Sasha Summers

Continuing on with a run down of the Big Twelve – Olympians that is!

Athena – Goddess of Wisdom and War. Unlike Hera and Aphrodite, Athena chose to remain chaste – i.e. virginal. She was a mighty warrior, but she preferred to settle disputes through reason and intelligence. She was born, according to myth, fully grown – from her father Zeus’ head.  Forcing herself into the world and Olympus, Athena did not back down from anything. For example, when both she and Poseidon wanted the city of Athens as one of the patron city’s, the two participated in a ‘test’ that allowed the people to choose their patron Olympian. While Poseidon created a spring/well to come into the city, Athena gave them the olive tree. And as the well/spring was salt water, the Athenians deemed Athena their patron. Athena is also thought to have been quite an inventor – creator of the war chariot, the flute, the trumpet, the yoke and bridle.

She is often depicted as warrior-like. At the very least, she appears on the ready for whatever trouble she might encounter.

Athena’s is most closely related to the owl, though the serpent is also equated to wisdom.  In my story, she is a proud, frustrated deity led to believe the worst by her long-term adversary – Poseidon.

Demeter – Goddess of the Harvest and Fertility. Demeter was a well-celebrated goddess as her responsibilities led to the nourishment and livelihood of the better part of ancient Greece. She was not a chaste goddess, having numerous love affairs – with mortals and fellow Olympians alike. One such affair led to the birth of Demeter’s daughter: Persephone. The two were inseparable, appearing together more as peers than mother and daughter. When Persephone disappeared into the Underworld with Hades, Demeter was so distraught that crops failed and people suffered. Zeus intervened, putting Persephone on a sort of time-share between her mother Demeter and her husband Hades. One of the interesting aspects of those that worshipped Demeter were the Eleusinian Rites/Eleusinian Mysteries. Closely guarded, the details of this cult and it’s rituals were not recorded.

In my stories – I’m having great fun creating those rituals! 

This is Demeter and her daughter, the lovely Persephone…