Story · Greek Mythology · 3 chapters

Athena and Poseidon for Athens

Athena and Poseidon each offered a gift to the city: she the olive tree, he the sea (or a horse). The city chose Athena's gift, and she became its patron [S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text[S6]S6 · Pausanias, Description of Greecec. 150–180 CEtext.

historical mythology

Ancient Greek religion is a historical religion. Its myths are attested in primary literary and material sources; disagreements between authors (Hesiod vs. Orphic vs. local cults) are preserved as variants, not resolved.

⚠ Scholars disagree

A civic aition (origin story), not a battle; the 'gifts' differ slightly across sources [S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text[S6]S6 · Pausanias, Description of Greecec. 150–180 CEtext.

CHAPTER 01

The Contest

Both gods offered a gift to the new city [S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text.
Sources[S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text
CHAPTER 02

The Gifts

Athena gave the olive; Poseidon the sea/spring [S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text[S6]S6 · Pausanias, Description of Greecec. 150–180 CEtext.
Sources[S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text [S6]S6 · Pausanias, Description of Greecec. 150–180 CEtext
CHAPTER 03

The Choice

The city chose Athena, who became its patron [S6]S6 · Pausanias, Description of Greecec. 150–180 CEtext.
Sources[S6]S6 · Pausanias, Description of Greecec. 150–180 CEtext
Primary sources[S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text [S6]S6 · Pausanias, Description of Greecec. 150–180 CEtext