Athena
Athena, the goddess of war and wisdom, was one of the most powerful of the ancient Greek goddesses. She was the daughter of Zeus and his first wife, Metis (whose name meant “wisdom”). Metis warned Zeus that the first son they produced would grow more powerful than Zeus himself, just as Zeus had done with his father Cronus. Zeus’ unease over the matter was such that when Metis became pregnant he swallowed her and her unborn child whole. After swallowing his wife, Zeus had a terrible headache, which was relieved only when he split open his own head with an axe. From the wound sprang Athena, already grown.
Athena came to be revered as the goddess of wisdom and of war. Skilled and without equal in the art of battle, she gave protection to those in need of defense, especially to Achilles, hero of The Iliad. Her brilliance of reason was said to be as penetrating as her clear, gray eyes; her artistry in all crafts, especially weaving and pottery, was unrivaled. Once, Athena was challenged to a weaving contest by a woman named Arachne. Athena accepted the challenge, and won. To punish Arachne’s vanity she transformed her into a spider, destined to weave endlessly for all her days.
Often depicted with an owl as a symbol of enlightenment and a serpent as a symbol of fertility, Athena is credited with the invention of the plow and the rake, which helped humans cultivate food. She also inspired architects to create elegant temples. Many of these were strong enough to provide security in times of war for the citizens in whose town they were built.
Athena gave her name to Athens, the capital city of Greece. Then Poseidon, god of the seas, grew jealous of her popularity there and proposed a contest: whoever gave the most valuable gift to the Greeks would become patron of the city. Poseidon gave a seawater well. But Athena’s gift of the olive tree provided shade from the hat sun, oil for lamps, and olives to eat. From that time on, all Athenian families have held the olive branch sacred as a symbol of Athena’s generosity to them.
Susanoo
Susanoo is the Shinto god of the sea and storms (specifically summer storms). He is also considered to be the ruler of Yomi.
He is depicted here slaying the Yamata no Orochi.
Kālī
Kali is the Hindu goddess associated with eternal energy.
Kali is considered the goddess of time and change. Although sometimes presented as dark and violent, her earliest incarnation as a figure of annihilation still has some influence. She is the consort of the god Shiva, and is often depicted standing on his body. Although Kali is seen as a goddess of death and destruction (a role that may have originated due to her link to Shiva) in more recent movements she is seen as a benevolent mother goddess.
She is the foremost among the Dasa Mahavidyas, the ten fierce Tantric goddesses.
Iðunn
Norse Goddess associated with apples and youth.
Iðunn appears in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson. In both sources, she is described as the wife of the skaldic god Bragi, and in the Prose Edda, also as a keeper of apples and granter of eternal youthfulness.
Statue of Anubis dressed as a Roman soldier
Vatican Museum
Anubis
Egyptian God of the Dead and Embalming
Isis
Egyptian Goddess of Magic and Life
Hebe, Goddess of Youth
Daughter of Zeus and Hera
Sculpted by Antonio Canova
