Athena (Roman Minerva), daughter of Zeus is a strange paradox. She is an aggressive warrior princess (although more sensible than the bone-headed Ares) dedicated to the Greek cause, yet she is also patroness of women's skills. In the Iliad her military side prevails, and she is not impressed with the new dress offered her by the Trojan ladies (Book 6). She is always eager to get into her warrior's kit and drive off in her chariot - with the menacing snake-bedecked aegis over her breast-plate.