the Pallas_Athena shrine

Greek Goddess of Wise Counsel, War, the Defence of Towns, Heroic Endeavour, Weaving, Pottery and other Crafts

She was depicted crowned with a crested helm, armed with shield and spear, and wearing the snake-trimmed aigis cloak wrapped around her breast and arm, adorned with the monstrous head of the Gorgon.

Her symbols are the Little Owl, Crow, Olive Tree, Greek helmet, Aigis, and Spear.


"Only-begotten, noble race of Zeus,
blessed and fierce, who joyest in caves to rove:
O warlike Pallas, whose illustrious kind,
ineffable, and effable we find :
magnanimous and famed, the rocky height,
and groves, and shady mountains thee delight :
in arms rejoicing, who with furies dire
and wild the souls of mortals dost inspire. Gymnastic virgin of terrific mind,
dire Gorgon’s bane, unmarried, blessed, kind: mother of arts, impetuous; understood
as fury by the bad, but wisdom by the good. Female and male, the arts of war are thine,
O much-formed, Drakaina, inspired divine :
over the Phlegraion Gigantes, roused to ire,
thy coursers driving with destructive dire. Tritogeneia, of splendid mien,
purger of evils, all-victorious queen.
Hear me, O Goddess, when to thee I pray,
with supplicating voice both night and day,
and in my latest hour give peace and health, propitious times, and necessary wealth,
and ever present be thy votaries aid,
O much implored, art’s parent, grey-eyed maid."

-Orphic Hymn 32 to Athena (Greek hymns C3rd B.C. to 2nd A.D.)