Who am I? Greek mythology mystery woman in this brooch

Thinking more about this, you may have hit on something with Athena. She hadn't entered my mind because of a lack of helmut and shield. She seems to be depicted with those symbols 99% of the time. With this image of them as lovers, her helmut and shield would be off by now! Just to remind people who she was, the maker left her holding the ax/spear. There are art thingies out there of Athena and Mercury together with each all array in their symbols.

https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bartholomeus_Spranger_-_Hermes_and_Athena_-_WGA21691.jpg

http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-he...16th-century-fresco-by-federico-43168684.html

http://buffaloah.com/a/virtual/italy/pomp/murals.html

Boy, didn't they all!

--- Susan

 

Athena is a virgin goddess, and patroness of the city of Athens. She is also the goddess of wisdom. If the person who created this image knew anything about her they would not have put her in a situation like this.

According to this site http://www.greekmythology.com/Olympians/Athena/athena.html
"Athena is a virgin goddess, but she has a son. Athena is credited with being part-mother of Erichthonius, a half-snake half-man creature, through an attempted rape by Hephaestus, whose seed spilled on her leg. When Athena wiped it off, it fell to earth (Gaia) who became the other part-mother."

 

I was cruising through some old threads and just found this one from July 2016. Was wondering, @Marko , if you still have this and/or want to know about it? Maybe @Bronwen has some ideas?

 

It is Mercury & the Amazon Myrto. The men's jeweller Dante used Incolay reproductions of this one, Apollo & Leucothoe and some other steamy ones in its Museum Masterpiece line of cufflinks.

 

Thanks! I was not familiar with her. Initial searches for her didn't work because the word "Amazon" brings up the familiar site that sells all kinds of things. Thought you might be amused by this modernized version of her story:

https://www.amazon.com/Just-Myrto-Laurie-Gray/dp/1935462970

 

I was not aware of this Myrto. Think it's too bad that in order to tell the story of one woman's coming into herself the author had to buy into men's stereotypes of Xanthippe. Did enjoy Margaret Atwood's Penelopiad.