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Glite Dictionary
Pallas Athena

Pallas Athena

8.9
A Greek goddess of wisdom and war who protects the city of Athens
  • proper noun
  • /ˈpæləs əˈθinə/
  • Literature
translation icon : Palas Atenea
  • The temple on the Acropolis was dedicated to Pallas Athena, the patron goddess of Athens.

Examples

  • Many ancient artworks depict Pallas Athena wearing a helmet and carrying a shield.

  • In mythology, Pallas Athena was known for her wisdom as well as her skill in battle.

  • The statue of Pallas Athena stands proudly in the Parthenon.

  • Many ancient Greeks prayed to Pallas Athena for wisdom.

  • In Greek mythology, Pallas Athena is revered as the goddess of wisdom and strategy in warfare.

  • The ancient Greeks built the Parthenon to honor Pallas Athena, their protector and guide.

  • A statue of Pallas Athena can be found at the center of Athens, symbolizing her importance to the city.

Synonyms

Athena
vsPallas Athena
  • Literature
39 6.7

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

is the two-part epithet plus name version rather than the single word
Minerva
vsPallas Athena
  • Literature
16 8.9

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

is the Greek cultural form rather than the Roman equivalent
Pallas
vsPallas Athena
  • Literature
1 9.9

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

is the fuller two-part name combining epithet and personal name
Athene
vsPallas Athena
  • Literature
1 9.9

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

is the more common modern spelling rather than the archaic form
Pallas Athene
vsPallas Athena
  • Literature
9.9

A Greek goddess of wisdom, crafts, and war who protected Athens, like the Roman Minerva

is the more common combined epithet and name form

Surface Forms

Pallas Athena main

Morphology

Pallas + Athena

This is a referential compound made of two proper names that denote the same mythological figure; a learner who knows 'Pallas' and 'Athena' will understand it refers to the goddess of wisdom and protector of Athens. The meaning is not idiomatic or metaphorical but compositional and cross-linguistically expressed the same way, so it is immediately inferable from the parts.

Etymology

Pallas Athena comes from a story where Athena had a friend named Pallas and, during a practice fight, she accidentally killed her and kept the name 'Pallas' to honour her. So the name Pallas Athena reminds us she is the goddess of 'wisdom' and the city's 'protector'.