Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, courage, and war, is one of the most well-known goddesses in Greek mythology. She was a major deity in ancient Greece and was revered by many as a protector and patron. One of the most common questions about Athena is regarding her virginity – specifically, whether she was considered a virgin goddess or not.
The Importance of Athena’s Virginity
In ancient Greek religion and mythology, virgin goddesses were seen as independent and powerful figures. Their virginity gave them autonomy and allowed them to behave differently than married goddesses who were tied to their husbands and children. Remaining unmarried also meant that virgin goddesses could fully devote themselves to their domains and areas of influence.
For Athena, her virginity underscored her independence and freedom as a goddess. It allowed her to be a strong warrior and strategist without being bound to a husband or children. She could protect cities, inspire heroes, and promote wisdom and handicrafts without familial obligations. So her unmarried status was closely tied to her identity and abilities as a goddess.
Evidence That Athena Was a Virgin
There are several pieces of textual and artistic evidence that indicate Athena was intended to be a virgin goddess:
- Homer’s epic poems, the Iliad and Odyssey, never refer to a husband or lover of Athena.
- A fragment from the Greek poet Pindar explicitly calls Athena “the Virgin.”
- The playwright Aeschylus in the 5th century BC has Athena reject marriage in one of his works.
- Athena is not paired with a male consort the way other Greek goddesses like Hera, Aphrodite, and Demeter are.
- In classical Greek art, Athena is never depicted nude or in romantic/sexual situations as goddesses like Aphrodite often are.
The ancient Greeks seemed to widely accept and depict Athena as a virgin goddess throughout antiquity. Her unmarried status conveyed notions of independence and freedom central to her character.
Myths Related to Suitors and Children
Despite strong evidence that Athena was intended to be a lifelong virgin, there are a couple of ambiguous myths that reference her purported suitors and children:
- Some late folkloric traditions mention the sea-god Poseidon as a suitor who may have assaulted or pursued Athena.
- The mythographer Apollodorus mentions Erichthonius as the son born to Athena when the god Hephaestus attempted to rape her.
However, these myths are not consistent with Athena’s primary identity as a virgin goddess. The myths are found in late or fragmentary sources, suggesting they may have been marginal folkloric traditions rather than mainstream canonical myths. They likely attempted to humanize Athena or diminish her virgin status, but did not override her archetypal characterization as a goddess who intentionally remained unmarried and virgin.
Athena’s Reaction to Suitors
Whenever Athena is pursued or assaulted by gods wishing to rob her of her virginity, she always refuses or avoids the advances in some way:
- When Hephaestus tries to seduce Athena, she flees the scene to avoid rape.
- In late myths about Poseidon’s lust for her, she is often said to have fiercely defended her virginity.
- In Aeschylus’ Eumenides, Athena states she has never been subjected to the pleasure of marriage bed nor lost her virginity.
These sources suggest Athena viewed her virginity as a source of independence and strongly rejected any attempts to make her forfeit it. She had no wish to be dominated by a husband or tied down by children.
Athena Epithets Referencing Virginity
Athena was given many cult epithets – titles or descriptors – that referenced her virginity and independence from marriage:
- Athena Parthenos – “Athena the Virgin”
- Athena Apteros – “Athena the Wingless” (a reference to being unmarried)
- Athena Itonia – possibly meaning “Athena the Chaste”
- Athena Polias – “Athena Guardian of the City” (a role easier without family)
These epithets would not have become so strongly attached to the goddess if virginity was not viewed as a core aspect of her identity and character.
Virgin Goddesses vs Mother Goddesses
It is telling that Athena belongs to a distinct class of Greek virgin goddesses, in contrast to mother goddesses like Demeter and Rhea who were married and fertilized the earth:
| Virgin Goddesses | Mother Goddesses |
|---|---|
| Athena | Hera |
| Artemis | Demeter |
| Hestia | Rhea |
This division highlights how Athena fills the niche of a virgin goddess, with her unmarried status serving as a point of separation from fertility goddesses. She stands out as a representative of singlehood, independence, and virginity.
Conclusion
The preponderance of ancient sources and artistic evidence suggest that Athena was intended to be a virgin goddess in Greek mythology and cult. While some late sources introduce ambiguous myths about her having suitors and children, these are marginal folkloric traditions that likely developed to humanize her. They do not override Athena’s primary characterization as an independent, unmarried goddess who refused to forfeit her virginity and cared little for the traditional womanly roles of wife and mother.
Athena’s virginity marked her as a goddess apart – free from male domination, unencumbered by child-rearing, able to fully devote herself to her roles as a protectress, patron of handicrafts, and promoter of courage and wisdom. Her unmarried status was closely tied to her identity and sphere of influence. So while her technical virginity may be blurred by some fringe myths, Athena clearly belongs to the canon of Greek virgin goddesses in contrast with married mother goddesses.