Pallas Athene

With a diameter of about 535 km, Pallas is the second largest of the four main asteroids and was discovered in 1802 by the German astronomer and physician Wilhelm Olbers. The mean distance of Pallas to the Sun is 414 million kilometers (258.5 million miles), and has an orbital cycle of 4.61 years. The orbit is inclined at a heavy 35 degrees to the ecliptic.

It was named after Pallas Athena, the Greek warrior goddess of wisdom.

Pallas in Mythology

Pallas Athene (the Greek goddess Athena) was born from Zeus's forehead having no mother at all. Athena was Zeus's favourite child and in return, she was a dedicated daughter despite the fact that she possessed a very strong-will. She would always listen to her father's advice, but often acted upon her own wisdom that yielded excellent results.

Athena was the Goddess of Wisdom and fought many battles when necessary, but favoured diplomacy above conflict when they arose. She hurled one of the giants who had fought with Zeus, into the sea and in so doing created the island of Sicily. She taught Bellerophon how to control Pegasus and received from Pegasus the Gorgon's head and fastened it to her shield. Hercules (Heracles) was assisted by Athena in his fight with the Minyae and in driving away the Stymphalian birds. To avoid conflict, Athena returned the Golden Apples procured by Hercules from the Garden of Hesperides. She sent the shipbuilder Argus a sacred oak beam, which could speak, and was inserted into the front part of a ship called Argo to guide Jason and the Argonauts.

In a famous Greek city, strife arose between the sea-god Poseidon and the wise goddess Athena as to whom should be its protector. To win guardianship, the gods decreed that each should present a gift to the city and that it should belong to whichever gave it the best present. Poseidon's noble horse was deemed inadequate for the city's stony ground, but Athena's olive tree would flourish and be useful to the citizens in many ways. Thus, the city of Athens was named after its guardian Athena.

Pallas in Astrology

Individuals who show courage and wisdom can fall under the domain of Pallas Athene. Our confidence, creativity, resourcefulness and ability to aspire to be the peaceful warrior may be dependent upon this asteroid's position in our birth charts.

As in mythology, this Asteroid can govern the father-daughter relationship, which in turn extends to how a woman deals with her male counterpart. The dark or challenging side of Pallas Athene can depict incestuous relationships, parents who abuse children and women who abuse men. By extending the warrior image too far through hostility, brutality, and bitterness only leads to self-destruction, which is contrary to the example Pallas Athene sets for us.