Which Greek God is associated with The Acropolis?

Summary

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Who Smarted? — “Which Greek God is associated with The Acropolis?”

Release Date: November 5, 2025
Podcast: Who Smarted? (Atomic Entertainment / Starglow Media)
Target Audience: Kids, families, and teachers
Theme: A fun exploration of the Acropolis in Athens, focusing on its history, significance in Western civilization, and—most importantly—revealing which Greek god or goddess is most closely associated with it.

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Overview

In this episode, the Who Smarted? team celebrates their podcast anniversary and takes listeners on an imaginative and educational journey to Athens, Greece. With a narrator and a guest teacher named Tara, listeners scale the heights of the Acropolis, uncover its history, and explore its connections to Greek mythology—culminating in a whimsical encounter with the goddess Athena herself. Listeners learn how Athena became the patron goddess of Athens after a legendary contest against Poseidon, and gain insight into the architecture, mythology, and democratic history of the site.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Acropolis – What and Where?

• Acropolis means “high point in the city,” referring both to the hill in Athens and the famous ancient structures on top of it.
• It stands about 490ft (150 meters) above sea level.
• Over 7 million people visit annually, making it one of the world’s top archaeological sites.
  • Quote (Tara, 06:41): “According to the guidebook, about 7 million people visit the Acropolis each year.”
• Built during the fifth century BCE (500–401 BCE), a time of Athenian pride after victory over the Persians.

Major Structures

• The Acropolis isn’t a single building but a complex, including:
  • Religious temples and sanctuaries.
  • Political/civic centers for meetings and honored guests.
  • Military stronghold and, originally, a royal residence.
  • Today: a tourist attraction.
• Most famous building: The Parthenon
  • Started in 447 BCE when Athens was at its peak.
  • Other notable structures: the Propylaea (entrance), Temple of Athena Nike (built around 420 BCE), and the Erechtheion (a shrine housing a statue of Athena).

Who Built the Acropolis and Why?

• Driven by Pericles (a famous general and statesman), who led construction efforts.
  • Quote (Host, 07:45): “Hey, I’ve heard of Pericles. Wasn’t he a prominent politician or statesman at the time?”

Enter Athena: The Patron Goddess of Athens

• While climbing the Acropolis, the narrator and Tara have a magical encounter with Athena, daughter of Zeus and Metis.
  • Quote (Athena, 09:51): “Yes, Zeus, the king of the gods, is my father. And my mother is Metis, a goddess of wisdom, skill and craft. Thus I am one of the wisest, most courageous, creative and resourceful of all the Olympian gods.”

The Mythical Contest: Athena vs. Poseidon

• Backstory: Athens (then called Kekropia) couldn’t decide who should be their patron—Athena or Poseidon—so a contest was held.
• Nature of contest: Whoever could provide the most useful gift to the people would win.
  • Quote (Athena, 15:22): “Only according to the legend, the townspeople couldn’t decide who to vote for. So it was decided that a competition would be held. One event, winner take all.”
• Poseidon’s gift: He struck the ground with his trident, making a salty spring/stream appear—impressive, but the water was too salty to use.
  • Quote (Athena, 16:45): “The answer is it was salty. Instead of crystal clear fresh water... it was as salty as the surrounding sea.”
• Athena’s gift: She planted the world’s first olive tree.
  • Provided food, oil (for cooking, lamps, soaps), wood, and shade—a “way more practical and useful gift.”
  • Quote (Athena, 17:55): “Not to mention the tree would provide shade and the branches could be made into tools or be used for building. You really are the goddess of creativity and resourcefulness.”
• Athena wins, and the city is named Athens in her honor.

The Acropolis as a Monument to Athena

• Many structures, including the Parthenon and smaller temples, are dedicated to Athena.
  • Quote (Host, 18:54): “I must say, so much of the Acropolis was created in praise of you, Athena.”
• The episode highlights the connection between the site, Athena, the development of democracy, and Greek civilization.

Birth of Democracy

• Athens is often hailed as the birthplace of democracy, with citizens actively participating in government and civic life.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

[09:51] Athena (voiced by Laura Athena Rondinella):

“Yes, Zeus, the king of the gods, is my father. And my mother is Metis, a goddess of wisdom, skill and craft. Thus I am one of the wisest, most courageous, creative and resourceful of all the Olympian gods.”

