Athena

"She Who Fights in Front"

Like Ares, the God of War, Athena is the Goddess of War. However, the two are very different. Ares embodies the brutality and violence of war, whereas Athena embodies the strategy, diplomacy, and courage of war. Because of this, she is depicted in myth as leading the charge on the battlefield and is recognized as being superior in the art of war. According to myth, the shield she carries, known as the Aegis, bore the head of the gorgon, Medusa, on the front. The shield was said to make a terrifying howling noise when carried into battle. Because of her bravery and her strength in counsel, Athena was most often the patron Goddess to famous heroes and kings of myth.

In modern language, many people now identify Athena as being gender neutral because of her androgyny - she dresses like a man, is superior to men in battle, is successful in the traditionally male roles of Ancient Greece, and is the patron Goddess to the men of myth. However, others see this, in addition to other myths in which she is illustrated as harming or punishing women like Pallas, Medusa, and Arachne, as a reason to question Athena as a feminist icon, claiming that she is a woman denying any outward expression of femininity in order to succeed in the patriarchy.

It is important, however, to remember who authored the myths of these women, like Ovid, for whom jealousy is the main female emotion.

Reflecting with nuance on the myth of a figure like Athena leaves us with the image of a strong woman dominating a male world and that qualities like cunning, diplomacy, intelligence, strength, bravery, wit, and wisdom are for women, too.

Other Associations: Olive Branch, Owl, Snake

Traits to embody: Courage, Strength, Bravery, Wisdom, Pragmatism

Medusa

“The Guardian”

Medusa's myth is one of tragedy and outrage, but, in modern interpretations, has become one of power, rage, and a feminist call to action.

Before Medusa became the snake-headed gorgon, Medusa was a beautiful mortal woman that had committed her life to be a priestess of the Goddess Athena. Tragically, Medusa was in Athena’s temple where she was assaulted and impregnated by Poseidon. Athena, enraged by the desecration of her temple, punished Medusa by turning her into a Gorgon, a hideous monster with huge teeth, scales instead of skin, sharp claws, and snakes for hair. Her gaze would turn any onlooker, mortal or God, into stone. In her shame, Medusa fled and hid herself away with her three, gorgon sisters.

Later, Medusa was slain by the hero, Perseus, with the help of Athena (some believe this was Athena's attempt at showing mercy) and the Messenger God, Hermes. A King named Polydectes sent Perseus on a mission to retrieve Medusa’s head in an attempt to get rid of Perseus so he could marry Perseus’ mother. With Hades’ invisibility Cap, Hermes' Winged Sandals, and a shield gifted to him by Athena, Perseus watched Medusa in the reflection of the shield and, using her reflection, was able to observe her and behead her without being turned to stone. When Perseus beheaded Medusa, her children, Chrysoar, a young man, and Pegasus, the winged horse, sprung from her neck. Perseus returned with Medusa’s head, intentionally revealed it to Polydectes, and turned him into stone. Perseus then gifted Athena Medusa’s head and it is famously displayed on her shield, the Aegis, the same shield Perseus used to slay Medusa.

Because of this, Medusa’s head became a symbol of protection. Her head was displayed over the entryways of homes, tombs, and other buildings to ward off evil spirits and protect both the living and the dead.

The myth of Medusa has origins that pre-date the Olympian Gods. Historians suggest that Medusa’s origins lie in Libya and that she was originally associated with an ancient Triple Moon Goddess named Anatha. She was synonymous with Mother Death and to see Her face meant to have died. Medusa, the Crone or Dark Moon aspect of Anatha, was the most powerful of the three aspects of the Triple Moon Goddess. She was the Wise One, the Keeper of the Dark Moon Mysteries, and the Goddess of Death and Rebirth.

Like Her Amazon priestesses Medusa wore a leather pouch around Her waist that contained live snakes representing wisdom and renewal. She carried with Her the original Gorgon mask or Gorgoneion whose purpose was to frighten off the uninitiated and thus help protect the secrecy surrounding the magic of the dark moon. The mask was painted red to symbolise the power of the menstrual blood. It had gruesome glaring eyes, bared fanged teeth and, like the Hindu Goddess Kali, a protruding tongue. 

