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I've heard two versions, one that Cecrops the King of Athens did, and the other that the people of Athens chose the better gift. (Of course, Athens wasn't named that until after Athena won.) Hope that helps! :)

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Q: Who decided which gift was better between Poseidon and Athena?
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What was a major fight agent Poseidon and Athena?

Poseidon and Athena both wanted to be the protector god of the biggest Greek city. The king decided that the winner would be the one who gave the greatest gift to the city. Poseidon created a well on top of the Acropolis. Athena planted an olive tree. The people liked the olive better, Athena was the winner and the city was named Athens after her.


What does Athena's olive tree mean?

The story of Athena's olive tree is: Poseidon and Athena once we're fighting over a town so they decided to see who could give the people of that town the better gift, Poseidon gave them salt water that helped for nothing at all, and Athena gave them an olive tree.


Why did Athena defeat Poseidon?

Well, Athena and Poseidon were challenging each other to be the god or goddess of a city. Athena created the olive tree, and Poseidon created a salt water spring. The city liked Athena's gift better.


What is the conflict between Athena and Poseidon?

Athena and Poseidon both wanted to be the patron god of the city of Athens. The people of the city agreed to hold a competition between the two to decide. They agreed that each would give the city a gift; whoever's gift was better would become patron of Athens. Athena's gift was an olive tree. Poseidon's gift was a salty spring of water from the ground. Athena's gift was better because it offered food, wood, and oil. Poseidon's wasn't very useful. The Athens people chose Athena, Poseidon became angry, and then he flooded the city.


What were Athena and Poseidon fighting for?

Athena and Poseidon were fighting over Athens. They both wanted to be the patron god of the city, so they decided to have a contest. Whoever could give the people of the city the best gift would win. Poseidon gave them a spring, but the water was salty like the sea. Athena gave the people an olive tree which gave them olives, olive oil, wood, and shade. Athena's gift was judged the better of the two, so Athena became the patron of Athens. That is why Athens is named after Athena.

Related questions

Why was Athena a foe of Poseidon?

Athena and Poseidon are enemies because the once both wanted a new city. They decided to have a contest for the city. Whoever could give the most useful gift to the city would win. Poseidon created a spring which was too salty to use. Athena made an olive tree. Athena's gift was judged the better of the two, so she won. She decided to name the city Athens. Athena and Poseidon were rivals ever since.


Why did Athena name her city?

There was a competition between Poseidon and Athena, who both loved the city. Poseidon gave the people a spring, but the water was salty like the oceans he ruled. Athena gave them an olive tree. They decided this was the better gift because it gave them food, oil and wood, so they named the city Athens after her.


What was a major fight agent Poseidon and Athena?

Poseidon and Athena both wanted to be the protector god of the biggest Greek city. The king decided that the winner would be the one who gave the greatest gift to the city. Poseidon created a well on top of the Acropolis. Athena planted an olive tree. The people liked the olive better, Athena was the winner and the city was named Athens after her.


What does Athena's olive tree mean?

The story of Athena's olive tree is: Poseidon and Athena once we're fighting over a town so they decided to see who could give the people of that town the better gift, Poseidon gave them salt water that helped for nothing at all, and Athena gave them an olive tree.


Why did Athena defeat Poseidon?

Well, Athena and Poseidon were challenging each other to be the god or goddess of a city. Athena created the olive tree, and Poseidon created a salt water spring. The city liked Athena's gift better.


What is the conflict between Athena and Poseidon?

Athena and Poseidon both wanted to be the patron god of the city of Athens. The people of the city agreed to hold a competition between the two to decide. They agreed that each would give the city a gift; whoever's gift was better would become patron of Athens. Athena's gift was an olive tree. Poseidon's gift was a salty spring of water from the ground. Athena's gift was better because it offered food, wood, and oil. Poseidon's wasn't very useful. The Athens people chose Athena, Poseidon became angry, and then he flooded the city.


What were Athena and Poseidon fighting for?

Athena and Poseidon were fighting over Athens. They both wanted to be the patron god of the city, so they decided to have a contest. Whoever could give the people of the city the best gift would win. Poseidon gave them a spring, but the water was salty like the sea. Athena gave the people an olive tree which gave them olives, olive oil, wood, and shade. Athena's gift was judged the better of the two, so Athena became the patron of Athens. That is why Athens is named after Athena.


Did Athena love Poseidon?

She did not, one story in Greek myths tells that Athena and Poseidon fought over a town to see who could give it a better gift, Poseidon gave them salt water that did nothing for them, and Athena gave them an olive tree.


Why does the olive tree represent Athena?

In Greek Mythology, Athena and Poseidon fought for Patronage of Athens. They decided to have a competition. Whoever made the best gift for man kind would win patronage. Athena made the olive tree and Poseidon made a spring. The mortals saw her gift was better. So the mortals gave her Patronage and the olive tree became one of her symbols.


What is Poseidon's most famous myth?

The most famous of Poseidon's myths may be his dispute with Athena. During this dispute both gods claimed Athens for their own. A contest was held between the two to see who could bestow a better gift to the city. Athena produced an olive tree and Poseidon a salt-water spring. After being deemed the loser, Poseidon flooded the city.


Why was Athena important to Athenians?

I believe Athena was important to the Athenians because she was the founder of Athens, her city in Greece (Now the capital). She was competing with Poseidon, the Greek God of The Sea and Earthquakes, on who should rule the city. So, they were each presented a gift for the city. Poseidon's Gift was a water spring, and Athena's gift was the Olive Tree. The people agreed that Athena's Olive Tree was better and helped the town more, so they names it after her. They worship her. That is also what created the rivalry between Athena and Poseidon.


Who were Poseidon's enemys?

Poseidon's enemies were his father,Cronus,his brother Zeus because Zeus was the king of all gods and not Poseidon,and Athena because Zeus promised Poseidon the city of Athens. But when Athena was born he told Athena she could be the patron of Athens. So they had a contest. They would each give the people of Athens a gift. Who's ever gift they liked better would get the city of Athens. Poseidon gave the people of Athens a salt water spring.Athena gave them an olive tree.The people liked the olives better so Athena won the contest and got the city of Athens.