Athena

Daughter of Zeus and Metis, emerging already an adult from Zeus’ forehead, bearing a spear and letting out a great war cry — so goes the story. Other, more staid tales, tell of her childhood tutelage under Triton, and of Triton’s daughter whose name she took in penance for accidentally killing her: hence, Pallas Athena. She is a great warrior, and a greater general, for unlike Ares she has studied well the art of strategy, and while Ares may lead the armies of Olympus, it is Athena’s plans he implements, for he well knows that she is wiser than he. She is the patron of Heroes, and often involves herself even in the lives of the progeny of other Gods (and, occasionally, those descended from other pantheons).

In Rome, she was Minerva, and though revered for skill in strategy and for her great wisdom, she was also considered the patron of trade and commerce. Here began the tradition of dedicating places of learning to Minerva, a practice that continues to this day — universities, fraternities and sororities, and in California’s case an entire state, are ritually marked with her likeness.

Athena’s wisdom makes her well adapted to the modern age — the World has changed, and she has changed with it, drinking down new knowledge and methods and adapting them for her own use. Democracy’s spread from her beloved Athens pleases her; corruption within it, all too common, infuriates her. She rarely acts directly, but it is Athena’s hand pulling the strings of 100 organizations with their hands in the inner workings of power. Her schemes are far-sighted, and actions seemingly at cross-purposes have a way of working out exactly as she desires.