Medusa would later be turned into a nasty fearsome monster to be wrongfully punished and murdered by the patriarchal Greek invaders.

Modern interpretations of Medusa's myth depict her as the image of Feminine Rage and a movement began in the 70's where women were using her image to push back against narratives that place men at the center. "They Will Know Me by My Teeth" is a collection of poems and essays published by Elana Dykewomon in 1976. On the cover, an image of a gorgon is displayed with the intention of keeping the book solely in the hands of women and acting as a guardian for female power.

Other interpretations tell a story of a black woman with immense power that became a threat to men. When Medusa was a gorgon, she could turn both mortals and immortals to stone. However, death did very little to subdue Medusa's power as her head still turned all who looked upon it to stone which is why her image became a symbol of protection and a guardian to women.

Other Associations: snakes

Traits to embody: Courage, Bravery, Using your voice, Femininity, Sexuality, Rebellion, Independence, Guardianship, Feminist ideals, Strength, Power

Demeter

“Bringer of the Seasons”

Demeter, also referred to as “the one who sends forth gifts”, is recognized as being the one to teach mortals about farming, agriculture, laws, and obedience. It is believed that Demeter taught men how to sow corn, plough dirt, and avoid all the troubles that come with the work, as well as how to domesticate oxen for agriculture. She is also credited for having taught men how to create and obey laws so that they may live among one another peacefully and fully enjoy and appreciate the gifts she had given them. It is because of the way she nurtured man that she is recognized as The Great Mother.

Demeter, who is also the Goddess of the Seasons, is also the mother to the Goddess of Spring, Persephone. In Persephone's myth, she was abducted by the God of the Underworld, Hades, with the permission of the King of the Gods, Zeus. Demeter, however, did not know this, and upon realizing her daughter was missing, spent day and night searching for her, neglecting all of her duties to the crops and the land and allowing famine to take hold. Hecate, the Goddess of Witchcraft and Night, helped Demeter search for Persephone by using her twin torches to light her path during her searches at night. 

When Demeter learned Persephone was in the Underworld, she defied the rulership of the men in power and demanded Zeus to intervene and order Persephone back. If he did not abide, she was going to destroy the Earth by leaving it barren. Zeus, recognizing Demeter's power, ordered her daughter to be returned to her.

In the end, because of some bull shit rules about pomegranate seeds, the arrangement was made for Persephone to spend ⅓ of the year in the Underworld with Hades. It is believed that this is where the Winter season comes from. Every year that Persephone returns to the Underworld, Demeter mourns her departure and sends the Earth into frost.

Other Associations: wheat, barley, grain, all four seasons, cornucopia 

Traits to embody: compassion, kindness, maternal instincts, leader, educator, civility, patience, nurturer, persistence, determination, resiliency, strong boundaries

Artemis

“SHE OF THE WILD”

Artemis, also known as "The Light Bringer", is the goddess of the hunt and the moon and is associated with nature and childbirth. She is the twin sister of Apollo, god of the sun and daughter of Zeus and Leto. Obviously, Zeus was married to Hera, so having children with another woman didn’t go over very well. Hera, after learning of Zeus’ infidelity and Leto’s pregnancy, hunted Leto all over the world forbidding her to give birth anywhere on solid earth. Leto, however, made it to an island where she gave birth to Artemis while balancing on an olive branch. When Hera learned this, she forbid Eileithyia, the goddess of childbirth, from assisting Leto any further delaying the birth of Apollo for 9 days. In that time, Artemis, being only days old herself, learned midwifery and assisted her mother in the birth of her brother.When Artemis was three years old, she went to her father Zeus and asked him for 6 things:-To never be married -To have more names than her brother Apollo -To have a knee-length tunic for hunting and running -For a special bow and quiver of arrows made by the Cyclopes -To have 60 nymphs to be part of her choir and attend to her hounds -To have all of the mountains as her domainOther Associations: Bear, Hunting Dogs, Stag, All Wild Animals, Young Children, Women, MoonTraits to Embody: Independence, Autonomy, Feminist Ideals, Maternal Instincts, Nurturer, Free Spirit, Leadership, and Strong Boundaries.

