In Greek religion and mythology, Athena or Athene (/ªèöθiènª/ or /ªèöθièniè/; Attic: _öθην_¦, AthÒn or _öθηναëøα, AthÒnaia; Epic: _öθηναëøη, AthÒnaiÒ; Ionic: _öθë¨νη, AthÒnÒ; Doric: _öθëÂνα, Athn), also referred to as Pallas Athena/Athene (/èöpælªs/; Παλλ_¡ς _öθην_¦; Παλλ_¡ς _öθë¨νη), is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, just warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill. Minerva is the Roman goddess identified with Athena.[3]
Athena is also a shrewd companion of heroes and is the goddess of heroic endeavour. She is the virgin patroness of Athens. The Athenians founded the Parthenon on the Acropolis of her namesake city, Athens (Athena Parthenos), in her honour.[3]
Athena's veneration as the patron of Athens seems to have existed from the earliest times, and was so persistent that archaic myths about her were recast to adapt to cultural changes. In her role as a protector of the city (polis), many people throughout the Greek world worshiped Athena as Athena Polias (_öθην_¦ ΠολιëÂς "Athena of the city"). The city of Athens and the goddess Athena essentially bear the same name (Athena the Goddess, Athenai the city) while it is not known which of the two words is derived from the other.
