Minerva

Poseidon and Athena competed to become the patron of Athens. Zeus and other divine judges agreed that the deity who performed the more spectacular feat would win. Poseidon touched the Acropolis, the highest point in the city, with his trident. A saltwater spring burst from the dry, rocky hill, and the judges admired the deed. Athena then made the first olive tree grow beside the spring. Its fruit provided food, and its oil brought wealth through trade. The judges declared Athena the victor because she gave the land the better gift.

In another telling, Poseidon claimed Attica by striking the Acropolis with his trident. A sea-water well sprang from the ground. Athena later arrived during the reign of Cecrops and planted the first olive tree beside it. Poseidon became furious and challenged her to single combat. Athena accepted, but Zeus intervened and ordered both deities to submit their dispute to arbitration. A divine court heard the case and called Cecrops to give evidence. Zeus gave no opinion. All the gods supported Poseidon, while all the goddesses supported Athena. The court therefore ruled for Athena by one vote.

Another telling placed the contest among the people who lived in huts at the site. Poseidon came from the sea and offered them his protection, asking them to name the place after him. He then raised a great wave and returned to the sea. Athena appeared afterwards with a spear, shield, and owl, and made the olive tree grow. She told the people that its fruit would feed them, while its oil would bring them wealth. They thanked her, named the village Athens, and she departed. Poseidon remained angry. He sent winds that sank Athenian ships and waves that washed away beaches, buried houses, and drowned cattle. The Athenians rebuilt their homes, made new boats, and launched them into his sea.

Neptune pursued Coronis, the mortal daughter of Coroneus, while she tried to escape him. She remained human as the god followed her, and his pursuit continued until she called on Minerva for help. Coronis directed her appeal to the goddess while Neptune stayed behind her. Minerva heard the prayer and answered it by changing Coronis's human form into that of a crow. The change took place while Neptune pursued her. It removed Coronis from the danger that had followed her as a mortal woman. Neptune could no longer pursue Coronis in her former human shape.

He had followed a woman, but the woman had become a bird. Coronis then escaped in her new form. Her escape came through the change Minerva made, and Neptune did not catch her before she left him behind. The mortal daughter of Coroneus survived the pursuit in another shape. Minerva's answer ended the chase when Coronis passed from human form into bird form, and Coronis remained beyond Neptune's reach. The god lost the mortal woman he had followed, and the crow escaped from him there.