Daphne Ignatius
My Life as Athena: Secrets of a Greek Goddess
eBook
( Sept. 18, 2014)
Everyone has secrets. The goddess Athena has more than most!
Athena, beloved daughter of Zeus. Worshiped by millions as the goddess of Wisdom and War. What problems could she possibly have? Well…
•Her mother was killed by Zeus to prevent an ancient prophesy from coming true; one that might be about Athena herself.
•Athena is smart, gutsy and rebellious in an age that demands its females be gentle and submissive.
•She eludes an arranged marriage only to find herself condemned to a lifetime of enforced virginity.
So what is a goddess with a formidable intellect and a backbone of steel to do?
She seizes control of her destiny, using her cunning to outwit the other gods and wins dominion over the greatest city in Greece. And when love finally strikes, Athena chooses to follow her heart without a backward glance.
But the wheel continues to turn, and the golden age of ancient Greece is eventually threatened by a new military power growing in the west. When the Roman legions arrive, greedy for Greece’s wealth and offering to adopt the Greek gods as their own, Athena and her fellow gods have a diabolical choice to make: Do they stand by the Greek people, or betray them to safeguard their own interests?
In defiance of her father’s wishes, Athena rebels one last time and sets forth to change the course of human history itself.
Author Daphne Ignatius takes us behind the mythology and reveals a colorful version of one of the most powerful goddesses of the ancient world; one that is definitely not found in the textbooks!
***************************
"Thoroughly entertaining from first page to last, 'My Life As Athena' is an exceptional and enthusiastically recommended read." - Midwest Book Review
"Creating a story about Athena is no small feat and the author created an unforgettable read." - Diana L, Amazon Top 500 Reviewer
"Absolutely delightful and fresh. Ignatius's book is a pleasure to read. It's funny and playful and sincere." - Kameel Nasr, author of The World Up Close
"The characters and the world she (the author) has created are great. Readers who love mythology will love this one." - A Creative Mind
***************************
Who is Athena?
Athena is the favorite daughter of Zeus, king of the Greek gods. She is the goddess of wisdom, war, strategy, courage, creative inspiration, civilization, law and justice, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill. On the side, she also served as champion to many of the legendary heroes of ancient Greece. As you see, she had a finger in practically everything! Minerva is the Roman goddess identified with Athena and in this book, they are one and the same.
Why is Athena important?
In ancient Greece there were few divine beings more important, and more generous, to humanity than the virgin goddess Athena. She was the protector of the city of Athens, once considered the center of civilization, learning and philosophy. The name Athens is derived from her name, confirming how much she was respected. Ancient Greek coins featured her profile on one side and her symbols (the owl and an olive branch) on the other, so it is clear that the Greeks celebrated their relationship with her.
The Parthenon, now a major tourist attraction in Athens, was originally a temple dedicated to Athena. A large ivory and gold statue of her (lost in ancient times) was housed within the Parthenon and was dressed in fine garments woven by the women of Athens. Once a year, there would be a major festival in which the statue would be dressed in new finery. In My Life as Athena, this statue was the cause of much consternation on Athena’s part!
Athena, beloved daughter of Zeus. Worshiped by millions as the goddess of Wisdom and War. What problems could she possibly have? Well…
•Her mother was killed by Zeus to prevent an ancient prophesy from coming true; one that might be about Athena herself.
•Athena is smart, gutsy and rebellious in an age that demands its females be gentle and submissive.
•She eludes an arranged marriage only to find herself condemned to a lifetime of enforced virginity.
So what is a goddess with a formidable intellect and a backbone of steel to do?
She seizes control of her destiny, using her cunning to outwit the other gods and wins dominion over the greatest city in Greece. And when love finally strikes, Athena chooses to follow her heart without a backward glance.
But the wheel continues to turn, and the golden age of ancient Greece is eventually threatened by a new military power growing in the west. When the Roman legions arrive, greedy for Greece’s wealth and offering to adopt the Greek gods as their own, Athena and her fellow gods have a diabolical choice to make: Do they stand by the Greek people, or betray them to safeguard their own interests?
In defiance of her father’s wishes, Athena rebels one last time and sets forth to change the course of human history itself.
Author Daphne Ignatius takes us behind the mythology and reveals a colorful version of one of the most powerful goddesses of the ancient world; one that is definitely not found in the textbooks!
***************************
"Thoroughly entertaining from first page to last, 'My Life As Athena' is an exceptional and enthusiastically recommended read." - Midwest Book Review
"Creating a story about Athena is no small feat and the author created an unforgettable read." - Diana L, Amazon Top 500 Reviewer
"Absolutely delightful and fresh. Ignatius's book is a pleasure to read. It's funny and playful and sincere." - Kameel Nasr, author of The World Up Close
"The characters and the world she (the author) has created are great. Readers who love mythology will love this one." - A Creative Mind
***************************
Who is Athena?
Athena is the favorite daughter of Zeus, king of the Greek gods. She is the goddess of wisdom, war, strategy, courage, creative inspiration, civilization, law and justice, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill. On the side, she also served as champion to many of the legendary heroes of ancient Greece. As you see, she had a finger in practically everything! Minerva is the Roman goddess identified with Athena and in this book, they are one and the same.
Why is Athena important?
In ancient Greece there were few divine beings more important, and more generous, to humanity than the virgin goddess Athena. She was the protector of the city of Athens, once considered the center of civilization, learning and philosophy. The name Athens is derived from her name, confirming how much she was respected. Ancient Greek coins featured her profile on one side and her symbols (the owl and an olive branch) on the other, so it is clear that the Greeks celebrated their relationship with her.
The Parthenon, now a major tourist attraction in Athens, was originally a temple dedicated to Athena. A large ivory and gold statue of her (lost in ancient times) was housed within the Parthenon and was dressed in fine garments woven by the women of Athens. Once a year, there would be a major festival in which the statue would be dressed in new finery. In My Life as Athena, this statue was the cause of much consternation on Athena’s part!
- Pages
- 271