Who is Pallas in Greek mythology?
In Greek mythology, Pallas is a figure associated with warfare and wisdom. Although several figures bear the name, Pallas is most frequently portrayed as a Titan. He is related to Athena, the goddess of wisdom, through her epithet “Pallas Athena.”
What does Pallas mean in mythology?
Pallas is a mythological term used to indicate mastery or knowledge of warcraft and tactical wisdom. At some point, Athena adopts the epithet and is known as Pallas Athena. The name Pallas is derived from the Greek word pallô, which means “to brandish.”
Where does Pallas appear in Greek mythology?
The Titan god Pallas appears in myths of the Titanomachy, the Homeric Hymns, and in Hesiod’s Theogony. In his appearances, Pallas is repeatedly referred to as “the giant.”
When did the myths of Pallas emerge?
Myths surrounding Pallas emerged in the eighth century BCE with Hesiod’s Theogony. As with all myths, the legends of Pallas are perhaps much older than their written record suggests.
Why was Pallas killed by Athena?
The most popular myth suggests that Athena killed and flayed Pallas during the Titanomachy. Alternative sources cite Pallas as Athena’s father, whom she killed to save herself from assault, a Giant slain during the Gigantomachy, or a Libyan nymph and daughter of Triton killed by accident.
How did Pallas influence Greek culture and myth?
Pallas and his exploits embodied Greek beliefs surrounding warcraft before the ascension of the goddess Athena. Since Pallas was the model of strategic warfare and wisdom, his defeat is integral to Athena’s broader mythological presence.
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Who Is Pallas and What Is His Role?
Pallas was a Titan god of wisdom and warfare. Despite some ambiguity surrounding his role in Greek mythology, he was the god of warcraft before Athena. Her succession to the title reflects the necessary usurpation of the old gods in Greek mythos. Athena’s aegis (shield) crafted from Pallas’ skin was symbolic of her literally “taking up the mantle.”
As the son of Crius and Eurybia, Pallas was a second-generation Titan. He was the husband of Styx. From their union, the minor deities Nike (victory), Zelus (zeal), Cratos (strength), and Bia (force) were born.[1]
Pallas is referred to as a “giant” by the Latin scholar Hyginus and as one of the Gigantes in Apollodorus’ Bibliotheca. In Apollodorus’ account, Pallas fell to Athena in the Gigantomachy — and she still took his skin. It can then be argued that in mythology, Pallas’ significance comes down to the necessity of his death.
Pallas as a Titan in Greek Mythology
The Titans were the previous generation of gods in Greek mythos. For the ancient Greeks, they helped to explain the world around them before the Olympians came into the picture.
As a Titan, Pallas was the god of warfare and strategy. In the Titanomachy, Pallas sided with his uncle Cronus in the battle against Zeus and the revolting Olympians.
Where the Olympians had Athena (and to an extent, her mother, Metis), the Titans had the stratagem of Pallas.
Symbolism and Representations of Pallas
Before the rise of the Olympians, Pallas symbolized both war and wisdom. For a time, he was the Greeks’ idealized take on warfare. After his death, he became physically symbolized as Athena’s aegis. As the aegis, Pallas’ role as a warrior was acknowledged and admired. However, he was ultimately put on the back burner, so to say, in favor of a new god.
The later representation of Pallas as the shield of Athena further supported the mythical significance of the Titanomachy. The old gods “died,” but were remade to compliment those that took their place.
Both Pallas and Athena are associated with the spear as well. Popular depictions suggest that the spear was a favorite weapon of the war gods in Greece because it symbolized military might. After all, it was the weapon of choice among Greek hoplites.
Pallas and the Concept of Warfare in Greek Culture
Pallas was far more clever than other gods of war, whose whole shtick was blood and violence. His intelligence led to his skillful military strategy.
To illustrate, Pallas would be considered cold and calculating when compared to a god like Ares. Ares was the bloody heat of battle — not really the type to think things through. Pallas was able to see the bigger picture.
By continuing Pallas’ legacy through the later Pallas Athena, the Greeks cemented their opinion of warfare. It was a necessary evil, one that was required to defend their ways of life. More importantly, war wasn’t all just bloodshed and frenzy. It, like anything else, was a craft to be learned and mastered.
Pallas and Athena: A Shared Legacy
There is no doubt that Pallas and Athena have a shared, albeit complex, history. Several myths explore Athena’s relationship with Pallas and in these myths, he manifests frequently as an adversary. However, one tale tells of Pallas as a nymph and friend of Athena.
When Pallas is just the “nymph Pallas” and not the “Titan Pallas,” the figure is a lot more likable. Nymph Pallas is a daughter of Triton and Athena’s friend. They were girls together, and Pallas frequently acted as Athena’s sparring partner.
In this version, Athena accidentally kills Pallas during one of their bouts. Devastated by the death of her companion, she adopted the name “Pallas Athena” in her honor.
In this case, Athena’s epithet “Pallas Athena” is a way to preserve her friend’s memory. It also expresses the idea that the strength of power (what Pallas represents) is nothing without a bit of wisdom.
Regardless of the myth’s iteration, the formation of Pallas Athena officially fuses martial prowess and intellectual strategy as the ideal Greek military approach. It is no wonder then that Pallas and Athena are two aspects of a singular goddess of wisdom.
Pallas would be the violence and martial skill that Athena, the cunning mind, must manage.[2] After all, without Pallas, there would be no Athena; without Athena, there would be no Pallas.
These two figures, often at odds in mythology, rely on each other to exist. Upon Pallas’ demise, Athena would become the goddess of wisdom and warcraft: a right of passage, so to say. It is the right of passage shared by other deities on their rise to prominence.
The adoption of the name Pallas Athena allows Pallas’ legacy to survive in a new age. Moreover, it reflects the changing Hellenic opinion of warfare and the value Greeks placed on civility through the preservation of the city-state (polis).[3]
Contemporary Interpretations of Pallas
Modern interpretations of Pallas are impossible to separate from contemporary depictions of Athena. Over time, the two became synonymous. Thus, Pallas symbolizes the balance between warfare and warcraft, often under the guise of Athena.
In modern mythological retellings, mighty Pallas continues to embody martial talent, intellect, courage, and wisdom. While there is little exploration into Pallas’ original exploits — the Titan War and his suggested role in the Gigantomachy — there remains a multitude of contemporary mythical takes surrounding Athena post-Pallas.
Wrapping Up the Story of the Mighty Pallas
Pallas is a little-known figure in Greek mythology innately tied to the story of Athena. A Titan god of martial renown and tactics, he famously fell to Athena in the Titanomachy.
In several legends, she uses his skin to cover her aegis. Although there are numerous myths surrounding the identity of Pallas, contemporary depictions have blended Pallas and Athena into a single deity: Pallas Athena.
With this development, Pallas has grown to represent not only martial skill but also sound strategy and intelligence.
References
- Hesiod. n.d. In Theogony, 375–385. https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0130%3Acard%3D371.
- Deacy, Susan. 2016. “’We call her Pallas, you know’: Naming, taming and the construction of Athena in Greek culture and thought.” Cent chouettes pour Athéna 100:59–72. https://doi.org/10.4000/pallas.2817.
- Ramachandran, Anjali. “War and Women: An Analysis of Athena’s Martial Role in Greek Mythology.” PhD diss., University of Texas, 2020. Texas ScholarWorks. https://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/items/f7451b8c-7bf0-4efa-9357-d4c028e6fce7.