THE ancient goddess of wisdom, Athena, and the powerful god of the sea, Poseidon, in Greek consciousness, faced off to see who would be patron or patroness of Athens. Through a marvellous display of power, Poseidon caused to gush forth a spring, to the delight of the people. Athena, however, made to sprout a tree that would not only win her the title of patroness of Athens, but one that would have won the hearts of men for millennia to come.
