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Athena and Poseidon had a competition to become the patron god of Athens. So, Poseidon created a saltwater spring, and Athena created an olive tree. The citizens and gods thought the olive tree was more useful, and so she was chosen the patron goddess of Athens. The place was kind-of named after her.

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Q: Why did Athena give the city of Athens an olive tree?
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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 give anything to anyone?

Yes. She gave an olive tree to a city. That city named itself Athens, after Athena. That is not all though......(Check the Internet)...... Now, Athena is the goddess of wisdom, so she is wise, therefore she gives wise advice to people.........


What are goddess Athena's achievements?

Athena is the ruler of ancient city-state Athens. It's only one of her achievements. Poseidon and Athena both wanted a city. They decided to give a gift ( one each ) and the people will select the one they want. Poseidon gave a spring of salt water. Athena gave a olive tree, which gave wood, oil and olives. The people chose Athena's gift and she named the city Athens, a mix of her name.


What did Greek Goddess Athena give to the Greeks?

When she and Poseidon were competing about who should be the namesake of now Athens, Poseidon gave them a horse or stream and Athena gave them a olive tree!


Why did Athena the Greek goddess give her name to Athens?

Athena and Poseidon both wanted to be the patron of Athens so they had a competition. Poseidon gave the city a river. At first, the people liked this . Then they realized that it was salt water and they couldn't drink it. Athena gave them an olive tree which was much more useful. They could eat the olives, make olive oil and use the wood for fire (which they could use to cook with and to keep warm). Therefore, Athena won and Athens was named after her. Athena and Poseidon have hated each other ever since the war of 1812

Related questions

Why is Athens named after Athena?

Athens is named after athena. Posideon and Athena both wanted to be guardians of it so they had a contest to see who could give the city a better gift. Posideon struck his trident against the earth and made a spring, but it was saltwater and useless. Athena gave the city the first olive tree. So the city was named Athens after Athena, the clear winner of the contest.


What does the olive tree mean to Athena?

The Olive tree is one of Athena's symbols. When Athena and Poseidon were competing to be the patron of Athens they both had to give one gift. Poseidon gave the city a spring of water and Athena gave the city an olive tree. Because Poseidon is the Greek god of the sea the spring was too salty to drink. So Athena won and from then on the olive was her sacred symbol.


Did Athena give her name to an important city?

Athens, Greece is named after Athena.


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 give anything to anyone?

Yes. She gave an olive tree to a city. That city named itself Athens, after Athena. That is not all though......(Check the Internet)...... Now, Athena is the goddess of wisdom, so she is wise, therefore she gives wise advice to people.........


What did Athena give Greeks that they named city after her?

An olive tree.


Which goddess protected Athens?

Athena is the Goddess that supposedly protects Athens. Athena and Poseidon fought over controll of the city. Each God had to give a present to the people whichever was the best would protect and 'rule' over Athens. Poseidon made a geyser of salt water. And Athena gave them an olive tree. Since the people could do nothing with salt water they chose Athena. Which in Greek mythology guards Athens.


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.


The city of Athens was named for .?

Athens was named after Athena, the patron goddess of the city. She and Poseidon fought over who would be patron, and in the end, they had a competition. They both had to create a gift to give to the Athenians, and whoever had the better gift won. Poseidon made a salt water spring (being the god of the seas) and Athena created the olive tree. Needless to say, she won.


What are goddess Athena's achievements?

Athena is the ruler of ancient city-state Athens. It's only one of her achievements. Poseidon and Athena both wanted a city. They decided to give a gift ( one each ) and the people will select the one they want. Poseidon gave a spring of salt water. Athena gave a olive tree, which gave wood, oil and olives. The people chose Athena's gift and she named the city Athens, a mix of her name.


What did Greek Goddess Athena give to the Greeks?

When she and Poseidon were competing about who should be the namesake of now Athens, Poseidon gave them a horse or stream and Athena gave them a olive tree!


Why did Athena the Greek goddess give her name to Athens?

Athena and Poseidon both wanted to be the patron of Athens so they had a competition. Poseidon gave the city a river. At first, the people liked this . Then they realized that it was salt water and they couldn't drink it. Athena gave them an olive tree which was much more useful. They could eat the olives, make olive oil and use the wood for fire (which they could use to cook with and to keep warm). Therefore, Athena won and Athens was named after her. Athena and Poseidon have hated each other ever since the war of 1812