Athena - National Museum, Athens, 340BC

Athena was the Greek Goddess of wisdom and women"™s crafts. She was also a defender against evil and a warrior Goddess par excellence. She was the daughter of Zeus and Metis. When Metis became pregnant, Gaia and Uranus told Zeus that after giving birth to a daughter, she would then have a son by Zeus who would later dethrone him. On Gaia"™s advice, Zeus swallowed Metis. When the time came for the child to be born, Zeus was afflicted with a dreadful headache and sought the help of Hephaestus who split his skull with a bronze axe to relieve the pain. A girl in full armor sprang forth from his head: It was Athena, Athena"™s attributes were the spear, the helmet, and the Aegis (a goat-skin shield). She attached the Gorgon"™s head which Perseus had given her to her shield, and this turned to stone every living thing that looked at it. 10.5"H on Marble Base