom are a strategic approach to business, practicality and a desire for real results.
Athena values rational thinking and defends the superiority of will and intellect over instincts.
The cities are dear to her.
According to Athena (as opposed to Artemis), the primordial nature must be conquered.
Genealogy and mythology
Athena's entry into the community of the Olympian gods was truly dramatic.
She was born from the head of Zeus as an adult woman in shiny gold armor, with a sharp spear in one hand, while uttering a loud war cry.
According to some versions, her birth resembled a kind of caesarean section: Zeus felt a terrible headache like "birth pains" and called for the help of his son Hephaestus, the blacksmith god, who split his skull with a powerful blow of a sharp axe, opening the way for Athena.
Athena believed that she had only one parent Zeus, with whom she was forever connected.
She was the "right hand" of her father, only to her he entrusted the symbols of his power – lightning and the aegis.
This goddess did not recognize her mother – Metis; moreover, she apparently did not know about the existence of the mother.
According to Hesiod, Metis – the deity of the ocean was the first wife of Zeus and was famous for her wisdom.
When she was pregnant with Athena, Zeus tricked her into becoming small and swallowed her.
He was predicted that Metis would have two extraordinary children: a daughter equal to Zeus himself in courage and wisdom, and a son with the soul of a conqueror who would become the king of gods and people.
By swallowing Metis, Zeus thus overcame the fate predicted for him.
According to mythology, Athena was the patroness and adviser of all male heroes.
The list of those whom she helped reads like a "Biographical directory of heroes".
Among them was Perseus, who killed the Gorgon Medusa - a female monster with snakes instead of hair, with clawed copper hands and eyes burning with rage, which turned people into stone with a look.
Athena gave Perseus a copper shield, shining like a mirror.
Perseus could see the reflection of Medusa in it, and therefore he was not in danger of meeting her direct gaze.
In addition, when he cut off the head of Medusa, his hand was guided by Athena.
Athena also helped Jason and the Argonauts build a ship on which they went to mine the golden fleece.
She gave Bellerophon a golden bridle to tame the winged horse Pegasus, and helped Hercules in his twelve exploits.
During the Trojan War, Athena actively acted on the side of the Greeks.
She took care of her pets, especially Achilles, the most formidable and powerful Greek warrior.
Later, she helped Odysseus in his protracted return home.
Besides the fact that Athena was closest to Zeus and patronized male heroes, she supported the patriarchy as a whole.
She stood up for Orestes, who, in revenge for the death of his father Agamemnon, killed his own mother Clytemnestra.
Apollo defended Orestes.
Thus proclaiming the superiority of men over women, he declared that the mother is only the soil for the seed planted by the father.
As proof of his correctness, Apollo referred to Athena, who was not born from the mother's womb.
When the judges ' votes were counted, the number of acquittal and accusation votes turned out to be equal, since Athena voted for Orestes.
By joining Apollo, she freed Orestes and supported the supremacy of patriarchal customs over the bonds of motherhood.
Only one myth about Athena tells about a mortal woman, Arachne, who was turned into a spider by Athena.
Athena, as the goddess of crafts, was challenged to a skill contest by an overconfident weaver named Arachne.
Both worked with great speed and skill.
When the canvases were finished, Athena admired the impeccable work of her rival, but was enraged that Arachne dared to depict the love affairs of Zeus.
She wove a Leda caressing a swan, under the guise of which Zeus entered the queen's bedroom in order to possess her.
The next scene depicted Danae, whom Zeus impregnated, turning into a golden shower; and Arachne also wove an image of the virgin of Europe, abducted by Zeus, who turned into a magnificent white bull.
The woven plots were the cause of Arachne's death.
Athena was terribly angry, tore up Arachne's work and hit her with a shuttle.
The unfortunate Arachne could not bear the shame and hanged herself.
Taking pity on Arachne, Athena freed her from the noose and restored her life, turning her into a spider, forever condemned to spin a web (in biology, arachnids are called arachnids – after the name of this unfortunate girl).
It should be noted that Athena, the defender of her father, punished Arachne more for the public demonstration of the illegal acts of Zeus than for the audacious challenge thrown to her.