Atalanta

“SHE IN EQUAL WEIGHT” 

Atalanta is actually a human, but she is a badass and worthy of Goddess status.

Atalanta was left on a mountaintop to die by her father who wanted a son. Instead, a mother bear found her and raised her as her own. Atalanta grew up to be a fierce huntress, learning to hunt and fight as a bear would.

In some versions of Atalanta’s myth, the prince and hero Meleager was out hunting and killed a bear that just so happened to be Atalanta’s brother. Obviously enraged, Atalanta attacked Meleager with every intention of killing him, but Meleager was strong, too, so a long battle ensued. The two fought until they couldn’t and collapsed in exhaustion and this is how their love story began. From this moment on they shared all of their time hunting and going on adventures together - much to the displeasure of Meleager’s mother.

Later, Meleager received word of a ferocious boar sent by Artemis that was wreaking havoc in Calydon. Meleager was asked to assemble a team of hunters to kill the boar that had already killed so many. Meleager gathered his hunting party that included many other famous heroes, including Atalanta. Despite objections from the other men that they would not travel with a woman, Meleager persuaded them to still join the hunt.

When they finally confronted the boar, several men were killed, but Atalanta was able to land the first arrow that wounded the boar enabling Meleager to kill it. Having been the first to draw blood, Meleager awarded Atalanta the prize of the Boar’s hide and head. This didn’t sit well with the same men that protested her joining the hunting party to begin with. Two of the more vocal men speaking out against Atalanta receiving the trophy just so happened to be Meleager’s uncles, so Meleager did the only thing you can do to settle a family matter and killed them both. When Meleager’s mom learned what he did and for whom he did it, she burned the magical log that was keeping him alive and killed him (which is another story in itself).

Atalanta, distraught to lose her one true love, swore to never love or marry again.

In the meantime, Atalanta’s father, a king and asshole, learned not only that she was alive but also of what a badass she had become. Impressed and feeling she had proven herself worthy to be his daughter, invited her back home to the kingdom. Her father, trying now to be her father after literally leaving her for dead on a mountain, took it upon himself to find Atalanta a husband, despite the fact that she clearly stated she did not want one.

Eventually, Atalanta agreed to marry on the condition that anyone seeking her hand must be able to beat her in a foot race. If they lost, she cut off their head!

Heads started stacking up and Atalanta did her best to keep things interesting. Sometimes she would try to even the odds by competing with armor. Other times she would give a head start of half the distance. Still, though, no one could beat her. Until Hippomenes came along.

Hippomenes knew he couldn’t beat Atalanta, so he prayed to Aphrodite for help. Aphrodite, being the goddess of love, loves helping lovers, so she gifted him three golden apples and a plan.

On the day of the race, Hippomenes approached the start with the golden apples clumsily hidden beneath his clothes. Atalanta felt sorry for him and even tried to talk him out of competing, but he insisted. As soon as the race started, Hippomenes let loose a golden apple and Atalanta was so distracted by its beauty, she had to stoop to scoop it up. Hippomenes gained a lead, but Atalanta made it up with ease. That is, until he let loose the second golden Apple, this one a little further out of her reach. Atalanta, again taken over by the beauty of the divine apple, veered off to scoop up the apple allowing Hippomenes to gain an even greater lead. Unbothered, Atalanta again regained her lead and the finish line was now approaching. Hippomenes, just before the finish, threw the last golden Apple even further off course. This time, Atalanta could not recover, and she lost the race. 

According to myth, Atalanta was happily married with Hippomenes. The myths do vary on what happened next- some claim that Hippomenes did not give proper tribute to Aphrodite in exchange for her aid, others say they offended Zeus by making love in his temple, both conclude with the couple being turned into Lions as punishment. 

Other Associations: Bear, Bow and Arrow, Running, Lion

Traits to Embody: Independence, autonomy, athleticism, courage, bravery, strength

Hecate

“HER APPROACH IS ANNOUNCED BY THE WHINING AND HOWLING OF DOGS.” 

