Daughter of a mighty father: the unique relationship between Zeus and Athena in myth, society, and cult
Publication Date
July 27, 2026
Creator
Hawdale, Emma
Abstract
The gods of the Greek pantheon are connected by a network of familial relationships. Zeus is father to many deities; however, as expressed by Ares in Iliad 5.877-880, Athena appears to hold a special place in Zeus’ heart. The aim of this thesis is to investigate the unique relationship between Zeus and Athena in myth, literature, society, and cult, primarily from the Archaic to the Hellenistic period across the Greek world. Although Zeus and Athena respectively are often subjects of scholarly analysis, no one investigation has examined the relationship between these two deities to the extent which can be found in this thesis. I begin with an analysis of the myths of the birth of Athena in order to lay the foundation of Zeus’ and Athena’s relationship (Chapter One). The subsequent chapters then follow a thematic structure in order to investigate the relationship between these two deities across multiple contexts: protection of the polis (Chapter Two), the sphere of crafts (Chapter Three), the military and maritime spheres (Chapter Four), and justice (Chapter Five). To ensure a consistent method of analysis across all five chapters, this thesis applies a theoretical framework which blends elements of previous paradigms. Most notable is the examination of how far the ‘structuralist’ tenet of the mode of action can be a useful tool for analysing the relationship between Zeus and Athena in each context studied. This thesis illustrates that, although their familial bond is a fundamental thread that underpins their relationship, the relative power and prominence of Zeus and Athena in the same context is not static and shifts depending on geographical location and sphere of activity. Most importantly, this thesis argues that Zeus and Athena share a symbiotic relationship, forged at the moment of Athena’s birth, in which each deity’s power enhances and stabilises that of the other. This conclusion challenges the notion that Athena is simply the ‘agent of Zeus’ or just an extension of Zeus’ will and reveals the potential for Athena to possess a higher level of agency and control in the relationship. I suggest that mutual consolidation and confirmation of power is, therefore, essential to the unique and close relationship between Zeus and Athena.
Item Type
ethesis
Thesis Type
PhD
Supervisors
Jim Suk Fong
Thomas, Oliver
Subjects (LC)
Associated Schools / Departments
UoN Repository URI
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
Name
Emma Hawdale - 10094994 - thesis - corrected - images redacted.pdf
Size
2.46 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
c987b6b86c7ce991513e3e04262e301e