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Welcome to Get Sleepy, where we listen, we relax, and we get sleepy.
My name's Thomas and I'm your host.
Thanks so much for joining me here at the start of another new week.
I'll be reading our story to you shortly and I want to say a big thank you to Frankie for writing this and every tale from our series on the Olympian gods and goddesses of ancient Greece.
Zeus, Skyfather and King of the Gods, has a great many children.
Some of them are divine, and others mere mortals.
But his favorite child by far is the one he brought into the world all on his own.
Athena is the goddess of craftwork, wisdom, and strategy.
Those attributes weave in and out of her myths.
Tonight we will hear the story of her miraculous birth, how she became the patron goddess of the great city-state of the ancient world, and her dedication to the success of heroes.
As a deity, Athena demands her supplicants be dedicated in mind, body and soul.
And so, we must ready ourselves before venturing into her world.
Lie back in your comfortable bed.
Notice how your chest rises and falls with the natural rhythm of your breathing.
Take a moment to feel this pace.
Now, lengthen your breath and deepen your inhale.
Fill your lungs all the way and release them completely with each cycle.
Control the flow of air in and out of your body, taking your time to experience the pleasure in breathing.
As you breathe, check in with your body.
Scan yourself from your head to your toes, pausing over any places of tension or stress.
When you find a spot that needs attention, bring to mind healing energy and direct it towards that part of your body.
Perhaps this is a bright light that flows in, or maybe it is the image of cool, cleansing water.
Repeat this process through your whole body.
Take the opportunity for some self-care.
When you have completed your scan, return your attention once again to the breath.
Now we are ready.
Bring yourself to High Olympus and the Palace of the Gods.
Deities and immortals are gathered there, drifting like beautiful clouds through the peerless sky.
This is where our story begins.
Thunder rolls and a few flashes of lightning spark across the sky.
But the dark grey clouds are located only above Mount Olympus.
If the viewer looks closely, they might see that the miniature storm seems to follow one being in particular as he stomps around the palace of the gods.
Zeus, the king of the gods, has a headache.
He calls for Chiron, the immortal centaur gifted with the healing arts.
Chiron is beautiful, with a chestnut-colored horse's body and a long, silky tail.
He examines Zeus, but finds no obvious reason for his pain.
The thunder rolls again overhead.
Chiron prescribes Zeus a poultice for his head and tells him to sleep on it.
The next morning, the storm clouds over the Skyfather are even larger.
Chiron attempts to ease the pain with a potion made from poppies and chamomile.
This has no effect.
Over the next week, Chiron exhausts his knowledge and skills, attempting to cure Zeus' headache.
All the while, the storm above Olympus becomes larger and fiercer.
Finally, after more than a week of this torment, Zeus calls for his son Hephaestus, the god of the forge.
Hephaestus is a kind and gentle soul, despite his immense strength.
He has a gift with metal wax, and he comes obediently at his father's call.
Zeus begs his son to strike him on the head, to open his skull and find the source of the pain.
Hephaestus asks his father if there is another way, but Zeus is insistent.
Hephaestus takes his axe and, before the entire population of Mount Olympus, he swings for his father's head.
As soon as the metal connects with Zeus, a bright golden light bursts forth.
It is so bright that everyone in attendance has to look away for a moment.
When the light dims, Zeus is rubbing his undamaged head, and a noble stranger stands next to him.
The figure is a woman, bedecked in the finest armor anyone has ever seen.
In her hand is a tall spear and on her head, a fine helmet.
An owl silently flaps down from the air and lands on her shoulder.
The crowd is speechless.
The figure announces herself as Athena, daughter of Zeus.
His headache gone and forgotten, Zeus looks into her grey eyes and knows this to be true.
There is no hesitation as he embraces Athena and welcomes her to the pantheon.
The Olympians and other assorted immortals cheer with joy.
A feast is prepared to welcome Athena amongst their ranks.
She meets her brothers, Hephaestus and Ares.
Hephaestus inquires about her armour, admiring every aspect of the work.
Athena tells him that she forged it herself within Zeus' head.
They share a laugh, as Hephaestus correctly diagnoses the pounding of the anvil as the source of Zeus' great headache.
Athena also bonds with her brother Ares, god of war.
They both find that they are battle gods, though Athena favors strategy, while Ares values might.
Athena quickly makes plans to race chariots with Ares one day and to visit Hephaestus' forge the next.
