Athena is one of the most famous deities from Greek antiquity. Born in full armor, springing forth from the head of her father Zeus, the virgin goddess was her father’s favorite daughter. She was also a favorite among the Greek people as the patron of not just Athens but also Pergamon and Sparta, among others. But what did the ancient Greeks believe Athena was the goddess of? Why was she so popular?   Wisdom Pallas Athene, attributed to Rembrandt, c. 1657. Source: Calouste Gulbenkian Museum   One of the principal domains associated with Athena was wisdom. Born out of the mind of Zeus, the association existed from the moment of her divine creation. From her wisdom grew many characteristics that came to define perceptions of the goddess in Greek culture.   She was viewed as having unmatched cunning, and was known for her calculated reasoning and pragmatism. As such, she was a major figure in military conflict, representing the strategic aspect. This intellect was also found outside the battlefield. Her wisdom was sought by those looking for insight and those who required good counsel.   Probably representing Athena in her guise as the goddess of wisdom, she was, and still is, associated with the owl. While academics have many theories on why the owl was represented in depictions of Athena, the owl is still considered a symbol of wisdom today, largely thanks to Athena.   War Statuette of Athena with an owl, Greek, c. 460 BCE. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art   The Greek world was not constrained by having one deity to represent a single concept. Gods were multifaceted with many associations, and there was often significant crossover between the domains of different gods.   Athena and Ares were the two Greek gods most closely associated with war. This led to a rivalry between the two beings, who, through the epic stories, came into conflict on more than one occasion.   However, while Ares represented the fury and bloody nature of battle, Athena represented the strategic side of military conflict. Athena also had influence over other aspects of war.   She counseled Zeus in his war against the Titans, and it was Athena who gave Zeus the potion that he used on Kronos, causing the Titan to regurgitate all of Zeus’ siblings. Thus Athena was instrumental in Zeus’ victory. As such, Athena was the goddess of victory.   Detail from a vase depicting combat between hoplites on the Chigi Vase, Greek, c. 7th century BCE. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Athena was also a commanding figure in the realm of personal skill in martial prowess. She was often depicted wearing the armor of a warrior or a soldier. The most striking symbols of her role as a warrior were her helm, shield, and spear. Most depictions of Athena include these three objects.   Weaving Athena Changing Arachne into a Spider, by Antonio Tempesta, 1606. Source: Los Angeles County Museum of Art   Athena wasn’t only tied to the serious business of war and outsmarting her enemies. She was also associated with handicrafts. She was most closely associated with the art of weaving, and she was seen as a protector of those whose livelihood revolved around the loom. By extension, Athena came to symbolize patronage of all handicrafts.   According to the mythological tales, a mortal, and pupil of Athena, Arachne, challenged Athena to a weaving contest. Such was Athena’s ire upon seeing the quality of her opponent’s work that she chastised her pupil, tearing her work to shreds. Arachne was so dismayed she hanged herself, after which Athena took pity on her and turned her into a spider.   Such was Athena’s importance to the weaving industry that every four years, a new peplos (robe worn by women in ancient Greece) was woven for the statue of Athena on the Acropolis. This was a major undertaking, as the statue was 38 feet (12 meters) tall!   Athena embodied the spirit of much that the Greek world held dear, and reverence for her was widespread. From the realm of war to far more peaceful pursuits, she was a beloved part of the Greek pantheon.

Metalcore heavyweights Spiritbox played a banger of a set at Germany's Rock Am Ring festival over the weekend, and you can watch it in full

Joshua and Janelle McAloon are Nelly & Josh on TikTok. Their entire family is internet famous. Josh is a wholesome dad who adores his family and shows them his affection every day. For the women out there asking if he has a brother, he does. His name is Jason, but he’s already taken. The twins are the “Dunkings,” and they frequently do advertising plugs for Dunkin’ Donuts. During a morning coffee run, Josh decided it was time to begin teaching his son how to treat his wife. That included waltzing into the house with some dance moves, coffee, and a smile. The video caption reads, “The art of a good coffee run is learned early.” Nelly couldn’t be more right. Josh does it right, and the wholesome dad takes time to offer pointers to their son. @nellesworld The art of a good coffee run is learned early #couples #love #fatherandson #dadlife #fatherhood #dunkin #sunday #dunkinfamily #mcaloonfamily #dadgoals ♬ Leave Before You Love Me – Marshmello & Jonas Brothers We told you about how the entire family participates in kitchen dance sessions. When Nelly was pregnant and craving a milkshake, Josh made her one and danced it right out to her. There is one more added benefit for the kids. With an identical twin brother, he can fill in as “daddy” when Josh has to travel for work. They call Jason “Uncle Daddy,” and comforting hugs are always in his toolbox. With Josh and Jason McAloon, the children from both families have a wholesome dad to look up to. The wives are best friends, too. Both families lead separate yet integrated lives, and they all enjoy each other’s company. If you get the idea that either of these families would be a hoot to hang out with, you’re not alone. You can’t move in with them, but you can follow their shenanigans and the twins’ antics on TikTok and Instagram. Please share. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post Wholesome Dad Moment: “My Husband Teaching My Son To Be Just Like Him” appeared first on InspireMore.

