Athena the Wise

This is my drawing of Athena Parthenos. The grey-eyed virgin goddess of wisdom. She was the Goddess of Wisdom and crafts, like weaving (in which she had her famous contest with the mortal Arachne), and the arts. She was the patron Goddess of heroes and aided them with her cunning strategy (as with Odysseus in his adventures), and could be a mighty warrior bearing her father Zeus's Aegis into battle. She had placed the Gorgon Medusa's head upon the Aegis after she was slain by Perseus, and Athena would always share a connection with the image of the Gorgon. Her symbol was also an Owl which was considered the wisest of all birds. She was most notably the patron Goddess of Athens which bore her name, after she had won a contest against her uncle Poseidon for the guardianship of the city. Poseidon made a salty spring for the Athenians (which was useless), but Athena gave them the olive tree (as shown in the background), which has many uses.
The motif of snakes on her person was very Greek in character, and came from an earlier age where snake cults were more common. They were seen as both magical and deadly. Wrapped on her left arm is an Ephaptis, or length of cloth that could be worn in various manners (by men mostly). Although her proportions are not the best, the ephaptis makes her arm look shorter-which it isn't.

I would like to dedicate this picture to my DA friend Artlyss [link] (check out her galleries).
She was the model for this drawing, although any defect shown is due to my fledgling skills. [sorry xd]

Patron of heroes
mistress of the fine arts
skilled with her weaving
and bold in her heart.

Wise as she is gentle
kind as she is smart
an inspiration for those who seek
a new life's start.

Thank you for everything Artlyss. This one is for you- you deserve it.