Athene: Virgin and Mother in Greek Religion

Athene, the goddess who affects the fates of both women and men, unites the virginal father’s daughter and the encouraging mother of the spirit. Karl Kerényi’s careful rendering of the many aspects of her mythos demonstrates a profound understanding of feminine intelligence both in its fierceness and it darker animal nature – especially apparent in the symbolism of owl, goat, horse, and Gorgon. The archetypal image of Athene provides a mythological background of communal and political consciousness, individuality, and the power of mind.