Athena is also welcomed by her aunts and uncles, Poseidon, Demeter, Hestia, and Hades.
Hades has come up from the underworld for the occasion, a rare event.
They all embrace her warmly. assuring her that she will be a welcome contribution to the pantheon.
Finally, Athena is presented to Hera.
Though Hera is not her mother, the goddess of family hugs Athena with overwhelming love and compassion.
There can be no doubt that this new goddess is meant to stay.
Over the ensuing years, Zeus will come to favor Athena over all of his other children.
Perhaps it's because he produced her completely on his own.
Or maybe it's because she bears the attributes that he values above all else.
When Zeus and his friend Prometheus create humans, it is Athena that they choose to breathe life into these new creations, blessing them with her wisdom.
Athena spends many years teaching human beings the crafts needed for their survival.
Weaving, pottery, metalworking, and all the handicrafts come from her.
She bestows these gifts on humans after careful consideration of what they need to succeed in this world.
Under the guidance of the gods, humans begin to spread across the world.
They gather together to create villages, towns, and even cities.
Civilization is beginning.
Throughout this process, Athena's hand is seen everywhere.
In the invention of every new tool and method of taming the world around them, Athena is the inspiration.
There are few gods who love humanity more than she.
She imparts wisdom to those who are pious and guides the hands of the creatives.
In return, humanity worships her well.
One day, a new city-state sends messages and prayers to the gods.
This place is only a few years old and the founder King Seacrops is looking for a patron god or goddess to guide his new city.
Over the course of a week, he and his citizens send up many gifts and prayers to the gods before Zeus picks two gods to go down and put forward their bids to be patrons.
He chooses his brother Poseidon, as the city is a coastal town, and his daughter Athena.
She has yet to announce patronage for a city-state.
Uncle and niece meet in the beautiful city one fine summer day.
The city has been constructed on a high hill with a large port at the foot, where it meets the Mediterranean Sea.
The two gods walk through the city human-sized.
The citizens don't recognize them and bustle about doing their personal errands.
Athena and Poseidon get the opportunity to observe the people of the city.
They seem like hardworking, caring, and smart humans.
Both gods determine that this city is well worth their patronage.
They make their way to the castle.
Despite the guards and attendants not recognizing them as gods, Athena and Poseidon are brought before the king upon their request.
This is another good sign.
It seems that Cecrops is an attentive king, always happy to meet with the citizens of his city.
They are brought to a modest but well-decorated throne room.
King Cecrops greets the newcomers warmly, offering them refreshments from his own table.
Athena and Poseidon reveal their true identities, and Cecrops is overjoyed.
He insists on throwing a feast that evening to welcome the gods.
He also invites them on a tour of the city that he will lead personally.
Poseidon and Athena gladly welcome his hospitality.
While the palace jumps into action preparing the feast for that evening, Seacrops leads his two divine guests out into the city.
Seacrops expresses his intimate knowledge of the city and displays his immense pride for the place he calls home.
He introduces them to the old women who make delicately woven tapestries and the humble fishermen in the harbour.
He leads them to a vast empty plot that overlooks the city and the sea.
Cecrops tells Athena and Poseidon that whichever god is chosen as the patron of his city will have a huge temple built on this spot in their honor.
Athena takes in the view and reflects on the city she has seen today.
The people are fair and talented.
They craft and create with an enthusiasm that she admires greatly.
Their king is wise, just, and kind.
Though she has visited nearly every city, village and town in the wild, Athena has never felt such a strong connection as she does to this place.
She decides that she wants nothing more than to be the patron of this city.
Poseidon asks if Athena is ready to begin their contest.
They agreed beforehand that they would provide the city with a gift if they wanted to be the patron and that Seacrops would pick the better gift.
Athena nods and gestures that Poseidon, as the elder, should bear his gift first.
Poseidon takes his huge trident and strikes the ground.
Immediately, water begins to burble up from it.
The spring bubbles forth and flows, strong and true, down the hill towards the sea.
Poseidon tells sea crops that this saltwater spring will stand as his undying devotion to the city.
This city will be successful when it comes to naval activities and trade by water.
The port will never falter.
The city is blessed by the sea, whether Poseidon becomes the patron deity or not.
Seacrops bows his head in gratitude, overwhelmed by the gift.
They both turn their eyes to Athena.
From a fold in her robe, she pulls a tiny seed.
