Athena

American  

[uh-thee-nuh] / əˈθi nə /

noun

1. Also called Pallas Athena.  Also called Pallas.  Also Athene the virgin deity of the ancient Greeks worshiped as the goddess of wisdom, fertility, the useful arts, and prudent warfare. At her birth she sprang forth fully armed from the head of her father, Zeus.

2. a first name.

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Athena British  

/ əˈθiːnɪ, əˈθiːnə /

noun

1. Also called: Pallas Athena.   Pallas.  Roman counterpart: Minerva.  Greek myth a virgin goddess of wisdom, practical skills, and prudent warfare. She was born, fully armed, from the head of Zeus

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Athena Cultural  

1. The Greek and Roman goddess of wisdom. She had an unusual birth, springing fully grown out of the forehead of her father, Zeus. Athena was one of the goddesses angered by the Judgment of Paris, a Trojan, and she therefore helped the Greeks in the ensuing Trojan War (see also Trojan War). Eventually, she became the protector of Odysseus on his journey home.

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Discover More

Athena was the guardian of the city of Athens (see also Athens), which was named in her honor.

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How does athena compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Minerva vs. Athena

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Athena

I dig that choice — it’s bold — yet still think he flubs it by not replacing the magical powers of Charlize Theron’s Calypso and Zendaya’s Athena with, say, a personality.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

Bethany says the Athena trust has caused "incredible harm"

From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026

Former Athena teachers who spoke to Panorama said they were forced to uphold the strict rules by the trust and that some made little sense.

From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026

Athena told us that children with special educational needs are "not routinely sanctioned for behaviours associated with their needs".

From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026

There was one more woman than there were men, so Athena won.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton