ispute de Minerve et de Neptune, 19e siècle, bronze, Ecouen, musée national de la Renaissance
(C) RMN - René-Gabriel Ojéda
Culture.fr/collections, France
Our heroine, Athena was the protagonist of one such founding myth, and she too has a city named after her. And, if you are wondering which city this could possibly be, the clue lies in her name, but it was her name that was given to the city, and not the other way round.
To recall this story we have to start with 'Once, a long, long time ago' because the actual date is not important; only the idea that this all took place in our distant past. Once, a long, long time ago first king of Athens, King Cecrops (quite an extraordinary king himself as he was part human and part snake) set out to find a patron deity for his city state; already a prosperous and vibrant city. He called on Athena and Poseidon because both in fact desired to be the patron of this beautiful city. Their rivalry was so intense that they almost went to war and just as they were about to attack each other, Athena, with her typical, wise approach suggested that they should hold a contest for the city. With King Cecrops the judge they set up the contest and decided that whoever presented the city with the best gift would be rewarded with the city itself as the grand prize.