Hecate is actually a Titan, pre-dating the Olympian Gods and Goddesses. She is recognized as the Goddess of magic, necromancy, and witchcraft and protector of those who have been shunned and oppressed. Her companions are a black female dog and cat (both women who had been transformed to animals as punishment by other goddesses and taken in by Hecate). She is a protective Goddess, recognized as guiding and protecting children, and is also associated with the moon, night, and spirits. The most common myth about Hecate is from the Taking of Persephone. When Persephone was abducted by Hades and taken to the underworld, Hecate offered her assistance to Demeter in the search for her daughter and was said to have used her twin torches to light Demeter’s path as she looked for her. Some myths suggest that Zeus had forbidden Hecate from helping Demeter in her search, but she disobeyed and did so anyway.After it was determined that Persephone would spend part of the year in the Underworld, Hecate became her companion and dear friend, staying by her side in both the Underworld and on Earth. Because of this, Hades gifted Hecate with Necromancy - the ability to commune with spirits - and granted her permission to come and go as she pleased through his kingdom.It has also been suggested that Hecate was feared by Zeus because of her powers and her ability to pass between worlds freely. She was also dreaded because of her fierce independence.Hecate is also often depicted with three faces as she is representative of the three phases of a woman’s transformation: Maiden (Persephone), Mother (Demeter), and Crone (Hecate). This is also why she is sometimes referred to as the Triple Moon Goddess.Other Associations: Black Dog, CatTraits to embody: Empathy, Kindness, Intuitive and Psychic Senses, Guardianship, Advocacy, Courage, Companionship, Loyalty, and Independence.

Aphrodite

“THE ONE WHO RISES FROM THE SEA”

Aphrodite is the Goddess of love, beauty, sex, pleasure, and fertility. She was said to have risen naked and fully grown from the sea on a scallop shell after Uranus’ genitals fell into the sea when he was castrated by his son Cronos.

Aphrodite was said to be a Goddess of such beauty that she would very literally drive men, women, Gods, and Goddesses (and everyone in between) crazy. According to myth, when Aphrodite arrived on Olympus, everyone wanted to be with her, save the few Goddesses committed to chastity. Zeus, fearing that a war would break out among the Olympians over Aphrodite, chose to marry her off to Hephaestus without her consent. Other versions of the myth say Aphrodite was married to Hephaestus in exchange for Hephaestus releasing Hera from a magical chair to which he had her bound out of revenge. Either way, Aphrodite didn't get to choose her husband, so she chose her lovers instead.

Aphrodite is probably best known for her many, many love affairs. She was married to Hephaestus, but carried on liaisons with the mortals: Adonis and Anchises and Gods: Dionysus, Poseidon, Hermes, and Ares. She was mother to Eros, Phobos, Deimos, Harmonia, Pothos, Anteros, Himeros (with Ares), Hermaphroditus (with Hermes), Rhodos, Eryx (with Poseidon), Peitho, The Graces, Priapus (with Dionysus), and the hero, Aeneas (with Anchises).

Modern interpretations of the myths of Aphrodite depict a woman with autonomy exercising her full sexual agency. Some say Aphrodite was the representation of Greek men's fears in a patriarchal society. The elite women of Ancient Greece were illustrated as being obedient and virginal. Aphrodite on the other hand was an independent, sensual, promiscuous woman who carried on affairs despite the fact that “it was altogether shameful for a goddess to consort with a mortal man.”

Other versions of Aphrodite from myth illustrate her with more nuance. In these versions, she surpasses pure, physical lust embodying also the love of intellectual, nonphysical unions. 

Other Associations: Rose, Myrtles, Pearls, Sea Shells, Sea Foam, Sparrows, Swans

Traits to Embody: Extroversion, Releasing Inhibitions, Freedom, Femininity, Sexuality, Sexual Autonomy, and Sensuality. 