Athena as an archetype
The goddess of wisdom Athena is known for her strategic genius and practicality.
As an archetype, Athena represents a pattern followed by women who have a logical mindset and are guided by reason rather than heart.
Athena is a female archetype that demonstrates that a strong intellect, the ability not to give in to emotions and the right tactics of actions in conflict situations are quite characteristic of a certain type of women.
A woman driven by Athena is not like men.
She doesnot need the help of an animus – she thinks well and clearly herself.
The idea of Athena as an archetype of logical thinking challenges Jung's claim that a woman thinks through her masculine side, the animus, which is supposed to be different from her feminine ego.
A woman who has realized the sharpness of her mind as a feminine quality associated with Athena can develop a positive image of herself without being afraid of reproaches for imaginary masculinity.
If there are other archetypes of goddesses in a woman besides Athena, all these archetypes can act in a single union.
For a woman in whom Hera's need to have a spouse is strong, Athena can help assess the situation and develop a strategy for winning a man.
If Artemis inspires a woman to create her own enterprise, the success of the project often depends on the political acumen of Athena.
A woman who has appealed to Athena as an archetype during an emotional storm, the rationality of this goddess will help to find patience and endurance.
The Virgin Goddess
Such qualities as invulnerability and integrity are inherent not only in Artemis, but also in Athena.
A woman driven by Athena considers only her own priorities, like women in whom the archetypes of Artemis or Hestia are awakened.
Like Artemis, Athena encourages a woman to focus more on what matters to herself than on the needs of other people.
The virgin goddess Athena, unlike Artemis and Hestia, seeks the company of men.
She likes the atmosphere of men's affairs and power.
At the same time, the archetype of this virgin goddess helps a woman to avoid emotionally or sexually difficult relationships with men with whom she cooperates.
She can be their companion, colleague or confidant, without experiencing any erotic feelings for them and without needing emotional intimacy.
Athena appeared in the society of the Olympian gods immediately as an adult woman showing interest in earthly affairs.
Thus, the Athena archetype represents a later and more mature version of the virgin goddess than Artemis.
Due to her pragmatic position and common sense, as well as the absence of romanticism and girlish idealism, Athena gives the impression of a "prudent adult".
Strategist
Athena's wisdom, her ability to properly distribute her forces and skillfully maneuver give a woman advantages in a competitive struggle.
Athena proved to be the best strategist during the Trojan War.
Her intervention brought the Greeks victory in the battle.
The Athena archetype ensures success in business, education, as well as in scientific and political activities.
In the administrative sphere, Athena can be represented by a woman with a master's degree, moving up the corporate ladder with the support of a powerful leader.
Athena's insight gives a woman the opportunity to act effectively in situations where political or economic considerations are important.
She can use her ability to think strategically in order to either promote her own projects, or to be a companion adviser to a successful ambitious man.
Women who know their capabilities, have intelligence and a practical mindset and are not subject to emotions when it comes to business, are always guided by the Athena archetype.
A woman with Athena in her soul immediately grasps what should be done and calculates ways to achieve the desired result.
Athena shines where the will and ability for diplomacy and intrigue are required.
All these qualities were fully possessed by Claire Booth Luce – a famous beauty, a playwright, a member of Congress, the ambassador of the United States of America to Italy and an honorary general of the US Army.
Thanks to his ambition, intelligence, as well as a successful marriage (her husband was the founder of the magazine "Time", Zeus in his field of activity) she has made her way in the male world.
This woman aroused the envy and admiration of others.
In the eyes of her admirers, she deserved every praise for showing unfailing composure under the fire of criticism.
Her detractors perceived her as a "cold schemer".
A successful woman with a doctorate in science is also like Athena.
In the academic world, in addition to research work, obtaining a position requires publications, participation in various committees, and subsidies.
You need to understand that there is a game in which you need to keep score.
To advance, women, like men, need leaders, sponsors and allies.
Intellectual abilities alone are usually not enough – the right policy and tactics of actions are important.
What subject she teaches, what her research is devoted to, what university she has settled in, what kind of leader she has chosen – all this plays a role in deciding whether she will receive the subsidies and the position necessary to do her job.
