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Invocation

In prayers and invocations, Athena is usually referred to as "Lady Athena". She is also referred to as Athena Pronaea, Athena Skiras, Athena Polias (protector of the city), Athena Phratia, Pallas Athena (maiden of weapons), Athena Aithuia (the diver bird), Athena Glaukopis (owl-faced or bright eyed), Athena Parthenos (virgin), Athena Promachos (fighter of the front ranks), Athena Alacomeneis (repulses the enemy), Athena Ergane (working woman), Athena Hippia (protector of horses), Nike (victorious), Athena Agoraia (goddess of the assembly), Athena Tritogeneia, Athena Chalinitis (the bridler), Athena Poliachos (protector of the city), Athena Chalcioecus (living in a brazen house), Athena Phratria and Kourotrophos (boy nursing goddess).

Influence

Worship of Athena is the worship of community and civilization. She is the protector of artisans, carpenters, and craft workers (especially woolworkers and weavers). In combat she represents marksmanship, martial arts and tactics (not the blind rage of Aries). Athena is the personification of reason liberty, technology and wisdom. In relation to animals, Athena represents training of domestic animals such as horsemanship and shepherd dogs.

Priesthood

Historically, the requirements of priesthood for Athena varies so much that modern reconstruction could include almost anyone. However, the nature of Athena would suggest that priests and priestesses of Athena should be community social leaders or skilled in crafts. The priesthood went through town collecting for the poor while dressed in woolen garments, performed a war dances (pyrrhiche) at festivals (complete with war cry) and indulged in political machinations.

Offerings

Traditional offerings for Athena are honey cakes offered to guardian snakes this snake is also the agent of Athena's rage). Music is performed on double reed flutes called aulos. Before any social conflicts (such as business meetings, craft competitions or even actual combat) a portion of the proceeds (called the "top of the pile" or akrothinia) is vowed to Athena. The community is defined by a ritual called "walking the boundaries" where everyone walks around the border of the town. At each boundary stone a small boy presses his bottom against the stone. Finally, Athena is worshipped with craft fairs where skills in crafts are recognized and taught.

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