[15:22] Athena:

“Only according to the legend, the townspeople couldn’t decide who to vote for. So it was decided that a competition would be held. One event, winner take all.”

[16:45] Athena:

“The answer is it was salty. Instead of crystal clear fresh water... it was as salty as the surrounding sea.”

[17:55] Athena:

“Not to mention the tree would provide shade and the branches could be made into tools or be used for building. You really are the goddess of creativity and resourcefulness.”

[18:54] Host:

“I must say, so much of the Acropolis was created in praise of you, Athena.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [05:10] – Introduction of questions: facts about the Acropolis, its structures, and Athens as the birthplace of democracy.
• [06:13] – Acropolis facts: height, historical timeline.
• [07:40] – Who’s behind the Acropolis’s construction? (Pericles)
• [09:29] – Magical encounter: Tara identifies Athena.
• [11:00 – 14:00] – The Contest: Athena vs. Poseidon for the city’s patronage.
• [16:10] – Results of Poseidon and Athena’s gifts.
• [17:18] – Athena’s olive tree and its importance.
• [18:54] – Tour of major Acropolis monuments dedicated to Athena.

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Tone and Style

• Lighthearted, humorous, and interactive—encouraging “Smarty Pants” listeners to guess answers and engage with the content.
• Uses conversational banter, playful quizzes, and a blend of storytelling with factual history.
• Direct interaction with mythological characters, infusing the lesson with creativity and imagination.

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Summary Conclusion

This fun-filled episode delivers a clever mix of history, mythology, and learning, answering the titular question: The Acropolis is most closely associated with the Greek goddess Athena. The episode brings the ancient hilltop—and its gods, legends, and architectural wonders—to vivid life for curious young listeners and their families. Packed with memorable moments, light-hearted jokes, and high-quality educational storytelling, it inspires listeners to appreciate the rich history of Athens and the legacy of Greek civilization.

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Transcript

[A]

Happy birthday to us. That's right. WhoSmarted turned five years old this month. How exciting. That's not all. WhoSmarted also reached 25 million downloads. And that's because of you, our Smarty Pants listeners. And to celebrate, we want to give you a gift. What is this gift you're wondering? I'm glad you asked. If you love WhoSmarted, I'm sure you've heard us mention our WhoSmarted plus subscription. You know, the one that gives you a brand new bonus episode every week, plus every episode of WhoSmarted. Trusty trivia and Smartyq's ad free. Not to mention subscribers directly support WhoSmarted. So we can keep making the show for many more years to come. And to show our appreciation to you, we're offering a 50% discount on our annual subscription. We've never done this before. Instead of $39.99 for a full year of smarting, you can subscribe to WhoSmarted plus for just 1998 a year. That's right. Who Smarted plus is half off? Quick quiz, smarty pants. Is 1998 a year the same as A, $1.67 a month, B, 38 cents a week, or C, a nickel a day? Did you say all of the above? You're right. Just think of all the time you'll save not listening to ads while enjoying subscriber only special episodes. That's got to be worth at least five cents a day, right? Of course, an offer this good can't last forever. So you must subscribe by November 15th to lock in your 50% off WhoSmarted plus subscription. Again, that's 50% off our WhoSmarted plus subscription, just $19.98 for the entire year by November 15th. To join the celebration, go to our website WhoSmarted.com and click Birthday Subscribe. This offer is only available directly through our [e-mail] don't worry. You can play your subscription, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast platform. But to get the special birthday price, you have to go to whosmarted.com and click Birthday subscribe in the top menu. But remember, you only have until November 15th, so sign [e-mail] today. And now it's time for who'ssmarted. Hey, smarty pants. Trusty narrator here. By the sound of my labored breathing, you could probably guess I'm in the process of doing something a little strenuous. No, not polishing off a triple cheese pepperoni pizza with extra garlic. That was Yesterday. Today, I'm climbing to the top of a massive historic hill located in Athens, Greece. In fact, the name of this hilltop crest means a high point in the city. And they tell me the view is worth the climb. Although I do wish I didn't eat so much pizza yesterday. So what famous hill do you think I'm referring to, smarty pants? Is it the Metropolis, the Megalopolis, or the Acropolis? If you said the Acropolis, you're right. And just to be clear, the Acropolis is the name of the hill here in Athens, Greece. And the term Acropolis can refer to both the hill and the ancient structures on it.