They met in the Army 40 years ago and haven’t seen each other since. Ron Goodwin’s daughter, MollyMapleM, set up the Army buddy reunion. As he answered the door, the person standing on the porch said, “Hi, I’m looking for Mr. Goodwin.” The man who answered the door said, “What?” so the visitor repeated. “Is this Mr. Goodwin?” The homeowner said, “Yeah, I’m Ron.” His friend stumbled into a sad speech about being a salesman selling encyclopedias. That lasted a few seconds as recognition hit. “Salayda!” @molly.m14 What a beautiful reunion! #army#BestFriends#losangeles#fortworthtexas ♬ original sound – ???????????♡ With a firm handshake, Ron practically yanked Salayda through the door into a bear hug. If that didn’t make you smile, wait, there’s more. Someone else was recording the scene from the inside, and Molly posted that second video, too. Once inside, Ron asked his Army buddy if he wanted a beer to celebrate their reunion. Then they did what all old friends do: they headed to the kitchen to catch up. Salayda said he would have been there earlier, but he got lost and ended up in Canada. Molly went out to find him and guide him to the house. @molly.m14 Replying to @aylortayy ♬ original sound – ???????????♡ They swapped stories, laughed, and rekindled the brotherhood of years past. Salayda mentioned that they had “grown up together” in the Army. They went out to what looked like an American Legion Hall or possibly a VFW club, featuring a couple of pool tables. The two men playfully got up and pretended to box one another. This Army Buddy Reunion Is Just Getting Started There was plenty of hugging, laughing, and talking all night. Pictures were taken, and all had a good time. When it was time to say goodbye, they didn’t. They made plans to take a vacation together! Under a comment requesting to hear their stories, Molly answered, “More videos and stories soon! We are all going on vacation soon!” If you didn’t get enough of this Army buddy reunion, follow MollyMapleM on TikTok and stay tuned. Please share. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here and here. The post “Surprising My Dad With His Army Buddy After 40 Years” appeared first on InspireMore.

This content is for members only. Visit the site and log in/register to read. The post Alien Butchers? Another Cow Mutilated in Argentina—With No Explanation appeared first on Anomalien.com.

Brianna Lafferty, a 33-year-old woman from Colorado, was battling a rare neurological disorder when her body “gave up.” Clinically dead for eight minutes—no pulse, breath, or brain activity—she later returned to life with a vivid near-death experience (NDE), reports dailymail.co.uk. “Death is an illusion because our soul never dies. Our consciousness remains alive. And our very essence simply transforms,” Lafferty said. “I did not see or remember my human self. I was completely still, yet I felt fully alive, aware, and more myself than ever before.” Suffering from myoclonus dystonia, a condition causing involuntary muscle jerks, Lafferty flatlined during a medical crisis. Before losing consciousness, she heard a voice asking if she was ready. Then, she described her soul “floating” above her body, entering a timeless realm. “I was suddenly separated from my physical body,” she said. “There was no pain, just a deep sense of peace and clarity.” She claimed her thoughts shaped her surroundings: “My thoughts instantly materialized. I realized that our thoughts shape reality there.” Revived but weakened, Lafferty relearned to walk and speak. Though fearful of another NDE, she no longer fears death: “It changed the course of my life. What I feared no longer had power over me, and what I used to chase didn’t seem important anymore.” Her experience aligns with a recent study tracking 567 cardiac arrest patients across 25 hospitals. Published in Resuscitation, the research found nearly 40% showed brain activity linked to consciousness during CPR—some up to 60 minutes after cardiac arrest. Dr. Sam Parnia, the study’s lead author, said these experiences reveal “a real, yet little-understood dimension of human consciousness that becomes uncovered with death.” One patient even misinterpreted medical procedures as torture in hell. Lafferty described encountering “other beings” and a “higher intelligence” radiating “unconditional love.” “There’s a presence, or intelligence, higher than ourselves that guides and watches over us,” she said. The study suggests consciousness may persist after clinical death, challenging assumptions about when awareness truly ends. For Lafferty, her NDE brought profound clarity: “I feel empowered and trust life’s events, especially the hard ones. Everything happens for a reason.” The post Woman Died for 8 Minutes: “Death is an illusion because our soul never dies” appeared first on Anomalien.com.

Democrats all over the country have been outraged by the right’s perspective on banning certain books — and the town of Denton, Texas, is no exception. Denton Mayor Gerard Hudspeth was among those on the right expressing concern, and for good reason. The book in question, titled “Let’s Talk About It,” is so graphic that, when presented to the city council, certain images had to be censored. Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan’s book, published by Random House Graphic, is subtitled "The Teen’s Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human" — and advises readers to “research fantasies and kinks safely” on the internet in order to find like-minded communities that share the same sexual interests. The book also contains advice on how to use sex toys and perform sexual acts, but just as bad as the language used are the graphics. “The problem I had was the images were disturbing,” Hudspeth tells BlazeTV host Alex Stein on “Prime Time with Alex Stein.” The book shows a naked man sitting on another naked man's face, as well as close-up images that detail how to masturbate and include sex toys like butt plugs. “I said, ‘Hey, look, you brought this to my attention. We should just put it behind the counter. Not saying we have to ban the books.’” “And they were like, ‘No, it’s for everyone,’” Hudspeth explains, adding, “It’s in the teen section, but anyone can go in there.” Stein, who looked at a copy that Hudspeth brought, is equally disturbed. “There’s kids — those are naked teens,” Stein says, adding, “I’m kind of shook from just even looking at it.” Want more from Alex Stein?To enjoy more of Alex's culture jamming, comedic monologues, skits, and street segments, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.