Once upon a time, in a land far away, there was a small village. Each morning, you could see the men, in their heavy animal skin coats, herding the sheep up to the mountain pastures. These rugged men, with their long beards and fierce eyes would be accompanied by their half tamed dogs. The men would stay up in the mountain pastures for the day, with only their dogs as companions. When their sons were old enough, the sons would take part of the herd to a different pasture to graze.

Down in the small village, the women, dressed in their drab clothing, would tend the garden, do chores and prepare the evening meal. When the girls were old enough, they would help with the chores around the small house. The girls fed the chickens, collected the eggs, helped wash the clothes in the small stream that meandered by the village.

Sometimes there was a conflict with neighboring villages, as all the men wanted the best pasture land for their herds. None of these people had any idea of weapons. When there was a fight, it was usually with fisticuffs.

Men from another place invaded this small pastoral land. These other men had weapons. They used bows and arrows, killed some of the villagers and stole some of their herds. Then these invaders demanded payment for leaving the villages alone. Some of the young girls were taken as prizes for these roving bands of marauders.

This situation went on for a long time. One day, a woman appeared in this village. She was tall, had black hair and green eyes just as fierce as the men of the village. The villagers immediately did not trust this newcomer. They had never seen anyone with green eyes before.

The men gathered to challenge her as they believed she was really a spy the invaders had sent. When one of the men went to strike her, she immediately set him on his hindquarters. When another man tried to strike her, she did the same to him. The men were taken back. A woman could best them was a shock to them. After all, women were weak and belonged in the home. They were not supposed to know how to fight. The men demanded answers from this strange woman.

She told them she came from a far off land. When her home was destroyed, she became a wanderer. As she liked mountains, she decided to come to their area. The men decided she would be allowed to stay for a little while. When asked her name, she simply said my name is Attene.

Attene had been in the village for a few days, when the marauders returned. She watched, but said nothing as they took part of the herd, and two young girls. After the marauders left, she questioned why the villagers allowed this to occur. The villagers told her about the weapons the marauders had and how they had already killed some of the men of the village. Attene told them all the invaders had were bows and arrows. She would teach the men how to use these weapons also. The men were shocked. This woman not only knew how to use these new weapons but was also willing to teach them. The men accepted her offer.

The next time the villagers saw the marauders advancing to their village, they quickly went to Attene and told her. She positioned the men around the village, in various hiding spots. They could see the marauders, but the invaders could not see them. Attene stood in the middle of the village and waited. The marauders rushed up to her, demanding to know where the men were and where their payment was. Attene told them the payment had stopped and they should leave immediately. When the chief of the marauders made a threatening gesture toward her, she pulled out a knife and killed him. The men of the village saw this, gained courage and used the bows and arrows she had taught them to make and use. They felled most of the marauders and the rest scattered, never to return to that village.

Attene stayed in the village, and taught them many things. She showed the women how to use herbs as cures. She gave counsel to disagreements that occasionally occurred. She became the wise woman of the village. Surrounding villages heard of her and came to learn also. Soon the length and breath of that far away land knew of Attene and her wisdom.

Attene was a very old woman when she died. The villagers buried her in a place of honor. Many generations from that time on, bowed in respect as they passed her resting place. The story of Attene was handed down from generation to generation, of her wisdom, and her ability to win battles. Of course, over time the stories became more and more exaggerated.

Her resting place was forgotten, but not the story of Attene. The story became legend, and the legend became myth. Her name changed over time, and she began to be called Athene. Athene gradually changed to Athena.

This is why the Greek goddess Athena is the goddess of wisdom and of war.

She is the only one of the Greek gods that sprang full grown from the head of Zeus. Mythology tells us she had no mother. This is because she was once a real person who had gone to Greece after her home was destroyed.