[B]

Say, are you a tour guide from the United States?

[A]

Who, me? Uh, not really. I'm more of a narrator than a tour guide. Although I guess tour guide could fit under the duties I perform for the WhoSmarted podcast.

[B]

No way. Did you just say who smarted Way indeed. I should have recognized your voice. I play your episodes for my third class all the time. Mostly during break time. Or if we finish our lesson early.

[A]

No way.

[B]

Way indeed. My name's Tara, by the way.

[A]

Nice to meet you, Tara. What brings you to Greece, other than that giant cruise ship I see in the harbor?

[B]

Like I said, I'm a teacher as well as just being a huge history buffet. I've always wanted to come here to see and photograph one of the most important historical places in Western civilization.

[A]

That's great. And I'm sure you know why I'm here. It's to teach the smarty pants all about the Acropolis.

[B]

Say, would you and the smarty pants mind if I tagged along? I promise not to get in the way.

[A]

Are you kidding? It's always fun to smart with other people and share the fun facts you've learned. In fact, since you're a teacher and history buff, maybe you can play tour guide and help us answer some questions we have about the Acropolis.

[B]

Um, you sure you don't want to get a local tour guide?

[A]

I did, but they're all on their lunch break, and I've got to be in ancient China for an episode on cardboard later.

[B]

Oh, in that case, I will do my best. Plus, I have this handy guidebook in case there's anything I'm not sure of.

[A]

Perfect, because we want to know, when was the Acropolis constructed? Which structures are still standing? What role did Greek gods and goddesses play in its creation? And is it true Athens is considered to be the birthplace of democracy? Get ready for a whiff of science and a whole lot of history. On who smarted? Who's smarted? Who's smart? Is it, Is it me? Is it science or history? Listen up everyone. We make smarting lots of fun. But who's smart? And.

[B]

Looks like we have only another 200ft or approximately 60 meters till we reach the top. Great.

[A]

How tall is this hill anyway?

[B]

According to the guidebook, The Acropolis is 490ft or 150 meters above sea level.

[A]

So we only have a little less than halfway to go.

[B]

Uh huh.

[A]

Oh boy. Usually you say only when you're almost there.

[B]

Sorry, I'm not a real tour guide.

[A]

That's okay. I'm just really regretting eating so much pizza yesterday. Wow, there sure are a lot of people here.

[B]

According to the guidebook, about 7 million people visit the Acropolis each year. After all, the structures are some of the most famous ancient ruins in the world.

[A]

That's right. Just how far back are we talking? When was the Acropolis of Athens constructed? Smarty pants? See if you can guess. Was it A, the third century BCE, B, the fourth century BCE or C the fifth century BCE? If you said it was C, the fifth century BCE, you're right. And just to clarify, the fifth century encompasses 500 to 401 BCE.

[B]

According to the guidebook, in the middle of the fifth century BCE the people of Athens, now known as Athenians, were feeling pretty empowered. After their military victory over the Persians, they decided to build something special to elevate their stature, so to speak.

[A]

I see. And was there any one particular person credited with wanting to build the Acropolis?

[B]

There sure was. His name was Pericles.

[A]

Hey, I've heard of Pericles. Wasn't he a prominent politician or statesman at the time?

[B]

He sure was. In addition to being a highly respected general.

[A]

Sounds like he commanded a lot of admiration from the Athenians.

[B]

Absolutely. More than any other. In fact, that's why they trusted him to tap the city's treasury in order to fund the construction of multiple buildings.

[A]

Buildings, as in more than one?

[B]

That's right, trustee. The structures that make up the Acropolis complex included religious temples and sanctuaries, a political and civic center used for important meetings and to host distinguished guests.

[A]

A.

[B]

Royal residence for the city's kings and other high status individuals, a military stronghold, and today as a tourist attraction, the most well known of those buildings being the majestic rectangular shaped Parthenon.

[A]

Speaking of the Parthenon, it looks like we're only 20ft away. I can just barely see the top of the. Oh my, what's that swirly puff of White smoke just ahead. You see it? Near those olive trees?

[B]

Yes, I see it. I sure hope nothing's on fire.

