Athena is a demigod.
Athena ( [ əˈθiːnə ] Attic Greek : Ἀθηνᾶ , Athēnā , or Ἀθηναία , Athēnaia ; Epic : Ἀθηναίη , Athēnaiē ; Doric : Ἀθάνα , Athānā ) or Athene ( [ əˈθiːniː ] Ionic : Ἀθήνη , Athēnē ) , often given the epithet Pallas ( [ ˈpæləs ] Παλλὰς ) , is the goddess of wisdom , craft , and war in ancient Greek religion and mythology . In ancient Greek literature , Athena is portrayed as the astute companion of heroes and as the patron goddess of heroic endeavour . While the city of Athens and the goddess Athena essentially bear the same name ( Athena the goddess , Athenai the city ) , it is not known which of the two words is derived from the other .