Wie versprochen ist hier der Gastbeitrag von Eliane: ihr Aufsatz, den sie zu Faces of History 2019 vortrug. Eine Uebersetzung ins Deutsche liegt leider nicht vor.
I was
wise.
I was
even-tempered.
I was
the goddess of warfare.
Although
Zeus had many children, I, fortunately, was his favorite. As the
female counterpart to Ares, I was the goddess of war but also of the
sciences and weaving.
How I
entered the world of Mount Olympus is rather unusual.
The
people of Athens chose me to be their patron for my practical gift.
I was
the wise goddess of the sciences but also of cooking and pottery.
Although I oversaw all arts and crafts, I was especially known for
weaving and spinning. Perhaps I, who was wise and even-tempered, was
best known as the goddess of warfare and wisdom. I was the female
counterpart to Ares the brave god of war. During the time of the
Trojan War, my weapons became famous. I had a stunning spear, a
glistening shield, a magnificent helmet, and shinning armor.
Famously, the owl and the olive tree were my symbols. My job was
protecting civil and cooperative life in the city.
I was
the wise and even-tempered goddess of warfare.
There
are several legends concerning my origin. One of the stories is told
like this. After Zeus married Metis, a titan, he heard a troubling
prophecy. If Metis had any sons, they would be more powerful than
Zeus, just as Zeus had been more powerful than his father Cronos.
Terribly afraid, Zeus thought up a cunning plan. When he was sitting
with Metis, he suddenly changed his unsuspecting wife into a fly.
After that transformation, he swallowed her, and kept her inside his
head. Later on, Zeus started suffering from a terrible headache that
felt like a stampede of raging war horses. What a horrible
head-splitting headache! In his desperation, he asked one of the
other gods to crack his skull open. Trying to be helpful, his son
Hephaestus brandished his ax and cracked his father's skull open.
From that wound I sprang, surprisingly fully grown and wearing armor.
It turned out that I became the favorite child of Zeus.
My
birth was truly unusual and remarkable.
There
was a radiant city in Ancient Greece. Both Poseidon and I loved the
city very much. The gods who resided on Mount Olympus all decided
that whichever god created the most useful gift for its people would
win the city. Miraculously, Poseidon struck a rock with his trident
and brought forth a spring. When the people drank from it, though,
the water was salty. I, however, decided to plant an olive tree.
Because the people could use the olives and its precious oil, my gift
was most useful.
It was
decided.
I won.
The
people rejoiced.
After
this contest, they named the city Athens.
This is
how the olive tree won me the beautiful city of Athens.
Fortunately,
as the goddess of warfare, I was wise and even-tempered.
My
birth was unusual and remarkable.
My
life-giving present of an olive tree won the citizens of Athens over
and they chose me to be the guardian of their city.
As one
of the wiser and most even-tempered goddesses I brought much sense to
the Ancient world of Greece and to the gods on Mount Olympus.
Who am
I?