[A]

Wait, is that a person emerging from the smoke?

[B]

It looks like a woman. Don't be afraid, travelers. Come closer. I won't bite.

[A]

Um, ladies first. Terra.

[B]

Hold on, hold on. She looks very familiar. Yes. Found her.

[A]

Why?

[B]

She is none other than the Greek goddess Athena.

[A]

Smarty pants. Have you ever heard of the Greek goddess Athena? What famous Greek God is she the daughter of? Is it A, Apollo, B, Ares, or C, Zeus? The answer is C, the mighty Zeus.

[B]

Yes, Zeus, the king of the gods, is my father. And my mother is Metis, a goddess of wisdom, skill and craft. Than I am one of the wisest, most courageous, creative and resourceful of all the Olympian gods. That's what I love about this podcast. You never know who's going to show up.

[A]

Tell me about it. Athena, those are some amazing qualities. I gotta ask, do you greet all visitors to the Acropolis this way?

[B]

No. Of the 7 million who visited this year, you're the only two I've made my presence known to. Oh, and nobody else here can see me.

[A]

Ah, well, it won't be the first time people thought I was talking to myself. Anyway. Do you mind if we ask you some questions?

[B]

Not at all. Just hurry, I can't stay long. Plus, you've almost reached the top. Athena, I have a question, if I may. Yes, Terra? How was it you were chosen to be the patron goddess of Athens? According to some mythology I've read, wasn't Poseidon also considered.

[A]

Poseidon, as in the Greek God of the seas?

[B]

Yes, that Poseidon. And you must be referring to the memorable competition that he and I had to determine which of the two of us would protect this sacred city, which at the time was known as Kekropia. Yes, that's exactly what I was referring to.

[A]

So wait, you and Poseidon competed against each other? How? Was it like the Olympics? Was it a debate? Was it a pizza eating contest? I'm just saying I'd have a pretty good shot at winning that.

[B]

It was a competition unlike any other competition or contest you could ever imagine. And it only consisted of one event.

[A]

Wow. Well, smarty pants, we'll find out what this contest was and who won, right after this quick break. And a word from our sponsor. This show is sponsored by Wayfair. You know how the holidays kind of sneak up and suddenly your home needs to feel warmer and cozier and, you know, ready for guests? That was me. I realized our living room was looking a little tired. So I jumped on Wayfair's Black Friday sale, and I ended up with the perfect cozy upgrades. I got a new rug that instantly pulled the whole room together. I got some great couch covers that made everything look brand new, and a pair of lamp that totally changed the mood of the space. And everything came fast. Like, really fast. And it all looked even better in person. That is what I love about Wayfair. The selection is huge and the prices right now are wild. Up to 70% off. Everything from rugs to cookware to holiday decor. So if you've been meaning to freshen up your space before the holidays, this is the moment. Don't miss out on early Black Friday deals. Head to Wayfair.com now to shop Wayfair's Black Friday deals for up to 70% off. That's W A Y-F A I R.com sale ends December 7th. Who smarted? Is brought to you by Squarespace. Now, you know I'm good about creating new adventures and episodes of who Smarted, but you don't know that I procrastinate on other stuff, like a website for one of our new projects. Oops. When the website builder Squarespace reached out about sponsoring who Smarted, I decided to test it out. And now I feel silly for putting off building that website. Squarespace's blueprint AI thing literally built me a custom website in minutes. I just told it a few details about the project and boom, it generated everything. And everything you need is right there. I can schedule guest interviews, send email campaigns, even sell merch, all from one dashboard. Now it's your turn to stop procrastinating and start building. You can use Squarespace to launch that business site or any site that you've been dreaming about. But putting off today, there's no excuse anymore. Especially since you can head to squarespace.com smarted for a free trial. And when you're ready to launch, you can use Code smarted to save 10% on your first purchase of a website or domain. That's squarespace.com smarted code smarted. Now back to who Smarted. When we left off, Greek goddess Athena was telling us about how she and Greek God Poseidon squared off in a competition to see who would be the great protector of ancient Greece. But unlike the Olympics, it was just one event. So what was it?

[B]

Yeah, what was it? Well, first, you have to understand, the reason we were having a contest or a competition was because the townspeople of Athens couldn't make up their minds as to which of us would protect Their city. As you may recall, the Greeks were the first to create a democracy.