Hestia

“RICH IN BLESSINGS”

HestiaGoddess of the Hearth, Domestic Affairs, Sacrificial Fire, and the Home. She is devoted to her inner spiritual world and was associated with the circle because she is recognized as being "complete within herself." She was also recognized as being a Goddess of Protection, especially for strangers, travelers, homeless people, and those living poverty. "Town Halls", where people gather to discuss community affairs, were built around the hearth that honors Hestia, and so she is also credited with establishing democracy.

Hestia was the first born child of the Titan Kronos, followed by Demeter, Hades, Hera, Poseidon, and Zeus. Kronos, fearing a prophecy that one of his children would overthrow him, proceeded to swallow each one of them. Hestia being the first-born was the first to be swallowed. When Zeus overthrew Kronos and he regurgitated all of his children, Hestia was the last to be disgorged and so she is considered both the oldest and the youngest of the first Olympians.

Hestia is also one of three virgin Goddesses along with Artemis and Athena. Despite many Gods pursuing Hestia in marriage, she asked Zeus to allow her to remain unmarried so she may follow her own path. Zeus granted her request and decided that Hestia would receive the highest honors.

Being the Goddess of fire and the hearth, she is worshipped in every home and the chief Goddess among mortal men. In the heart of every city was a sanctuary for those in need that burned the sacred fire of Hestia, a fire that was never allowed to burn out. To every God and Goddess that receives a sacrifice, Hestia receives the first part. And just like in her birth, every meal begins and ends with dedication to Hestia.

Other Associations: Fire, Home, Architecture, Circle

Traits to Embody: Virtue, Centeredness, Peace, Diplomacy, Compassion, Empathy, Sensitivity, Vulnerability, Independence, and Clear Perception. 

Hera

“QUEEN OF THE GODS” 

Hera is Queen of the Gods and goddess of marriage, childbirth, and women and associated with diadems and peacocks. Most myths about Hera center around her unfaithful husband Zeus and his many affairs. These myths are limiting in their depictions of Hera and were born from the rise of a patriarchal society. Somewhere around 1000 B.C. a Northern tribe invaded Greece. Up until this point, the Ancient Greeks were believed to worship and celebrate a maternal goddess, but historians suggest the tribe occupying the feminine culture brought with them and introduced a masculine sky God.

This is illustrated in the myth about Hera's marriage to Zeus. Hera didn’t willingly marry Zeus. After trying unsuccessfully to court her, Zeus disguised himself as an abandoned, wounded, cuckoo bird and when Hera picked him up to heal him, he resumed his true form and assaulted her. This myth was a way to assimilate the followers of Hera to the followers of Zeus. 

Knowing this, it shouldn’t come as much surprise to learn that Hera had actually conspired and led a rebellion against Zeus. She, with the help of a few other gods, drugged Zeus, stole his thunderbolt, and bound him to his bed. While the gods argued over who would take over, Thetis, a lover of Zeus, alerted Briareus, a hundred-handed god, and he freed Zeus from his bindings, promptly putting an end to the rebellion.Zeus, obviously pissed, punished the gods involved, including Hera. Zeus hung Hera from the heavens with gold chains and in order for her to be released, Hera had to swear to never rebel against him again.

Even still, Hera still tried to subvert the patriarchy by trying to conceive a child without Zeus. Hera prayed to Gaia, a primordial deity that personifies the earth, to give her a son as strong and Zeus, and when she smacked the ground, she was pregnant! Her son was Hephaestus, the brilliant blacksmith and craftsman to the Gods. 

Other Associations: Cow, Peacock

Traits to Embody: Queenliness, Regality, Leadership, Integrity, Rebellion, Maternal Instincts, Nurturance, Femininity

Persephone

“BRINGER OF DEATH”

Both the Goddess of Spring and the Queen of the Underworld, Persephone embodies the cycle of life and the duality of fertility and death.

Persephone, daughter to the Goddess of the Harvest and Seasons, Demeter, was abducted by Hades, God of the Underworld, and taken to the Underworld to be made his queen. Now, given the nature of myths, there are several versions of how this happened.

