After Athena was born fully armed from Zeus' forehead, Triton, son of Poseidon and messenger of the seas, became foster parent to the goddess and raised her alongside his own daughter, Pallas. The sea god taught both girls the arts of war.
During an athletics festival, Pallas and Athena fought with spears in a friendly mock battle in which the victor would be whoever managed to disarm her opponent. At the beginning of the fight, Athena got the upper hand, until Pallas took over. Before she could win, Zeus, who was in attendance, fearing to see his own daughter lose, distracted Pallas with the Aegis, which she had once shown interest in. Pallas, stunned in awe, stood still as Athena, expecting her to dodge, impaled her accidentally.
Out of sadness and regret, Athena created the palladium, a statue in the likeness of Pallas, and wrapped the aegis, which she had feared, about the breast of it, and set it up beside Zeus and honored it.[1] Later, Athena took on the title Pallas as tribute to her late friend.[citation needed]
This story about Athena and Pallas inspired a yearly festival in Libya dedicated to the goddess. A passage by Herodotus recounts this custom:[2]
"Next to these Machlyes are the Auseans; these and the Machlyes, separated by the Triton, live on the shores of the Tritonian lake. The Machlyes wear their hair long behind, the Auseans in front.
They celebrate a yearly festival of Athena, where their maidens are separated into two bands and fight each other with stones and sticks, thus (they say) honoring in the way of their ancestors that native goddess whom we call Athena. Maidens who die of their wounds are called false virgins.
Before the girls are set fighting, the whole people choose the fairest maid, and arm her with a Corinthian helmet and Greek panoply, to be then mounted on a chariot and drawn all along the lake shore.
With what armor they equipped their maidens before Greeks came to live near them, I cannot say; but I suppose the armor was Egyptian; for I maintain that the Greeks took their shield and helmet from Egypt."
Apollodorus, The Library with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. ISBN 0-674-99135-4. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Greek text available from the same website.
Herodotus, The Histories with an English translation by A. D. Godley. Cambridge. Harvard University Press. 1920. ISBN0-674-99133-8. Online version at the Topos Text Project. Greek text available at Perseus Digital Library.
December 20, 2023
pallas, daughter, triton, other, uses, pallas, greek, mythology, greek, mythology, pallas, ancient, greek, Παλλάς, warrior, daughter, triton, mythology, editafter, athena, born, fully, armed, from, zeus, forehead, triton, poseidon, messenger, seas, became, fos. For other uses see Pallas Greek mythology In Greek mythology Pallas ˈ p ae l e s Ancient Greek Pallas was a warrior and a daughter of Triton Mythology editAfter Athena was born fully armed from Zeus forehead Triton son of Poseidon and messenger of the seas became foster parent to the goddess and raised her alongside his own daughter Pallas The sea god taught both girls the arts of war During an athletics festival Pallas and Athena fought with spears in a friendly mock battle in which the victor would be whoever managed to disarm her opponent At the beginning of the fight Athena got the upper hand until Pallas took over Before she could win Zeus who was in attendance fearing to see his own daughter lose distracted Pallas with the Aegis which she had once shown interest in Pallas stunned in awe stood still as Athena expecting her to dodge impaled her accidentally Out of sadness and regret Athena created the palladium a statue in the likeness of Pallas and wrapped the aegis which she had feared about the breast of it and set it up beside Zeus and honored it 1 Later Athena took on the title Pallas as tribute to her late friend citation needed This story about Athena and Pallas inspired a yearly festival in Libya dedicated to the goddess A passage by Herodotus recounts this custom 2 Next to these Machlyes are the Auseans these and the Machlyes separated by the Triton live on the shores of the Tritonian lake The Machlyes wear their hair long behind the Auseans in front They celebrate a yearly festival of Athena where their maidens are separated into two bands and fight each other with stones and sticks thus they say honoring in the way of their ancestors that native goddess whom we call Athena Maidens who die of their wounds are called false virgins Before the girls are set fighting the whole people choose the fairest maid and arm her with a Corinthian helmet and Greek panoply to be then mounted on a chariot and drawn all along the lake shore With what armor they equipped their maidens before Greeks came to live near them I cannot say but I suppose the armor was Egyptian for I maintain that the Greeks took their shield and helmet from Egypt Notes edit Apollodorus 3 12 3 Herodotus The Histories 4 180 1 4References editApollodorus The Library with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer F B A F R S in 2 Volumes Cambridge MA Harvard University Press London William Heinemann Ltd 1921 ISBN 0 674 99135 4 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library Greek text available from the same website Herodotus The Histories with an English translation by A D Godley Cambridge Harvard University Press 1920 ISBN 0 674 99133 8 Online version at the Topos Text Project Greek text available at Perseus Digital Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pallas daughter of Triton amp oldid 1166462016, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
