My belief in the gods is based largely on two things: 1. I find them compelling enough to believe in, and 2. I have experienced their presence, existence, and sometimes even immanence. Not so with Athena. Of all of the major Hellenic gods, Athena has just never seemed that real to me. She’s the goddess of civilization and wisdom, and as an almost-lawyer, she should probably even be my patron, but she just seems nonexistent. At the risk of being impious, I have even siggested on a number of occasions that I thought maybe she wasn’t actually real at all. Maybe the Athenians made her up in some kind of self-serving bid for a patron goddess they could make in their own image.
I mentioned it again today, in a series of text messages to my brother. Recently he ran for class president at his law school, and lacking any other real religious direction of his own, but also not really a commited atheist, he decided what-the-hellishly to pray for help from my gods. Among others (Hermes and Nike I think), he made an offering to Athena. He was a bit disappointed when he lost, and it wasn’t much of a religious conversion moment for him (the Hellenic gods didn’t come through for him, so he has been soured a bit as far as future faith goes). I tried to console him by suggesting that perhaps Athena did not answer his prayer because she is not real.
That was this afternoon, while I was hiking in the woods. Later this evening, I went running around the apartment complex. It was after dark, which is normal for me; I go running at night around the compex all the time, as it is challengingly hilly and conveniently one mile around. Furthermore, while I was running, I was talking on the phone. To my brother.
Suddenly this big bird flies down from behind a lamp-post. And not just any bird. An owl. A big gray owl flies from behind a lamp-post, right over my head, no more than four feet above me, and then flies past me and into a tree, sending terrified little birds scattering.
Now, I realize that owls probably live around here, even though I have never personally seen one. And I realize that I might be just engaging in magical thinking, or making connections that are not really there. But on the very day that I suggest the nonexistence of Athena, a member of a pantheon of gods whose existence I otherwise heartily affirm, I get a fly-by by a big owl. The symbol of Athena. The only time I have ever seen an owl in the wild in my entire life.
My brother pointed out a very real possibility: “Maybe Athena just isn’t interested in you.” Good call, bro.
I hereby publicly apologize to Athena for my impiety. I pledge to never again suggest or imply her nonexistence, and at the next opportunity I will make an offering to her to make up for being a pompous, arrogant mortal.
That was a warning.
The Trojans pissed off Athena – that did not turn out well for them. Same thing goes for Penelope’s suitors. You might want to invest in an Athena statue for your home altar. Think of it as life insurance!
Beautiful. Thank you for sharing. Sometimes we are just talking to the wrong God/dess….
Yeah, I can imagine She didn’t take that too well. I don’t know that your private comments rise to quite the levels of impiety that Apuleius mentions (or, say, Arakhne’s…), but this incident does strike me as a possible clue-by-4.
As one who is devoted to that particular Lady, I can assure you she is indeed quite real! As for the lawyer part, I would think that Father Zeus and Hermes would be your logical professional patrons, yes? Justice and clever argument are the lawyer’s stock in trade…
love reading about your encounters – and I certainly wouldn’t discount the owl fly-by as coincidence. Owls are rarely seen when they don’t WANT to be seen…
She is very real, indeed. And it sounds like she nearly thwacked you upside the head! ; )
I’ve checked out your blog, and also decided to add you to my blog-roll. Thanks for your comments on mine!
Helleneste kai Grammateus
Well … Athene gave you a bit of a shock, now didn’t she?
@Erik – I think associating Athene with law comes from the Oresteia. After all, she does judge Orestes.