[A]

Ah, smarty pants, do you know what a democracy is? Instead of a quiz, I'll just tell you. A democracy is a form of government where the citizens play an active role in in how they are to be governed. And they do that by voting for candidates and electing individuals to represent them in government.

[B]

Only according to the legend, the townspeople couldn't decide who to vote for. So it was decided that a competition would be held. One event, winner take all.

[A]

And that was which of us would.

[B]

Give the residents of the city the best gift that all the citizens could use.

[A]

Oh, a gift giving contest. Hm. Gotta say, I didn't see that coming, did you, smarty pants? But I guess it would be unfair if it was swimming. Besides, that's kinda cool.

[B]

And the winner of this contest would be awarded as the protector and namesake of the city. That's right.

[A]

So what happened?

[B]

Poseidon went first and immediately slammed his trident into the ground.

[A]

Smarty pants, in case you didn't know, a trident is a large three pronged pitchfork like tool that Poseidon held as he ruled the seas. Anyway, please continue. What happened next?

[B]

It produced a geyser of water that flowed from the cavernous hole, causing a stream to be formed.

[A]

I see. And did the townspeople like this watery gift produced by Poseidon, God of the seas?

[B]

They might have. But there was one big problem.

[A]

Smarty pants. Can you guess what was wrong with the stream that Poseidon created for the people of ancient Greece? Was it A, made of blood, ew, B filled with sharks, or C, salty like the ocean?

[B]

The answer is it was salty. Instead of crystal clear fresh water to be used for drinking, it was as salty as the surrounding sea.

[A]

I could see why they weren't too psyched with his gift, but you still had to beat it. So what did you come up with?

[B]

What did I, the most creative of all gods and goddesses, present as a gift to the townspeople? You ask why? Let's see if you smarty ones can guess, smarty pants.

[A]

But please go on.

[B]

Did I present them with A, an apple tree, B, a banana tree, C an olive tree, or D, a lemon tree? If you said C, an olive tree, you're right. An olive tree was a way more practical and useful gift for the townspeople to share in. Don't you agree? For sure. An olive tree not only provides olives to eat, but also a steady supply of olive oil to be used for cooking, soaps and even fuel.

[A]

I would have preferred an olive garden, but an olive tree is pretty cool too.

[B]

Not to mention the tree would provide shade and the branches could be made into tools or be used for building. You really are the goddess of creativity and resourcefulness. Please, please, you're making me blush. Okay, a little more.

[A]

No. That truly is an amazingly thoughtful gift. Which is why you not only won the competition, but the city of Athens was named for you, Athena.

[B]

You know it. Ah, here we are at the Propylaea, or entrance to the Acropolis. It was the last of these remaining structures to be built and I do believe this is what you've come to see.

[A]

Oh, wow.

[B]

This is incredible.

[A]

Incredible doesn't begin to describe this view.

[B]

Yup, gets em every time.

[A]

I must say, so much of the Acropolis was created in praise of you, Athena. Like the temple of Athena Nike, built around 420 BCE. And of course there's the majestic Parthenon, which started construction around 447bce, when the Greek Empire's prosperity was at its peak. And on the north side, they even built a shrine to house a statue of you called the Erechtheion.

[B]

Wow, what an honor.

[A]

Who knows, Terra? Maybe one day your students will build a shrine for you.

[B]

Or the smarty pants may build one for you. Trusty.

[A]

Ha ha. Maybe. What do you say? Athena? Athena. Athena.

[B]

Oh well, goddesses have places to be.

[A]

Yep. So does your guidebook have any good places to eat? All that climbing got me hungry. A big shout out to Nathan from Christchurch, New Zealand. Thanks so much for smarting with us and for all your fun comments on Spotify. I'm so happy you love listening, laughing and learning with Whosmarted. And maybe one day I'll take you up on your offer to come to New Zealand. Thanks. This episode, the Acropolis was written by Dave Dionysus Davis and voiced by Laura Athena Rondinella and Jerry Colber. Technical direction and sound design by Josh Heracles Hahn. Our associate producer is Max Kronos Kamasky. The theme song is by Brian Yanni Suarez with lyrics written and performed by Adam Demos Davis, who Smarted was created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colbert. This has been an Atomic Entertainment production.