If you’ve ever taken a course on Classical Civilization, you might remember being all confused about which goddess/god was revered for what benefit to the populace. All you need to know is that in Greek mythology, goddesses had no time for the patriarchy. They had work to do.

Out of all the capital cities in all the world, only two bear the name of a Divine Female Figure. Underrepresentation at its finest! Sofia, Bulgaria takes its name from the ancient Saint of Holy Wisdom. However, the only world capital that’s got undisputed Goddess chops is Athens, the city where NextTribe’s Big Fat Greek Adventure begins in October, 2026.

NextTribe creates small group travel experiences for women 45 and over. If you’re ready to stop waiting and start going, we’d love to have you along. We’ve got 3 spots left for our Athens and islands trip to Greece in October. All the details here.

It’s named for Athena (above), daughter of Zeus–King-of-the-Gods, Mount Olympus Big Cheese and all ‘round Bad Boy. Born direct from her sex-addicted Dad’s head, she entered the world rocking a full suit of armor, and pretty much never took it off. Now, when people speak of Goddesses, they generally have cute, girly ones like Aphrodite, Goddess of Love in mind. But in Greek mythology, femininity is to be found flourishing in many different forms.

How Athena Beat Poseidon (Hint: It Wasn’t With a Sword)

Never defined by beauty, romance or motherhood, Athena chose to remain a virgin all her days – not as a matter of “purity”, but so that could maintain her autonomy to the last. Female independence may be rare in mythology and folklore, but it’s not new. In fact, it’s truly ancient as exemplified by the figure of Athena.

She’s the Goddess too of other stuff that the patriarchy considers to be “unfeminine.” Intelligence, Wisdom, Justice, Civic Order, Technology, Invention, Craft. And let’s not forget Warfare! However, when Athena went to war, she didn’t favor blood ‘n’ guts like the boys. Instead, this chick was all about strategy and smarts. In fact, these latter attributes are what led to the city of Athens being named after her and not Sea-God big-balls, Poseidon who, let’s face it, was more in the business of brute force and ignorance. 

The story goes that she and He-of-the-Sea had to compete for patronage of the city in a kind of mythological bake-off to be judged by its citizenry. At the appointed hour, Poseidon huffed, puffed, and beat the ground with his fists until it produced a… war horse. The citizenry swiped left.

This first leg of NextTribe’s Greece adventure is a chance to soak up the spirit of Athena in the city that bears her name.

So, you can just imagine the withering look on Athena’s face as she defeated Poseidon–by planting the world’s very first olive tree. She offered food, trade and sustainability instead of spectacle, chest-beating and conquest. So folks chose fine female leadership over ball-swinging machismo. Big-time. No wonder, then, that Athena’s namesake city is considered a wellspring of civilization to this day – as well as the very birthplace of democracy. 

So, this first leg of NextTribe’s Greece adventure is a chance to soak up the spirit of Athena in the city that bears her name. Her independence, ingenuity and civility emanate from the very rocks, stones and temples of the Acropolis that dominate the city skyline. The very Parthenon atop it, built between 447 and 432 BCE, is her temple. The people of the city dedicated it to her because they considered her to be their protector. She was and still is. Touch its marble columns. And channel her. 

Channeling Artemis

If channelling your Virgin-Warrior-Smarty-Pants side doesn’t appeal, there are many other Greek Goddess options on the menu as NextTribe leaves Athens behind to head for the islands of Hydra and Spetses. 

Perhaps Artemis, Goddess of Islands is, more your speed? Twin sister to Sun God Apollo, she’s THAT Moon Goddess who turned a man into a stag for spying on her naked – before feeding him to his own hunting dogs. This Goddess of Wild Places was all about boundaries!

Like any self-respecting Goddess, Artemis valued her undisturbed time in nature and Hydra is the perfect place for that.

Well, like any self-respecting Goddess, she valued her undisturbed time in nature and Hydra is the perfect place for that. Long before most other places in the world started to worry about the environment, Hydra had banned all cars and motorcycles from its streets and roads to preserve its peace for posterity. It’s only possible now to get around by foot, donkey or water taxi. Like Artemis, you’ll get to bathe in self-care, serenity and stunning scenery undisturbed. 

In the Realm of Aphrodite and Demeter

However, the wild hills, azure seas, and artistic inspiration for which Hydra is renowned might instead bring out your inner Aphrodite. Let the Goddess of love, beauty, and pleasure help you melt into your softer side – maybe even sparking a Trojan War of your own as you emerge from a clam shell on one of the island’s many rocky coves.

Or perhaps you’ll inspire an aspiring Leonard Cohen-type to write another “Suzanne” in your honor. The great Canadian songster did much of his best work here and Aphrodite IS the Goddess of artistic inspiration, after all. Or better yet, she might inspire YOU to write your OWN song. Poem. Novel. Memoir. Whatever. Bring that journal and see what happens.

Aphrodite, the Goddess of artistic inspiration, might inspire you to write your own song. Poem. Novel. Memoir. Whatever. Bring that journal and see what happens.

Or perhaps you just feel like going on strike entirely, like Demeter, the maternal Goddess of Agriculture and Land Fertility. On Hydra, there’s an opportunity to cast away the inevitable mental load of being a modern woman-slash-CEO of everything to just BE. To rest and restore. Let everyone else just deal.

That’s what Demeter did after her daughter Persephone was abducted by Hades, God of the Underworld. When she downed tools, winter took hold. Who knew that she’d been spinning ALL the plates and that when she stopped, the world stopped too. Plants withered, crops dried and the land fell barren – until Zeus was forced to come to the negotiating table and cut a deal with Hades. Yep – put those dogs up and take the load off.

Spetses: Home of a Real-Life Warrior Goddess

But as NextTribe proceeds to the isle of Spetses, we pick up the pace once again. With lush forests, busy harbors, and old Sea-Captains’ Mansions, this island bursts and bustles with cafes, restaurants, yachts, horse-drawn carriages and fishing boats. It’s also home to revolutionary leader and naval commander, Laskarina Bouboulina. She may have been born in the late 18^th Century, but she sure embodied modern ideals of female leadership.

A widow who remained financially autonomous and a shipping magnate who captained a ship in the Greek independence bid against the Ottoman Empire in 1821, she was a bit of a Goddess in real life. In fact, she was probably channelling the Goddess Athena with whom we began. So it seems we’ve returned full circle to themes of independence, intelligence, and rebellion. How very NextTribe.

So — Which Goddess Are You?

While adventuring in Greece, which Goddess will you be? Athena, Aphrodite, Artemis or Demeter? Maybe you don’t have to choose. Chances are, you can have it all.