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Glite Dictionary
Pallas Athene

Pallas Athene

9.9
A Greek goddess of wisdom, crafts, and war who protected Athens, like the Roman Minerva
  • proper noun
  • Literature
translation icon : Palas Atenea
  • The Parthenon in Athens was devoted to Pallas Athene, the city's guardian deity.

Examples

  • Many philosophers regarded Pallas Athene as a symbol of wisdom and rational thought.

  • In classical artwork, Pallas Athene is often depicted wearing a helmet and holding a shield.

  • The temple of Pallas Athene stands proudly in Athens.

  • Many ancient Greeks worshipped Pallas Athene as their protector.

  • In classical artwork, Pallas Athene is often depicted wearing a helmet and holding a shield.

  • Many philosophers regarded Pallas Athene as a symbol of wisdom and rational thought.

  • The Parthenon in Athens was devoted to Pallas Athene, the city's guardian deity.

Synonyms

Athena
vsPallas Athene
  • Literature
39 6.7

A Greek goddess of wisdom, crafts, and war who protects Athens

is a compound form stressing the epithet and older spelling
Minerva
vsPallas Athene
  • Literature
16 8.9

A Roman goddess of wisdom, war, and art, like the Greek Athena

is the Greek goddess with original Greek cultural identity
Pallas
vsPallas Athene
  • Literature
1 9.9

A goddess of wisdom, arts, and war in Greek myth

is the full combined name highlighting both title and name
Athene
vsPallas Athene
  • Literature
1 9.9

The Greek goddess of wisdom, practical skills, and war who protects Athens

is the compound version that keeps the epithet and older form
Pallas Athena
vsPallas Athene
  • Literature
8.9

A Greek goddess of wisdom and war who protects the city of Athens

is the Greek form with different spelling and emphasis on the epithet

Surface Forms

Pallas Athene main

Morphology

Pallas + Athene

This is a proper-name combination (epithet + name) referring to the same mythic figure; if a learner knows 'Pallas' and 'Athene' as names for a goddess, the compound clearly denotes that goddess. The meaning is compositional and follows a common epithet+name pattern, so it is immediately understandable to a B1 learner who knows the constituents.

Etymology

Pallas Athene was the Greek goddess often shown wearing a helmet and holding a shield, sometimes with an owl at her side. That strong picture made her a symbol of 'wisdom', 'crafts' and the 'guardian' of Athens, so her name is used for people or things that stand for clever thinking or protection.