Rosalyn Yelou, who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery of the method of radioimmune analysis (the use of radioactive isotopes to measure the level of hormones and other chemical compounds in the body), had to be a true Athena to do what she managed to do.
She told how much joy it gives her to work with her head and hands (a combination of two aspects of Athena wisdom and craft skills).
You need to be a wise strategist to come up with a series of laboratory experiments that led to discoveries.
In addition, Athena's abilities helped Rosalyn to make a political career.
The craftswoman
Being the goddess of crafts, Athena is involved not only in useful activities, but also in the creation of works of art.
She is especially known for her skill as a weaver.
To weave a blanket, a woman must first present it and make an accurate drawing, and then, thread by thread, methodically reproduce what she intended in the fabric.
From this we see that the archetype of Athena implies the ability to plan your actions, skill, foresight and patience.
Women from among the immigrants who conquered the wild lands in the Western United States spun wool themselves, wove linen and cloth, and sewed almost all the clothes worn by their family members.
Moving side by side with their husbands through uncharted territories, these women were the embodiment of Athena the guardian of the hearth.
To survive and succeed, they had to have the characteristic qualities of Athena.
Her father's daughter
The archetype of Athena as "the daughter of her father" is represented by women who are attracted to powerful men who have authority, responsibility and power – in other words, to men who correspond to the archetype of the patriarch's father or "the master's man".
Under the influence of Athena, a woman tends to have close relationships with strong men who would patronize her and share her interests.
Such a relationship presupposes mutual loyalty.
As a reward for her loyalty, a woman, like Athena herself, becomes the "right hand" and an ardent supporter of her chosen one, who is entrusted to use his authority and protect his privileges.
Many secretaries who have dedicated their lives to their boss are Athenian women.
As the" daughter of her father", Athena makes a woman a supporter of patriarchal values and the legitimacy of male power.
Athena women usually support the existing position in society and are guided by generally accepted behavioral norms.
Such women, as a rule, are conservative and resist change.
Athena has little compassion for a person who has not achieved success, is humiliated or rebellious.
In this regard, an example of an Athena woman is Phyllis Schlafly, a master, an exceptional organizer and an excellent speaker, who led the opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment.
Until Phyllis became the leader of the opposition, universal recognition of this Amendment it seemed inevitable.
The Equal Rights Amendment was ratified in thirty states within a year.
But as soon as Phyllis created the organization "Stop the Amendment!" in October 1972, the situation changed.
Over the next eight years, only five states ratified the Amendment, and five of the thirty five that had previously ratified it voted against their own decision taken earlier.
Phyllis Schlafly, called by the biographer "the chosen one of the silent majority", represents a modern Athena in the role of an archetypal daughter who defends patriarchal values.
The golden mean
A woman with a strong Athena archetype demonstrates a natural tendency to moderation and lives in accordance with the ideal of Athena, according to the principle of the "golden mean".
Extremes are usually the result of strong feelings or needs, a passionate, hot – tempered, fair or greedy nature all that is directly opposite to the rational Athena.
The" golden mean " is also supported by Athena's tendency to control events, note the results and change the direction of action as soon as it seems unproductive.
Athena in armor
Athena appeared on the stage of Olympus in shiny golden armor.
And in fact, life "in armor" is a characteristic feature of every Athena woman.
Intellectual protection protects her from feeling pain – both her own and the pain of other people.
During an emotional storm or in a difficult battle, she remains inaccessible to feelings, observing, noting, analyzing what is happening and deciding how to act next.
In the world of competition, the archetype of Athena has a clear superiority over Artemis.
The woman Artemis sets goals and competes, but she, like the goddess Artemis herself, who wore only a short tunic, does not have armor.
If the leading archetype of a woman is Artemis rather than Athena, she is offended by any unexpected manifestation of hostility or deception.
If she is offended or offended, such a woman acts in a rush of emotions, while Athena coldly assesses the situation.
The development of the Athena archetype in oneself
Women with a naturally weak Athena archetype can develop it through education and work.
Education requires the qualities of Athena.
When a woman studies seriously, she develops a habit of discipline and systematic classes.