Before Persephone became the "Dread Queen" of the Underworld, her name was Kore, meaning "maiden", and she lived on Earth with her mother Demeter. The most common version of the myth tells of Kore picking flowers in the woods when suddenly the Earth opens up and Hades emerges, capturing her and taking her to the Underworld. A distraught Demeter the spends days and nights searching for her daughter, neglecting all of her duties, and throws the world into famine. When Demeter learns of her daughter's whereabouts, she demands the King of the Gods, Zeus, to summon her back, or else she will starve the Earth by leaving it barren. Before Persephone goes back to her mother, Hades (some versions say Hermes under the orders of Zeus) gives Persephone six pomegranate seeds to eat. After having her daughter returned to her, Demeter learns that because of some weird Olympian rules and because Persephone ate the pomegranate seeds, Persephone can only spend part of the year on Earth. The rest of the year, Persephone must spend in the Underworld with Hades.

Other versions of this myth give Persephone more autonomy, claiming that Persephone chose to eat the Pomegranate seeds herself. In fact, there is another, lesser known myth about a Nymph named Minthe that was one of Hades' lovers before Persephone. In this myth, Minthe was trying to seduce Hades after he took Persephone as his queen, so Persephone turned her into the Mint plant.

What many of the myths share in common was the way Hades treated Persephone. Aside from her abduction, which is still VERY problematic, Hades granted Persephone equal reign over the Underworld, and unlike his brothers, was faithful to her as his wife and queen. 

"While you are here, you shall rule all that lives and moves and shall have the greatest rights among the deathless Gods: Those who defraud you and do not appease your power with offerings, reverently performing rites and paying fit gifts, shall be punished for evermore." - Hades to Persephone 

Hesiod, The Homeric Hymns 

For this reason, some argue that Persephone's myth is one in which she establishes autonomy and embraces her full strength as a Goddess. Prior to her becoming Persephone, Kore was often portrayed dressed as her mother, Demeter, and the two were so closely associated, they would often be referred to as "The Two Goddesses". Once Kore became Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, she embodied her full power as both a fertility Goddess and ruler of the dead, encompassing the life and death cycle within herself, independent of her mother. 

As the Dread Queen of the Underworld, Persephone was the sole maker of vital decisions related to mortals. She is also referred to as the "Bringer of Justice" because one of her roles included fulfilling the curses of men on the sould of the dead. The Furies, Goddesses of vengeance and Retribution, were servants to Persephone, overseeing the torture of criminals. As the Dread Queen, it was tradition that her name, and Hades' name, were not spoken aloud. 

Other Associations: Pomegranate, Spring, Grain, Fertility

Traits to Embody: Independence, Regality, femininity, strong boundaries, morality, autonomy, authority, and confidence.

Circe

“THE ENCHANTRESS”

Circe is the Goddess of Magic. She was a fluent herbalist and particularly gifted in the art of potion making.

Circe is not just any witch, but THE witch.

If you have read the Odyssey, then you know part of the story of Circe. In the Odyssey, Odysseus and his men wash up on the island of Aeaea, which is Circe’s private island... Where she has been exiled by her father, Helios, the Sun God... Because she turned the ocean Nymph, Scylla, into the horrible, man-eating, ship-wrecking monster, Scylla... Because the recently deified ocean-God Glaucus (who was previously human, but Circe turned him into a God with her magic - that's another story) chose Scylla for his lover over Circe. Anyway, when some of Odysseus’ men find Circe, she invites them into her home to eat and drink. What they didn’t know is that she had served them up a potion in their wine, and when they drank their wine, they were transformed into pigs.

You see, Circe did not suffer fools, and if you read “Circe” by @madeline.e.miller then you know she suffered a lot of fools. Men that act like beasts, get transformed into bests. Period.

But Odysseus did not act like a beast. He was smart. It’s his brand. Instead of being transformed himself, he was able to negotiate with Circe to have his men returned back to their natural form. Impressed by Odysseus, Circe chooses to take him as her lover and allows him and his men to stay on his island for a year.

Other Associations: Pigs, Braided Hair, Herbs

Traits to Embody: Power, Leadership, Authority, Autonomy, Strong Boundaries, Independence, Sensuality, Intuition, and Sexuality.