She digs a small hole with her bare hands, placing the seed in the warm earth, and covers it with dirt, as gently as a mother might cover her sleeping child.
Within seconds, a small green sprout bursts forth from the earth.
It steadily grows before their eyes.
The trunk becomes a light grey colour, and the leaves a greenish blue.
From the branches come little green fruits.
The tree stops growing, large and beautiful, with branches full of the strange green fruit.
Athena picks one and brings it to Seacrops, placing it in his hand.
Athena explains that this is an olive tree.
It will provide wood oil and food to the people of the city.
This tree and everything it comes to bear will become a source of wealth for the city, should they choose to cultivate it.
Seacrops listens with great interest.
He glances down in astonishment at the olive fruit in his hand.
Cecrops invites the gods back to his palace for the feast, announcing that he must spend the evening considering his options and thinking about these wonderful gifts.
Poseidon and Athena congratulate one another for the ingenuity of their gifts.
The feast is the best the city can provide.
They bring out the full array of fresh produce from the surrounding fields.
They prepare beautiful dishes of seafood caught by the local fishermen.
The meal lasts hours, and it nearly seems as though the entire city has been invited to enjoy it.
All the while, King Seacrops sits on his throne and appears to be deep in thought.
He even gets up and turns in for the night before anyone else.
Athena approves of this behavior, thinking it shows him to be a wise and thoughtful king, not prone to rushing into decisions.
The next morning Poseidon, Athena and King Cecrops meet again at the top of the hill for his decision.
Cecrops stares out at the sea for a long while before speaking.
He has decided that Athena will be their patron goddess.
He thanks Poseidon deeply for his gift and proclaims that Poseidon shall always be praised and honored in the city.
Poseidon takes the decision with grace, shaking Cecrops' hand and hugging his niece, before disappearing in a flash of light.
King Cecrops bows to Athena and asks her to bless his city with a name.
The name comes to Athena without any hesitation.
This city will be known as Athens, and always bear her blessing for as long as it bears her name.
Cecrops and his people set to work right away, creating the temple for Athena.
She returns often to the city lending a hand with detailing or conferring with sea crops on matters of state.
Both king and goddess are certain that the right decision was made.
Cecrops has three daughters who are raised to be priestesses of Athena.
Their names are Hersey, Pandrosos, and Agloris.
Athena blesses the girls with a talent for handicrafts in return for their devotion to her and their city.
A few years later, Athena meets with Gaia in a cave near Athens.
She is Athena's great-grandmother and the mother of all living things.
The cave is carpeted with soft green moss, and the walls are covered in long green creepers.
A vent at the back of the cave provides warm air from the core of the earth.
She is curious as to why the primordial goddess could have asked her here.
Athena approaches the form of the other goddess, lying on a soft bed of ferns.
Gaia has given birth to a mortal son.
She names the child Erichthonius and gives him to Athena to raise.
This exchange happens in secret, away from the other gods or immortals.
For Gaia has never raised a mortal child and doesn't think she can bear to watch his mortal life, knowing that she will live forever.
Athena takes the baby in her arms.
Gaia gazes lovingly into his eyes.
Athena decided long ago that she would not marry or bear children.
However, this child tugs at her heart and she decides immediately to become his foster mother and guardian.
Gaia hugs them both and sends them on their way, before melding back into her true form as the earth itself.
Athena walks out of the cave and into the daylight.
She is a little more suitable to raise a human child than Gaia, but there are still many challenges.
She will need to place him amongst other humans who will know what he needs while she watches over him.
Athena takes the child to Athens and seeks out the three daughters of sea crabs.
She finds them in her temple in the Acropolis, the highest part of the city.
Perse, Agloris, and Pandrosos are overjoyed at the chance to help their patron goddess.
Athena tells them that Erichthonius must live in a small hut behind her temple.
It will be guarded by a snake.
The three sisters must feed the snake a honey cake once a month in order to pass into the hut and visit the child.
The sisters take the care of the baby and the snake very carefully.
From this day on, snakes become sacred to Athena and the baby grows, under the protection of all, into a strong young man.
Erichthonius ascends to the throne as Cecrops has no sons, and his three daughters have devoted their lives to the temple of Athena.
Cecrops raises the boy to learn the trades that Athena and the people of Athens are known for.
He studies strategy, wisdom, and justice.
For centuries after, Erichthonius will be celebrated as one of the original hero-rulers of Athens.
