as the story goes every town in ancient Greece hoped a God would choose to look after the townspeople
towns rarely had more than one God to keep an eye on their best interests because most gods did not share well
at this time in history not every village had a God things were just getting started in ancient Greece
Poseidon loved watching over towns he usually picked coastal towns since he was the lord of the sea
Poseidon was a very powerful God he was a moody fellow too
he liked having people build temples in his honor and bring him gifts they were not very useful gifts for a god of the sea
but he enjoyed getting them anyway
as Greece grew and developed new towns sprang up all the time
Poseidon was always on the lookout for new coastal towns
he was not the only God who loved to be in charge Athena along with other gods enjoyed that role as well
one day on the same day both Athena and Poseidon noticed a new coastal village they both claimed this village as their own
most of the time humans were grateful when they were selected to be under the care of a God
but two gods that was one too many
Poseidon wanted the townspeople to choose which God they wanted
himself or his niece Athena but the people did not want to choose
they could only see trouble ahead if they did Athena goddess of wisdom daughter of Zeus understood their worry
she challenged her uncle Poseidon to a contest both gods would give the town a gift
the townspeople could decide which gift was the more useful Poseidon laughed in his mighty laugh
and accepted her challenge he slapped his spectre against the side of the mountain a stream appeared
the people were excited a source of fresh water was so important but when they tried to drink the water
they discovered it was not fresh at all it was salt water Athena waved her arm
and an olive tree appeared the people nibbled at the olives they were delicious the people were excited
the olive tree would provide wood for building homes branches would provide kindling for kitchen stoves
and fireplaces the olives could be used for food the fruit could be pressed to release cooking oil it was wonderful
but theirs was a coastal village the people could not risk angering
the Lord of the sea fill mighty Poseidon as it turned out they did not have to choose Poseidon
chose for them his laugh sent waves crashing against the shoreline Poseidon proclaimed his niece the winner
that's how a small village gained a most powerful and wise Guardian
the goddess Athena a guardian who helped them rise to fame in her honor they named their village Athens