In Greek mythology, Pallas is a name shared by several distinct figures, most famously the Titan god of warcraft and the Giant slain by Athena, whose name she then adopted. The most well-known Pallas is the Titan, son of Crius and Eurybia, who was killed by Athena, who then took his name as part of her own, becoming ‘Pallas Athena’.
The Titan Pallas: God of Warcraft
Hesiod’s Theogony (c. 700 BCE) names Pallas as one of the second-generation Titans, born to the Titan Crius and his wife Eurybia, daughter of Pontus (the sea) and Gaia (the earth). His siblings were Astraeus (god of the stars and astrology) and Perses (god of destruction). Pallas himself was associated with warcraft and the military arts, often depicted as a warrior holding a spear. His name is derived from the Greek verb pallō, meaning ‘to brandish’ or ‘to shake’, fitting for a god of weapons and combat.
Pallas married Styx, the Oceanid nymph of the river Styx (the boundary between Earth and the Underworld), and together they had four children: Zelus (zeal), Nike (victory), Kratos (strength), and Bia (force). These four personifications became the winged attendants of Zeus, serving him as his enforcers and companions. Their mother Styx brought them to Zeus during the Titanomachy (the war between the Titans and the Olympians), and Zeus rewarded her by making her the goddess by whom the gods swore their most sacred oaths.
The Giant Pallas: Slain by Athena
A separate Pallas appears in later sources, particularly in the writings of the Roman poet Ovid (43 BCE–17 CE) and in the Bibliotheca of Pseudo-Apollodorus (1st–2nd century CE). This Pallas was one of the Giants, monstrous offspring of Gaia, born to challenge the Olympian gods. In the Gigantomachy (the war between the Giants and the Olympians), Athena fought and killed this Pallas. She then flayed him and used his skin as a shield or a cloak, and his name became part of her own epithet, ‘Pallas Athena’. Some versions say she adopted his name to commemorate her victory, while others say it was because she was proud of the deed.
This myth is often depicted in ancient Greek art, showing Athena battling a giant. The exact details vary: some sources say she killed him with her spear, others say she used her aegis (a divine shield) to petrify him. The story reinforces Athena’s role as a warrior goddess, one who not only defeats her enemies but also takes their power for herself.
Pallas, Daughter of Triton: The Foster Sister
A third Pallas appears in a lesser-known myth, recorded by the Greek writer Apollodorus and later by the Roman author Hyginus (c. 64 BCE–17 CE). This Pallas was the daughter of Triton, a sea god, and his wife Tritonis. Athena was raised alongside her, and the two girls were close friends and playmates. During a sparring match, Zeus intervened, fearing that Athena might be hurt, and distracted Pallas, allowing Athena to accidentally strike and kill her. Grief-stricken, Athena carved a wooden statue of her fallen friend, the Palladium, and placed it at the foot of Mount Olympus. This statue was later said to have been stolen by Odysseus and Diomedes during the Trojan War, as Troy could not fall while the Palladium remained within its walls.
This version of Pallas is often confused with the Titan or the Giant, but it is a distinct figure. It explains the origin of the Palladium, a sacred object that was central to the fate of Troy. The story also gives Athena a personal, tragic reason for adopting the name ‘Pallas’, as a remembrance of her beloved friend.
Pallas in Art and Literature
In ancient Greek art, Pallas (the Titan) is rarely depicted, but the Giant Pallas is shown in battle scenes, particularly on vase paintings and the frieze of the Pergamon Altar (2nd century BCE), where he is depicted as a giant with a goat-like appearance, fighting Athena. The goddess Athena is often shown with the aegis, a shield or breastplate bearing the head of Medusa, which she may have made from Pallas’s skin. In literature, the name ‘Pallas’ is used as an epithet for Athena throughout classical texts, including Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, where she is called ‘Pallas Athena’ more often than just ‘Athena’.
The Roman poet Ovid, in his Metamorphoses, retells the story of Athena and the Giant Pallas, and also mentions the daughter of Triton. Later writers, such as the Byzantine scholar John Tzetzes (12th century CE), tried to reconcile the different versions, but no single canonical account exists. The confusion is typical of Greek mythology, where multiple figures can share a name, and stories evolve over time.
Common Misconceptions
One common misconception is that Pallas was a female deity, because the name ends in ‘-as’, which is often feminine in Greek. However, the Titan and the Giant are male. The daughter of Triton is female, but she is not a major deity. Another misconception is that Pallas was a separate goddess of wisdom or war, when in fact the name is an epithet for Athena, not an independent goddess. Some modern readers also confuse Pallas with the Greek god Pan, but they are unrelated.
Another point of confusion is the relationship between Pallas and the Palladium. The Palladium was a wooden statue of Athena, not of Pallas. The story of Athena killing Pallas and making the statue is a later invention to explain the origin of this sacred object. In earlier traditions, the Palladium was said to have fallen from heaven, or to have been made by the smith god Hephaestus.
Why Athena Took the Name ‘Pallas’
The exact reason Athena adopted the name ‘Pallas’ varies by source. In the Titan version, she killed him and took his name as a trophy, similar to how warriors would take the armor of a defeated foe. In the Giant version, she did the same. In the daughter-of-Triton version, she took the name in grief, to honor her friend. Some scholars suggest that the name ‘Pallas’ originally referred to a separate goddess who was later absorbed into Athena’s cult, but there is no direct evidence for this theory. What is clear is that by the classical period, ‘Pallas’ was a standard epithet for Athena, used in both poetry and prose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pallas male or female?
In Greek mythology, Pallas is usually male. The Titan Pallas and the Giant Pallas are male. The only female Pallas is the daughter of Triton, a minor figure. The name itself is not gender-specific in Greek, but the most famous bearers are male.
Why is Athena called Pallas?
Athena is called Pallas because she either killed a figure named Pallas and took his name, or, in another version, she accidentally killed her friend Pallas and adopted the name in mourning. The most common story is that she killed the Giant Pallas during the Gigantomachy and used his skin for her shield.
What is the Palladium?
The Palladium is a wooden statue of Athena that was said to have been kept in Troy. According to myth, the city could not be conquered while the statue remained inside. Odysseus and Diomedes stole it during the Trojan War, which led to Troy’s fall. The statue was said to have been made by Athena herself, either from the wood of a tree or from the body of Pallas.
Did Pallas have any children?
Yes, the Titan Pallas married Styx and had four children: Zelus (zeal), Nike (victory), Kratos (strength), and Bia (force). These children served as Zeus’s companions and enforcers. The Giant Pallas and the daughter of Triton had no notable children.
Are there any surviving temples or sites dedicated to Pallas?
No, there are no temples dedicated to Pallas as a standalone deity. However, Athena was often worshipped under the name ‘Pallas Athena’, and many temples to Athena, such as the Parthenon in Athens, were dedicated to her. The name ‘Pallas’ was used as an epithet in religious contexts, but not as a separate god.
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