Mathematics, natural sciences, linguistics, scientific research, writing articles require Athena's skill.
The same applies to work.
A woman's ability to act "professionally" implies her objectivity, impartiality and skill.
A woman who is deeply sympathetic to other people and has devoted herself to medicine or caring for children and the sick may find that she has entered the territory of Athens and needs to learn dispassionate observation, logical thinking and mastery in her business.
The development of this archetype stimulates the process of education.
Any study of objective facts, reflection, preparation for exams, passing tests – all these classes awaken Athena.
Some aspects of Athena sometimes develop out of necessity.
A young girl in a family where scandals often occur can learn to hide her feelings.
She puts on protective armor, for the sake of her safety, becoming numb and insensitive.
She can learn to observe and think about her actions in order to survive.
Athena also wakes up at the moment when the persecuted woman begins to plan how to save herself or get out of a difficult situation.
Walter F. Otto, the author of the book "The Gods of Homer", called Athena "a goddess who is always there."
Invisible to others, she stood directly behind her heroes, whispering advice to them, restraining them at the right moment and giving them an advantage over their rivals.
Whenever a woman needs to think clearly in an emotional situation or when she competes with a man under the same conditions in her field of activity, she should invoke the archetype of Athena, who is "always there".
The woman Athena
There is a certain type of woman who seems to best embody Athena in everyday life.
She is practical, self confident, does not reflect, avoids any difficulties and perceives everything without fuss and worry.
Like Athena herself, who was also the goddess of health, the woman Athena is energetic and has excellent physical and mental well being.
She always looks elegant, her clothes are of excellent quality, practical and well sewn.
There are no signs of extravagance in her appearance.
Her style usually remains unchanged throughout her life.
A successful woman in the business world, Athena, as a rule, wears a strict suit and blouse.
Men's shirts are also suitable clothing for Athenian women who cultivate eternal asexuality.
Young Athena
The child Athena shares the young Artemis's ability to concentrate, but in addition, her intelligence is clearly expressed.
For example, the girl Athena can learn to read herself at the age of three.
Having discovered a new book, she will probably want to stick her nose into it.
If she's not busy reading, it walks on the heels of the father, asking: "Daddy, why?" or, "Daddy, how does it work?", or, more often, "Daddy, show me!" (usually she asks: "Mom, why?" with the exception of those times when her mother Athena, is able to logically answer her questions).
The girl Athena is serious, she purposefully searches for the information she needs and wants to know how certain things work.
Parents
When the daughter Athena feels the love from her father, who himself has achieved success in life and is proud that she follows him, it helps to develop her natural inclinations.
If her behavioral model receives a father's blessing, she grows up calm, self confident; self esteem is inherent in her "by right of birth".
Her intelligence and ambition do not create conflicts.
Subsequently, becoming an adult woman, she feels satisfaction from the full exertion of her forces and the demonstration of her own abilities.
But not all women of Athens have a father Zeus, who gives them due attention, and this is an essential element necessary for their development.
For some women in Athens, their quite successful fathers are too busy to deal with them.
Other Zeus fathers insist that their daughters behave as traditionally befits girls.
They can tell by teasing: "Donot fill your pretty head with unnecessary information," or scold them, saying: "This is something that little girls shouldnot play with," or "This doesnot concern you, this is business."
As a result, she may grow up with the feeling that she is not allowed to go where she wants, and often loses confidence in her abilities, although, perhaps, she does not give up thoughts about a career or business.
When a girl Athena's father does not look like Zeus at all – for example, he is a failed businessman, an alcoholic, an unrecognized poet or writer – her development as Athena is difficult.
She can give up goals that she could have achieved, and feels like an impostor who can be "exposed", even when it seems to others that she is succeeding.
Usually, the mothers of the daughters of Athens, if they are not themselves Athenian women, believe that they are underestimated and that their daughters are completely different from themselves.
A woman focused on close relationships is likely to find a lack of mutual understanding with her daughter Athena.
The daughter is not interested when her mother tells her about people and their feelings.
She wants to know how this or that mechanism works, and is disappointed to find that her mother has no idea about it.
As a result, the daughter of Athena may consider her mother incompetent.
