To the most beautiful goddess, Lady Athena...
The walls of the Presidential Palace echoed Cornelius's words. Some of the experts and scholars kneeling on the floor stole glances at him, wondering why he had chosen to offer the Golden Apple to Athena.
Athena was a formidable warrior and one of the most beloved and best-known gods in Greek Mythology. But of the three goddesses, Hera, Queen of Heaven, held the highest rank.
As Cronus's daughter and Zeus's sister, Hera held an exalted position. When she married Zeus, he had promised to share his authority as King of the Gods with her. That was why she had received a title neither of the previous two kings' wives had held: Queen of Heaven.
Bearing the crown of the King of the Gods, she outranked not only Athena but also Hades, Poseidon, and the other major gods.
Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, ranked below Hera and could not match Athena in battle. But she was beautiful.
And in Greek Mythology, beauty meant lovers.
As the most beautiful goddess of all, Aphrodite had lovers throughout Olympus Holy Mountain. Ares, Poseidon, Hermes, and many other gods had been involved with her. Over the long years, she had borne a great many gods as well. Only Gaia had given birth to more. Offending Aphrodite meant offending a third of the Greek gods.
"Great goddess Athena, your most devoted Believers offers you the Golden Apple. I beg for the shelter of your strength and the guidance of your wisdom. I am willing to devote the rest of my life and everything I possess to spreading your Radiance."
Cornelius prostrated himself with a show of devotion, holding the Golden Apple high as he waited anxiously for the Goddess's answer.
Would Athena protect him? If she did