Athena (a-THEE-nuh). Roman name Minerva. See The Olympians for more information and another picture. Athena was the Olympian goddess of crafts and the domestic arts and also those of war; patron goddess of Athens. Athena was born from Zeus's head and was originally the Great Goddess in the form of a bird. She aided the heroes Perseus, Jason, Cadmus and Heracles in their quests.