Athena

For my hero, I chose somebody that wasn't actually a real person. Athena is a great role model because she did so many amazing things, helped heroes, and is a symbol for some really great things. She was a symbolization of wisdom, war (protection of your home kind), the arts, industry, justice, and skill.

When Zeus (Son of Cronus and Rhea) was with Metis, Athena's mother, he was told that his third born would be a son who would be more powerful than he was. He was afraid of this happening, so he used so cunning words and convinced Metis to let him swallow her while she was pregnant with Athena. While Metis was in Zeus, she was preparing her daughter for the world. She made an armor and clothing for Athena. All the pounding that went into making the armor, gave Zeus massive headaches. He got such a bad headache that Hephaestus (Son of Hera and Zeus) came to Zeus and split open Zeus's head. Out came a fully grown Athena. She is said to have then become Zeus's favorite child.

There came a time in the future that both Poseidon (Son of Cronus and Rhea) and Athena both wanted to be patron God of the same city. They decided to have a contest to see who could provide the city with the most useful gift. Poseidon (God of the Sea) struck the ground with his trident and out forth sprung a spring. Being the God of the Sea, the water was salty and would not benefit the people of the city. Athena made an Olive Tree spring forth from the ground on the citadel of the Acropolis. He gift proved to be more useful so she became the patron Goddess.

At the wedding of Peleus (Son of King Aeacus) and Thetis (Nereid (Water Nymph)), all Gods were invited. That is, all except for Eris (Daughter of Zeus and Hera) who is the Goddess of discord. She attended the wedding anyway and got thrown out. In anger, she threw a Golden Apple into the crowd of Goddesses. It was labeled "To the Fairest". Three Goddesses laid claim to be the fairest, Aphrodite (Daughter of Zeus and Dione), Hera (Zeus's wife), and Athena. The God Zeus was asked to be the judge, he turned around and told Hermes (Son of Zeus and a Mountain Nymph) to lead the three Goddesses to Paris of Troy to decide. The three Goddesses gave gifts to Troy in order to win him over to them each. He chose Aphrodite, swayed by her promise to bestow upon him Helene for a wife. This all later ended up turning into the Trojan War after Helen got kidnapped.

With all of this, it is easy to tell that Athena is worthy of praise. Even though she is just a myth, she symbolizes some really great things. She did some wonderful things in her 'life' and touched a lot of people's hearts. She had many followers and worshipers. There are still some people today who worship the Greek Gods and believe that things happen because of them.