This is the first, but certainly not the last, hero that Athena guides through life in the ancient world.
By her guiding hand, the heroes of this time will travel through the known world, slaying the most horrible monsters.
These monsters were released in the time before human beings came to be, and the slaying of them is one of the ultimate acts of bringing civilization to the world.
The continued success of humans is owed hugely to the intervention of Athena and her heroes.
One such young hero is Bellerophon.
This young man is the mortal son of Poseidon, and was gifted with the ability to tame horses.
This gift brought him to Pegasus, the winged horse that no other could tame.
When Bellerophon sets out to tame the horse, it is Athena who appears to him on the road.
She offers him a special bridle that she made herself.
Bellerophon takes the divine gift, which allows him to ride Pegasus.
Together they go on to defeat the dreaded Chimera, a fire-breathing beast made from parts of a lion, a serpent and a goat.
Next, Athena blesses her young half-brother Perseus with her assistance.
He is duped into taking the challenge of defeating Medusa, a Gorgon.
One look from Medusa's cursed eyes turns anyone into stone.
Athena comes to Perseus, bearing the gift of her own bronze shield.
She tells him to keep the shield well polished, though she doesn't explain why.
She is hoping that her little brother will use his wisdom to realize what the shield is for.
Along with the other gods.
Athena watches from Olympus as Perseus uses the shield like a mirror, protecting himself from the Gorgon's glare and defeating the monstrous Medusa.
When young Jason begins to assemble a crew of the most impressive heroes of the day for a mighty quest, Athena cannot help but become involved.
They are going out in search of the Golden Fleece.
Though she is not interested in where the fleece is, Athena is committed to the success of so many brave heroes.
She decides that the best way she can assist them is in the building of the Argo, Jason's ship.
Argos, the talented shipbuilder, is visited by Athena when he begins planning for the construction of the great ship.
She tells him that he doesn't need other workers, but that the two of them shall create the ship together.
He agrees and learns much under her tutelage.
The result is the greatest, fastest ship the world has ever seen.
Jason and his Argonauts defeat giants, harpies, and a dragon over the course of their journey.
Athena watches over yet another mortal brother, Hercules, throughout the course of his lifetime.
He shows himself to be the greatest of all heroes.
His sorrows, joys, triumphs and failures make for a true heroic epic.
Although he must complete his twelve labors alone, Athena vows to make sure he gets his just rewards.
At the end of his mortal life, it is Athena who flies down from Olympus on her chariot and collects his salt.
Instead of allowing it to venture to Hades with the other mortal souls, Athena takes it up to Olympus and asks her father Zeus, to make Hercules immortal.
Her wish is granted, allowing Hercules to reside amongst the gods for eternity.
Through Hercules, the earth is rid of a score of the most fearsome creatures, and Athena is proud to see him get his rest.
Theseus, as a young man attempting to claim his fortune and fate as king of Athens, completes six labors on the road to the great city.
Through intellect and wit, he defeats a slew of giants and bandits.
This attracts Athena's attention.
She has kept one eye on the young man since his birth, knowing him to be the true king of her sacred city.
When he decides to free Athens from the persecution of the island nation of Crete, she chooses to help him.
In the Cretan dungeons.
The night before he is to meet the dreaded Minotaur, Athena comes to him in a dream.
She plants in his head the simple plan of using string to find his way back out of the labyrinth once his task is complete.
Theseus listens to the goddess freeing the Athenians from Crete and putting the Minotaur out of its pitiful existence.
Athena rewards him with a long reign as the rightful king of Athens.
Out of all the heroes that Athena cares for, Odysseus is by far her favorite.
His cunning nature and shrewd capabilities impress her time and time again during the Trojan War.
While other gods are against him on his ten-year journey home, Athena consistently comes through as his protector.
When, after a decade of trials and tribulations, he finally reaches his home island of Ithaca, It is Athena who appears to him and his son, telling them how to defeat their enemies and restore peace to their family life.
Athena is a goddess of wisdom, war, craft, justice, and intellect.
She uses these talents at every turn to help the heroes of humanity in their quest to tame the world.
When Athena first breathed life into the clay figures formed by Prometheus, the world was a dangerous place for these new people.
It was filled with monsters and forces well beyond their control.
And only with her help and her teachings has the world become what it is.
Athena is truly the goddess of heroes.
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Thanks for watching!
Thanks for watching!
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