The goddess Athena was the goddess of wisdom, strategy in warfare, and crafts. She was the patroness of the city of Athens and helped Greek heroes, such as Hercules and Odysseus on their adventures.
 

   Athene invented the flute (aulos-double flute )

 

from the bones of deer, but discarded it after discovering that her face is distorted while playing. 

She came to the gods’ banquet table to play it, but

                     Hera                                                                           Aphrodite

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        made fun of her because she turned blue and puffed out her cheeks.

 

   Athena ran to a forest and tried to play it again by herself. Suddenly she caught her reflection in a stream and realized that her fellow goddesses were right. 

Athena got so upset that she threw out the flute and cursed it. The curse would severely punish anyone who picks up the flute. 

  The satyr Marsyas found the discarded instrument and learned how to play it.