One such mother noticed that her ten year old daughter "thinks like a thirty year old woman."
Her daughter told her: "Mom, be practical!"
The mother continued her story: "Sometimes my daughter makes me feel that she is an adult, and I am still a child!"
A mother can have a negative influence on her daughter Athena, claiming that something is wrong with her.
For example, she may say: "You're like a computer machine!" or " Try to at least pretend that you're a girl."
A woman with a pronounced sense of self – esteem, who develops her Athena qualities and knows how to achieve what she wants, parents usually belong to the Zeus – Metis type (a successful father in the foreground, a raising mother behind).
She herself occupies the position of the first born son in the family.
Often her position in the family is due to one or another reason, for example, she could be an only child or the eldest daughter.
Her brother could be mentally or physically disabled or simply not meet the expectations of his father.
As a result, the father's ambitious aspirations focus on his daughter, and it is with her that he shares his interests.
An Athena woman with high self esteem can be the daughter of career making parents or a successful mother.
She grows up considering her mother as an example in life, supporting her desire for self fulfillment.
Teenage and young years of Athens
Athena girls learn a variety of things.
They are attracted to computers, and they study the principles of their work with great zeal.
They feel like a fish in the water in programming, because they think clearly and clearly, delving into details.
They are interested in the stock price, they can save money and invest it in any business.
Very often, the girls of Athens believe that most girls are empty and stupid, and treat them the same as teenage boys.
With a high probability, we can assume that the teenager Athena, having found the unknown to her, an insect is more likely to determine which species it belongs to than it will be afraid.
In cases when other girls react purely feminine, she tries to understand what is happening.
As befits a girl who looks like Athena who punished Arachne, no spider will scare her.
Young Athena can excel other girls in sewing, knitting and embroidery.
She can enjoy such activities and share them with her mother and her traditionally thinking friends, even if in other cases she does not find a common language with them.
Unlike them, for her, the motive for doing needlework will not be the desire to make clothes for a doll or some pretty thing for herself, but the desire to demonstrate her skills.
She gets pleasure from the skill of her own work.
She is encouraged to sew clothes for herself by practicality and a high appreciation of her own work.
Athena's teenagers, unlike many others, are usually not difficult daughters.
In their case, screeching, screaming and tearful scenes are simply absent.
Apparently, hormonal shifts do not affect their behavior and mood as much as in other girls.
During their school years, they often communicate with boys who are intellectually equal to them.
The girl Athena can be a member of the chess club, cooperate in the school newspaper, take part in scientific conferences.
And everywhere she likes to surpass others or be their equal.
She may be interested in chemistry, physics, or spend time in a computer class.
The extroverted Athena girls, who are well versed in social relations, use their observation and analysis skills to choose the social connections that they should maintain.
They are aware of their ability to successfully compete, the ability to achieve popularity, and at the same time – an emotional detachment from the things they are busy with.
The girls of Athens are making plans for the future.
Most of them have clear ideas about what they will do after graduation.
If their financial situation allows them to go to college, they will carefully weigh which college is right for them.
Even if her family canot help her realize this intention, she usually finds a way to get a scholarship or other financial assistance.
Most women in Athens believe that college gives more freedom.
Having chosen an educational institution that meets their needs, they plunge headlong into student life, which provides more freedom for self expression than secondary school.
The girl Athena usually chooses an educational institution with co education, because she respects men and is able to find a common language with them.
Work
The woman Athena strives to do what is significant for her.
She works hard and accepts reality as it is, adapting to it.
Her adult years are usually very productive.
In a world where men rule, the inherent ability of a woman Athena for strategic planning and logical thinking provide her with invaluable support.
She also succeeds in household chores, using her practical mind and aesthetic taste for exemplary maintenance of the house.
If a girl Athena has to go to work immediately after graduation, she usually prepares for this in advance, for example, by attending business courses.
She does not fit the role of Cinderella, who considers a possible marriage as getting rid of life's hardships, and fantasies like "one day my prince will come to me"are alien to her.
If a woman Athena gets married, she usually becomes a skilled housewife and does household chores according to some system of her own.
Every thing in her kitchen takes its once and for all a certain place.
Woman A
