Athena, often referred to as Pallas Athena and known to the ancient Romans as Minerva, was the ancient Greek goddess of warfare and wisdom. Born from Zeus's head, and said to be his favorite child, she was the patron of Athens, and she assisted a number of Greek mythology's most famous heroes on their journeys. Though she supported the Greeks during the Trojan War (being the patroness of Athens, one would certainly hope so!), she did not hesitate to turn against members of the Greek army if they dared to show her disrespect. Often referred to as "flashing-eyed Athena" or "bright-eyed Athena," she had a gravity and a fierceness that made her dangerous to her enemies and treated with reverence by those she chose to favor. 

In this course, we will put the spotlight on Athena and some of the many stories about her, as related in both ancient Greek and Roman sources. In this one-time course, we'll explore a few of the many stories around Athena: how she came to be the patron goddess of Athens, how she got the name "Pallas," her role in the stories of both Ajax the Great (as told in Sophocles's famous tragedy) and Ajax the Lesser, and her competition with--and subsequent punishment of--Arachne. We will also examine Athena's role as advisor and protectress of various Greek heroes and discuss her potential connection to the famous blind seer, Tiresias. [Please note that a number of stories about Athena, particularly her role in the story of Perseus and Medusa, are discussed in some of my other classes, and while they may be mentioned/reviewed here, they will not be discussed in detail; do not hesitate to contact me if you are curious about the other classes in which other stories about Athena are explored.]

This course is the third in a series designed to spotlight each of the twelve major Olympian gods (the first and second being about Zeus and Hera, respectively). Such courses are meant to go beyond the basics to give learners a deeper understanding of each of the twelve major gods in the ancient Greek (and Roman!) pantheon. This course follows the format of my traditional symposium classes, and there is no prerequisite for this course.

As with my other symposium-style courses, this course is designed to feature some of the hallmarks of a true classical symposium. I may read excerpts from ancient Greek or Latin poetry, in keeping with the tradition of poetry recitation (please note:  any such readings are so that students can hear the language; this is not a language course, so language learning is not part of the class). Together as a class, we'll also read some short passages in English. From there, via around-the-campfire style storytelling, I will weave the larger stories around our topic of the day:  Athena. This course will make use of slides to introduce new material and to provide visual representations of art and literature. Ongoing dialogue and conversation, questions directed to students from the teacher (and from students to the teacher!), and reading aloud are all part of this course (please note that students are free to listen OR to join in the reading; it is their choice, and there is no pressure to participate in this way); discussion and questions are not just welcomed, but encouraged! 

As food and drink were an important part of a symposium, we'll seek to recreate that with traditional symposium snacks (please see the supply list for more details!), and while the traditional wine isn't age appropriate, a more appropriate drink like water or juice is a suitable replacement. (Please note that students should not feel obligated to eat or drink if they do not wish to; the food is meant to enhance the experience, but it's far from necessary.)

A symposium was an occasion for people to gather together for entertainment and learning. This course is one of many symposium-style courses, with each course designed to feature a different topic. This course has no prerequisites, and it is ideal for learners who love mythology, who have a curiosity about the classical world, or who enjoy good stories. Let's sit down to a symposium together!