Athene is one of the oldest and most beloved Deities of the Greek pantheon. She was called Athena by both the Greeks and the Romans. She was born, fully grown and clad in a glorious armor, when She sprang from Zeus's head.. after he had swallowed Her mother, Metis, the goddess of wisdom. Zeus had lived in fear that Metis would give birth to a son who would de-throne him as he had done to his own father, Cronus, so he was thrilled with Athena appeared, and there was no doubt that she was a favorite child of Zeus.
Athena is represented as quite a majestic goddess. In Her hands she holds a spear and a shield, and upon her head, a helmet; her breasts covered by a breastplate. She was educated by Triton, the river god and became good friends with his daughter, Pallas. Athena accidentally killed her during one of their games and grieved so much over Her death that she made a wooden image of her likeness...the Palladium.
Because the Greek city-states were largely military, Athena is considered a warrior goddess, and most powerful goddess of war at that...but She was also a virgin goddess; meaning that She was a whole unto herself. Her traits include the integration of both masculine and feminine qualities: strength, intellect, and compassion. Her warrior instincts made Her a symbol of matriarchal strength...and because She personified the Greek ideal of rationality and power, She became the patron Deity of Athenians...representing courage and victory.
There is a story that Athena and her uncle, Poseidon, the god of the sea, were both very fond of a specific city in Greece, and disputed which of the two could lay claim to the city. It was decided that the one who gave the finest gift should have it. On his part, Poseiden struck the side of the cliff with his staff and opened up a well on the Acropolis, but, alas, the water was very salty and not very useful. Athena, on the other hand, planted an olive tree, symbolic of the Greek Tree of Life. It decided that because Athena's gift would be far more useful to the people, Athena was the winner; hence She became the city's protectress and named the city, Athens.
Athena was a benevolent Goddess and had very few ulterior or selfish motives. She seldom did anything. 'just for spite. She was a patroness of art, science, and the crafts of women...especially weaving..and is the epitome of wisdom, enlightenment, maturity and represents the means by which wisdom is born and manifest in our world. She defied the laws of mortals and immortals alike. She is often accompanied by an owl...representing wisdom.
Think about the wisdom that you have gathered throughout your lifetime. Give yourself credit for the ways in which you have grown and for the ways you are helping others grow. Appreciating ourselves each day gives us the courage to keep our garden of wisdom growing.
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"SHITALA" (SHE WHO MAKES COLD) IS THE HINDU GODDESS OF DISEASE, A PESTILENCE DEITY BUT ALSO AN IMPORTANT HEALING FORCE IN THE HINDU PANTHEON. SHITALA IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR HINDU DEITIES WHOSE ORIGIN CAN BE TRACED BACK TO THE DAYS OF NATURE WORSHIP. SYMBOLICALLY, SHE REPRESENTS THE POWER OF VIRUSES WHICH CAUSE DISEASE AND THE HEALING POWER OF NATURE. SHE HAS A STRANGE APPEARANCE, BUT DOES NOT APPEAR AS TERRIBLE AND FRIGHTENING AS HAS KALI IN SOME OF HER MANIFESTATIONS.
SHE IS USUALLY DEPICTED AS BLACK AND DARK LIKE KALI, WEARING A RED DRESS WHO IS GENERALLY SEEN RIDING THROUGH THE VILLAGE ON A DONKEY. SHE CARRIES A SILVER BROOM, WINNOW FAN, SMALL BOWL, AND A PITCHER OF HOLY WATER FROM THE RIVER GANGE. SHITALA IS A HOT AND DANGEROUS GODDESS WHO, IT IS SAID, CREATED THE DREADFUL DISEASE OF SMALLPOX AND THAT ONLY SHE HAS THE POWER TO CURE THOSE WHO ARE SICK. SHE DESPISES DIRT AND FILTH SO THOSE WHO WISH FOR HER BLESSINGS NEED TO BE RITUALLY CLEANSED--THEIR BODIES AS WELL AS THEIR HOMES.
SHITALA IS ALSO THE PROTECTOR OF THE GRANARY, COMMANDER OF THE WINDS, AND GIVER OF AMPLE RAIN, GOOD CROPS, AND ABUNDANT FOOD. AT THE TIME OF THE MONSOON, THE VILLAGERS GATHER AROUND HER TEMPLE, AND WHILE THE WOMEN COOK FOOD, THE MEN SING HYMNS IN SHITALA'S PRAISE IN THE HOPES THAT SHE WILL BLESS THEM WITH A BOUNTIFUL CROP.
