Editing Athena (section)

=== Panhellenic and Athenian cult ===
[[File:Tétradrachme athénien représentant Athéna.jpg|thumb|left|Athenian [[tetradrachm]] representing the goddess Athena]]
{{Ancient Greek religion}}

In her aspect of ''Athena Polias'', Athena was venerated as the goddess of the city and the protectress of the citadel.{{sfn|Burkert|1985|page=140}}{{sfn|Herrington|1955|pages=11–15}}{{sfn|Hurwit|1999|page=15}} In Athens, the [[Plynteria]], or "Feast of the Bath", was observed every year at the end of the month of [[Thargelion]].{{sfn|Simon|1983|page=46}} The festival lasted for five days. During this period, the priestesses of Athena, or ''[[plyntrídes]]'', performed a cleansing ritual within the [[Erechtheion]], a sanctuary devoted to Athena and Poseidon.{{sfn|Simon|1983|pages=46–49}} Here Athena's statue was undressed, her clothes washed, and body purified.{{sfn|Simon|1983|pages=46–49}} Athena was worshipped at festivals such as [[Chalceia]] as ''Athena Ergane'',{{sfn|Herrington|1955|pages=1–11}}{{sfn|Hurwit|1999|page=15}} the patroness of various crafts, especially [[weaving]].{{sfn|Herrington|1955|pages=1–11}}{{sfn|Hurwit|1999|page=15}} She was also the patron of metalworkers and was believed to aid in the forging of armor and weapons.{{sfn|Herrington|1955|pages=1–11}} During the late fifth century BC, the role of goddess of philosophy became a major aspect of Athena's [[cult (religious practice)|cult]].{{sfn|Burkert|1985|pages=305–337}}

[[File:Peplos scene BM EV.JPG|thumb|A new ''[[peplos]]'' was woven for Athena and ceremonially brought to dress her [[cult image]] ([[British Museum]]).]]

As ''[[Athena Promachos]]'', she was believed to lead soldiers into battle.{{sfn|Herrington|1955|pages=11–14}}{{sfn|Schmitt|2000|pages=1059–1073}} Athena represented the disciplined, strategic side of war, in contrast to her brother [[Ares]], the patron of violence, bloodlust, and slaughter—"the raw force of war".{{sfn|Darmon|1992|pages=114–115}}{{sfn|Hansen|2004|pages=123–124}} Athena was believed to only support those fighting for a just cause{{sfn|Darmon|1992|pages=114–115}} and was thought to view war primarily as a means to resolve conflict.{{sfn|Darmon|1992|pages=114–115}} The Greeks regarded Athena with much higher esteem than Ares.{{sfn|Darmon|1992|pages=114–115}}{{sfn|Hansen|2004|pages=123–124}} Athena was especially worshipped in this role during the festivals of the [[Panathenaea]] and [[Pamboeotia]],{{sfn|Robertson|1992|pages=90–109}} both of which prominently featured displays of athletic and military prowess.{{sfn|Robertson|1992|pages=90–109}} As the patroness of heroes and warriors, Athena was believed to favor those who used cunning and intelligence rather than brute strength.{{sfn|Hurwit|1999|page=18}}

[[File:The Parthenon in Athens.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.3|The [[Parthenon]] on the [[Athenian Acropolis]], which is dedicated to Athena Parthenos{{sfn|Burkert|1985|page=143}}]]

In her aspect as a warrior maiden, Athena was known as ''[[Athena Parthenos|Parthenos]]'' ({{lang|grc|[[:wikt:παρθένος|Παρθένος]]}} "virgin"),{{sfn|Herrington|1955|pages=11–14}}{{sfn|Goldhill|1986|page=121}}{{sfn|Garland|2008|page=217}} because, like her fellow goddesses [[Artemis]] and [[Hestia]], she was believed to remain perpetually a virgin.{{sfn|Hansen|2004|page=123}}{{sfn|Goldhill|1986|page=31}}{{sfn|Herrington|1955|pages=11–14}}{{sfn|Garland|2008|page=217}}{{sfn|Kerényi|1952}} Athena's most famous temple, the [[Parthenon]] on the [[Athenian Acropolis]], takes its name from this title.{{sfn|Kerényi|1952}} According to [[Károly Kerényi|Karl Kerényi]], a scholar of Greek mythology, the name ''Parthenos'' is not merely an observation of Athena's virginity, but also a recognition of her role as enforcer of rules of sexual modesty and ritual mystery.{{sfn|Kerényi|1952}} Even beyond recognition, the Athenians allotted the goddess value based on this pureness of virginity, which they upheld as a rudiment of female behavior.{{sfn|Kerényi|1952}} Kerényi's study and theory of Athena explains her virginal epithet as a result of her relationship to her father Zeus and a vital, cohesive piece of her character throughout the ages.{{sfn|Kerényi|1952}} This role is expressed in several stories about Athena. [[Marinus of Neapolis]] reports that when Christians removed the statue of the goddess from the [[Parthenon]], a beautiful woman appeared in a dream to [[Proclus]], a devotee of Athena, and announced that the ''"Athenian Lady"'' wished to dwell with him.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marinus of Samaria, The Life of Proclus or Concerning Happiness |url=http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/marinus_01_life_of_proclus.htm |website=tertullian.org |pages=15–55 |date=1925 |quote=Translated by Kenneth S. Guthrie (Para:30)}}</ref>

Athena was also credited with creating the pebble-based form of divination. Those pebbles were called ''[[Thriae|thriai]]'', which was also the collective name of a group of nymphs with prophetic powers. Her half-brother Apollo, however, angered and spiteful at the practitioners of an art rival to his own, complained to their father Zeus about it, with the pretext that many people took to casting pebbles, but few actually were true prophets. Zeus, sympathizing with Apollo's grievances, discredited the pebble divination by rendering the pebbles useless. Apollo's words became the basis of an ancient Greek idiom.{{sfn|Apollodorus of Athens|2016|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=eFmQCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT224 224]}}