A lot of different faces. A lot of different faces. Face is defined as the front part of the head and the front surface of anything. 1  An example of face is the combination of eyes, ears, mouth and nose. 2  An example of face is the part of the clock that displays the time.
In ancient Greek mythology Athena was the goddess of war, wisdom, and handicrafts. She was one of the 12 gods believed to live on Mount Olympus. She is associated with the Roman goddess Minerva because they shared many of the same characteristics.
This image harks back to an early time before patriarchy. It refers to the Minoan snake goddesses. Snakes are not thought of here as symbols of sin and evil, as in Christian mythology, but as symbols of divine wisdom. Athena is the goddess of wisdom, so it is apt that she is accompanied by snakes as well as the owl. The snake is also the symbol of the kundalini which, in the case of Athena, has already travelled to its destination. From this vantage point she guides the destinies of her followers.