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"The
temple at Alexandria is dedicated to the estate's patron diety, Athena.
Athena is also the patron godess of Bryn Mawr College, the owner's
alma mater. She is the godess of wisdom and knowledge. Inscribed on
the wall is a reference to Athena in the Homeric Hymns, by Homer, of
course. The annex is dedicated to Ra, a principle diety of Ancient Egypt."
---
Lisa, Alexandria's head tour guide and historian; Station: Main Desk
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I
began to sing of Pallas Athena, the glorious goddess, owl-eyed,
inventive, unbending of heart, pure virgin, savior of cities,
courageous, tritogeneia. From his awful head wise Zeus himself
bore her arrayed in warlike arms of flashing gold, and awe seized
all the gods as they gazed. But Athena sprang quickly from the
immortal head and stood before Zeus who holds the aegis, shaking
a sharp spear: great Olympus began to reel horribly at the might
of the owl-eyed goddess, and earth round about cried fearfully,
and the sea was moved and tossed with dark waves, while foam burst
forth suddenly: the bright son of Hyperion stopped his swift-footed
horses a long while, until the maiden Pallas Athena had stripped
the heavenly armor from her immortal shoulders. And wise Zeus
was glad.
--Homeric Hymn #28
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If
in need of assistance on a test or other daily disparities, Mawtyrs
(Bryn Mawr students) call on Athena through the giving of gifts
to a statue of her in Thomas Great Hall - one of Bryn Mawr's principle
buildings. Other statues of her can be found in Carpenter (the
Art & Archaeology Library), and beneath the steps of the Main
Library.
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The
annex of Alexandria is ruled over by Ra, the Sun God. Although
Osiris later took over the principle diety position in Ancient
Egypt, Ra was the predominant god for many dynasties. The annex
is a symbol of deference to him and provides the Western world
with a tribute of his memory.
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