Athena seems to have been a very ancient Indu-European Sky-God associated with the sun and birds. The bird angle carried on down into the Greek Iron Age with her link to owls and wisdom. She is a war god with the persona of a military strategist rather than a warrior such as Mars. In this form she was the patron Goddess of Athens.
Pallas Athena was also associated with the Mycenaean Snake Goddess and War Goddess. In Mycenae itself a Linear B tablet refers to 'The Lady of Athens'. As War Goddess she was celebrated as the inventor of the battle chariot - a weapon system indelibly associated with Indu-European culture. As Snake-Goddess she is closely linked to Medusa and any Of Gods & Mortals Athenian warband should include Medusa.
Here she is accompanied by two Amazon peltasts. Her OG&M warband should also include Amazons and Theseus.
I will also use the figure as a summoned daemon in IHMN.
Addition
I found the fresco that DeanM below points out below. Thanks Dean.
Nice!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Paul.
DeleteNice Classical look for Athena. There's a Mycenaean fresco which some believe depicts her - with a figure-of-eight shield.
ReplyDeleteI recall reading about that Fresco but I've not seen a photo.
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