Fun Facts and Greek Mythology about Athena the Goddess of Wisdom. In this lesson, we learn all about our beautiful and wise Greek goddess Athena. Athena, also known as Pallas Athena or the Virgin Athena, is the celebrated goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, strategic warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill in ancient Greek mythology. She is the daughter of Zeus and Metis, and is said to have been born fully grown and armored from the head of her father. The beautiful and wise Athena is one of the twelve most important Olympian deities who reside on Mount Olympus, alongside the handsome Greek Gods such as Hermes, Aphrodite, and Apollo.