SHITALA HAS THOUSANDS OF SHRINES THROUGHOUT INDIA, MANY OF WHICH ARE THE SITES OF LONG AND FESTIVE FAIRS. IN FACT, THERE IS HARDLY A VILLAGE IN THE COUNTRY WITHOUT ONE. IT IS COMMONLY BELIEVED IN THE VILLAGES THAT DURING THE DARKNESS OF NIGHT, SHE EMERGES FROM HER TEMPLE AND ROAMS ABOUT LOOKING FOR HER PREYS. WITH THIS IN MIND, THE VILLAGERS, IN PARTICULAR THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN, AVOID GOING CLOSE TO HER TEMPLE DURING THE NIGHT.
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"MAHUIKA" IS THE MAORI MOTHER OF THE FIRE. SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME, HUMANS HAD OBTAINED FIRE DIRECTLY FROM HER AND HAD KEPT THEIR CAMPFIRES BURNING SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TO GO TO THE UNDERWORLD AND ENCOUNTER "MAHUIKA" AGAIN. SHE IS ASSOCIATED WITH CAVES AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FOREST FIRES. IN MOST LEGENDS SHE WAS THE GRANDMOTHER OF MAUI. IN SOME VERSIONS, SHE IS THE YOUNGER SISTER OF "HINENUITEPO," THE GODDESS OF DEATH. SHE MARRIED AUAHI-TUROA, A COMET WHO CARRIED WITH HIM THE SEED OF FIRE, AND TOGETHER THEY HAD FIVE CHILDREN WHO, LIVING IN HER FINGERS ARE SAID TO BE THE FIRST RAYS OF LIGHT THAT SHOOT OVER THE SKY AT DAWN.
According to Maori legend, there came a time when fire was almost lost to the world. It seems that "Maui," always the practical joker, decided to extinguish all the fires on earth; his mother then directed the servants to go and ask "Mahuika" to give them fire to cook with. However, the servants were all terrified and refused to obey her, so "Maui" offered to go himself. His parents warned him against playing any tricks on "Mahuika", and he promised to be careful.
BUT UPON REACHING HER ABODE AND OBTAINING WHAT HE ASKED FOR, HE DECIDED TO PLAY A TRICK ON HER BY EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE ONCE HE WAS OUT OF SIGN AND THEN HE PRESENTING HIMSELF AGAIN. "Mahuika" held out her hands. She then plucked the nail of her little finger and handed it to "Maui". And, each time She tore off a nail, "MAU"I EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND ASKED FOR MORE. THEN "MAHUIKA" BECAME ANGRY AND THREW THE LAST FINGER NAIL ON THE GROUND. FIRE POURED OUT AND LAID HOLD OF EVERYTHING.
"MAUI "MANAGED TO ESCAPE BY CHANGING HIMSELF INTO A HAWK, BUT BY NOW BOTH THE EARTH AND SEA HAD CAUGHT FIRE. IT IS NOW THAT THE "GOD OF STORMS "STEPS UP AND EXTINGUISHES THE FIRE, BUT BEFORE FIRE WAS LOST ALTOGETHER, "MANUIKA "SAVED SOME SPARKS AND THREW INTO THE "KAIKOMAKO" AND A FEW OTHER TREES...WHERE THEY ARE STILL CHERISHED. HENCE, TO THIS DAY, MEN RUB PORTIONS OF THE WOOD OF THESE TREES TOGETHER WHEN THEY WISH TO IGNITE A FIRE.
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I've seen a lot of different ways to pronounce Thalia in my searches, but I'm pretty sure that the one I use is correct. Most of the Greek Goddess names have the emphasis on the second syllable, so I know I have that part right. When spelled as Thaleia (or in Greek), it would have been pronounced tha-LAY-uh in Ancient Greek, although the "ei" is pronounced as EYE in Modern Greek, giving tha-LIE-uh. Disagree? Let me know!
THALIA (pronounced tha-LIE-uh) is the Greek Muse of comedy and rustic poetry. The nine Muses are the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, and they accompany Apollo in his role as God of the arts. She is usually depicted holding up the comic actor's mask and wearing a wreath of ivy on her head. Sometimes she holds a shepherd's staff, and other times a drum or tambourine--her sons with Apollo, the Korybantes, performed a dance to the beat of drums as part of the Mysteries of Samothrace. Thalia's name, which means "flourishing," is also seen as THALEIA.
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