I am Athena.
I am a good goddess. My time has passed, and I accept that, unlike many of my fellows. I am not ashamed of my acts. I am not displeased that I am not worshipped.
A mighty city bears my name. I look upon it with satisfaction. To remember that quarrel I had with my uncle Poseidon so many years ago! To remember the cause! To remember that wisdom prevailed!
I will admit that part of the reason I am not displeased is that I am looked upon with favor when mortals mention my name. One of the four virgin goddesses, the best one, wise Athena, fair Athena, the judge...
To remember so many of my rash acts, though! I see Arachne's race still survives, and by many is despised. I feel sorrow for Arachne, but there is naught I can do now. I am powerless. All I can do is observe.
And to remember the Trojan War! Young Achilles, Agamemnon, Menelaus, Diomedes...and to think of Helen. I spit on your shade, Helen. To have caused such a terrible war...
And my further quarrels with Poseidon! When I instructed Circe on the ways of magic, when the nymph sisters who became the Sirens betrayed her, and she turned them into what they are, making them a threat to my uncle's realm! And the mortals speak of me. The goddess born as an adult.
And Odysseus's travels...that poor man. I feel ashamed of what he had to go through. I am ashamed that I did not smooth his way more than I tried to. But I will admit my uncle Poseidon is strong.
Odysseus is one of my own. He is wise, as am I. I do not mean to boast, but am I not wise? You tell me.
We gods have resolved our quarrels now. I have stopped my feud with Poseidon. We are not friends, but we tolerate each other. But I know that whenever he sees Athens he turns livid with rage.
I am blessed. Poseidon is not looked upon as favorably as I. Is it safe to say that I am the god or goddess most loved now by mortals?
Yes, I confess. I was never meddlesome, or at least not as meddlesome as Aphrodite. But as I have said, we have resolved our conflicts, though there is some stiffness between my fellow goddesses and Aphrodite. Poor Hephaestus, to have such a wife!
I am a symbol for scholars, I believe. Hardly any believe in me, which does not hurt me. I am fine with it. But as long as you believe, I am happy.
After all, as long as my owl still soars the skies, I am free. I can roam the earth. I am wisdom.
I am a good goddess. My time has passed, and I accept that, unlike many of my fellows. I am not ashamed of my acts. I am not displeased that I am not worshipped.
A mighty city bears my name. I look upon it with satisfaction. To remember that quarrel I had with my uncle Poseidon so many years ago! To remember the cause! To remember that wisdom prevailed!
I will admit that part of the reason I am not displeased is that I am looked upon with favor when mortals mention my name. One of the four virgin goddesses, the best one, wise Athena, fair Athena, the judge...
To remember so many of my rash acts, though! I see Arachne's race still survives, and by many is despised. I feel sorrow for Arachne, but there is naught I can do now. I am powerless. All I can do is observe.
And to remember the Trojan War! Young Achilles, Agamemnon, Menelaus, Diomedes...and to think of Helen. I spit on your shade, Helen. To have caused such a terrible war...
And my further quarrels with Poseidon! When I instructed Circe on the ways of magic, when the nymph sisters who became the Sirens betrayed her, and she turned them into what they are, making them a threat to my uncle's realm! And the mortals speak of me. The goddess born as an adult.
And Odysseus's travels...that poor man. I feel ashamed of what he had to go through. I am ashamed that I did not smooth his way more than I tried to. But I will admit my uncle Poseidon is strong.
Odysseus is one of my own. He is wise, as am I. I do not mean to boast, but am I not wise? You tell me.
We gods have resolved our quarrels now. I have stopped my feud with Poseidon. We are not friends, but we tolerate each other. But I know that whenever he sees Athens he turns livid with rage.
I am blessed. Poseidon is not looked upon as favorably as I. Is it safe to say that I am the god or goddess most loved now by mortals?
Yes, I confess. I was never meddlesome, or at least not as meddlesome as Aphrodite. But as I have said, we have resolved our conflicts, though there is some stiffness between my fellow goddesses and Aphrodite. Poor Hephaestus, to have such a wife!
I am a symbol for scholars, I believe. Hardly any believe in me, which does not hurt me. I am fine with it. But as long as you believe, I am happy.
After all, as long as my owl still soars the skies, I am free. I can roam the earth. I am wisdom.