The Warrior Goddess: Athena

Greek Myths

by Doris Gates

Retells the Greek myths in which Athena plays a major role, including those of Perseus, the Golden Fleece, and Arachne.

Genres: Mythology

121 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Doris Gates, 1901-1987

A lifelong resident of California, Doris Gates was for many years, she was a librarian for the Fresno County Free Library. However, she is remembered for her many beloved children's books. Of these, the best known and most influential was Blue Willow (1940), selected as a Newbery Honor Book in 1941. Many consider Blue Willow to have been the first realistic, problem novel for children, and it was recognized both for its lasting literary merit and for its expansion of the range of subjects which could be explored in books for children. She died in 1987.

Reviews

[Christopher D. Ochs · Rating 2 out of 5]

More of a reference text for younger readers than a recreational text, though I enjoyed a few colorful turns of phrase throughout.
As a storyteller/educator, Gates does not write like a fiction author as she relays tales of Greek mythology related to the title deity.
I'll have to go back to my library and compare her versions of stories against others. Take for example Perseus:
Gates' hero gains favor only by his birth, not by any meritorious deed. He kills the Medusa while all the Gorgons sleep, then uses her head exclusively to one by one kill all his human and non-human adversaries. Where's the adventure / risk / suspense / heroism in THAT? It's like this "hero" isn't even trying. Feh.
Again, I'll have to go back and compare against others' renditions of the myths.

[Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doris Gates' anthology of Athena centric and Athena adjacent Greek myths is probably most notable for its inclusion of the relatively obscure myth of Aglauros, as well as its almost point for point retelling of the story of Jason and the Golden Fleece. While most American versions of the tale tend to skim over the more unpleasant details and then speed through the various trials and digressions, Gates preserves the rambling and wayward narrative quality of the Argonautica while also including a lot of its character development and foreboding sense of doom. Though by no means exhaustive and still toned down for children (she bypasses the more brutal acts of Medea), the nearly novella length revisioning is an enjoyable if melancholy yarn that feels more Tolkien than Bulfinch in the end.

[Kali]

Book Blurb:
Athena, the warrior goddess, was born fully clothed and fully armed from the head of her father, the mighty Zeus. She was his favorite child and one of the most important of the gods, for she was goddess of wisdom and of the household as well. Her wrath could be as vengeful as that of her father, as those who crossed her discovered, but heroes were dear to her.
So here are the splendid tales of:
Perseus - who with Athena slew Medusa, the Gorgon
Andromeda - the lovely maiden rescued by Perseus
Pegasus - the wonderful winged horse
Jason and the Argonauts - who went in search of the Golden Fleece
Arachne - the boaster who was turned into a spider

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice refresher, great for a younger audience wanting to get into Greek mythology.

[Cws]

JWAW-Gat

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Daphne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very simple, easy to read retelling of several myths involving Athena. Would be a great introduction to classical mythology for younger readers.

[Lindy Chiang]

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