Athena and Poseidon's Contest for Athens

What does this myth explain?

• Why Athena is the patron deity of the city of Athens

• how salt water springs come to exist

• why the people of Athens are olive tree farmers

• how the city if Athens got its name

Which sentence from the myth supports Part A?

• At the point where the spear struck, a frothy spring burst out producing a sea which is now called Erekhthei

• Our heroine, Athena was the protagonist of one such founding myth, and she too has a city named after her.

• Athena became the protector of the city (polis) and many people throughout the Greek world worshiped her as Athena Polias (“Athena of the city”)

• This turned out to be a much more useful gift, granting the Athenians not only the olives themselves as sustenance, but also a source of oil for their lamps and for cooking their food as well as the wood from the olive tree to build their boats and houses

Who desired to be the patron of Athens?

• King Cecrops

• Athena

• Poseidon

• Both Athena and Poseidon

What is the connotation, or implied meaning, of the phrase “typical, wise approach” as it is used in paragraph 3 of “Athena and Poseidon’s Contest for Athens”?

• King Cecrops was very smart to choose Athena and Poseidon to battle for the right to be patron of his city.

• Poseidon was very smart to have given the city clean drinking water.

• Athena and Poseidon were wise to choose peace over war.

• Athena is usually smart and thoughtful in solving problems.

Who suggested holding a contest for the city?

• King Cecrops

• Athena

• Poseidon

• Both Athena and Poseidon

Which sentence from the text supports the meaning of the phrase 'typical, wise approach' from PART A?

• At the point where the spear struck, a frothy spring burst out producing a sea which is now called Erekhtheis

• This turned out to be a much more useful gift, granting the Athenians not only the olives themselves as sustenance, but also a source of oil for their lamps and for cooking their food ...

• With King Cecrops the judge, they set up the contest and decided that whoever presented the city with the best gift would be rewarded with the city itself as the grand prize.

• The Sea God Poseidon however was not at all pleased by all of this, and in a wild fury he flooded the Thriasian plain, drowning Attika under his salty sea.

Using evidence from the author's word choices, what is the author's tone towards Athena?

• His tone is impressed by her powerful deeds

• His tone is doubtful that she should have been chosen the winner of the contest

• His tone is very admiring of Athena's wisdom and the way she handled this challenge

• His tone is angered by Poseidon's dramatic tactics for winning the contest

How does the author's tone affect your understanding of the story 'Athena and Poseidon's Contest for Athens'?

• It helps the reader understand how much the people of Athens loved Athena

• It helps the reader understand what powerful deities Poseidon and Athena were

• It helps the reader to understand how tricky Athena was in choosing the tactic to beat Poseidon at the competition

• It helps the reader understand how Athena's gift to the people of Athens was the best for the people of the city

Which of the following statements best identifies the theme of the myth of 'Athena and Poseidon's contest for Athens'?

• Democratic contests are more just and preferable than war

• Athens was a vibrant city thanks to Athena.

• A useful gift is better than a dramatic one.

• Women make better protectors than men.

Which of the following quotes from the text best supports the answer to Part A?

• Their rivalry was so intense that they almost went to war and just as they were about to attack each other, Athena, with her typical, wise approach suggested that they should hold a contest for the city.

• This turned out to be a much more useful gift, granting the Athenians not only the olives themselves as sustenance, but also a source of oil for their lamps and for cooking their food as well as the wood from the olive tree to build their boats and houses.

• Athena became the protector of the city (polis)... As patron of Athens, she fought in the Trojan War on the side of the Achaeans.

• The Sea God Poseidon however was not at all pleased by all of this, and in a wild fury he flooded the Thriasian plain, drowning Attika under his salty sea.