Athena // Styled Shoot

Athena is the goddess of wisdom, war, law and justice, arts and crafts, strategy, and civilization. She is also known for her strategic skill in warfare and is the patron of cities. Athena is often portrayed as the companion of heroes and is the patron goddess of heroic endeavor. A second-generation goddess, she sprung fully-grown and armed from the head of Zeus after he had swallowed her mother Metis, the Titaness of wisdom.

 She became Zeus’ favorite child, so much so that he entrusted her with his shield, the Aegis, and his thunderbolt. Athena assisted many of the Greek heroes in their quests including Perseus, Hercules, Odysseus, and Jason. As one of the three virgin goddesses, she never had children or lovers.

 Athena is one of the most respected of all the ancient Greek deities. She had many temples across Greece with the most famous being in The Parthenon in Athens; one of the world’s greatest cultural monuments. Athena is described as a fierce, intelligent, powerful and ruthless goddess with a compassionate and generous nature.

The Greek goddess Athena, often associated with the strategy of warfare, is represented by emblems symbolizing her intelligent and multi-faceted nature. Her symbols are an olive tree, spear, armor, shield, helmet, snake, weave, spindle, and owl.

Photographer’s Statement:

The seven Greek Goddesses, Aphrodite, Artemis, Athena, Demeter, Hera, Hestia, and Persephone, are a crucial part of Greek mythology. There were considered the pinnacle of beauty, power, and majesty. As such, there were the subject of fascination and admiration for the people in Ancient Greece. Each goddess had certain domains that they ruled over and were prominent in many myths.

I hope to capture my vision of the Greek goddesses in my photographs to showcase the way that I see beauty, power, history, literature, and art. This collection of work comes from my desire to preserve and showcase my vision of not only powerful, strong, beautiful women, but a wonderful ancient society that still continues to influence us in our world today.