The Mark Of Athena

Discuss the meaning of weaving in the narrative. How does the idea of weaving relate to Riordan’s narrative strategy? 

When Piper and Jason prepare to meet Hercules, Piper is hopeful that he will be on their side since he, like Jason, is a son of Zeus/Jupiter, but Jason cautions her that, “He was a son of Zeus, but when he died, he became a god. You can never be sure with gods” (236). Discuss the antagonism between immortals and mortals and its causes drawing on at least three interactions between gods and heroes in the novel. 

What does the Athena Parthenos symbolize? Why do the demigods believe that recovering the statue can heal the conflict between the Greeks and Romans? 

Early in the novel, Nemesis warns Leo and Hazel that “[t]rue success requires sacrifice” (58). Discuss at least three sacrifices that characters choose to make across the novel and their significance to the success of the demigods’ quests.

What are the lessons that Leo learns from Narcissus and Echo? How do they connect to Nemesis’s advice?

Discuss Piper’s approach to escaping from the nymphaeum. How does it relate to Piper’s demigod abilities, and what is its significance to the goal of reconciling Greeks and Romans?

Reflecting on his encounter with Hercules, Jason notes, “A hero couldn’t control the gods, but he should be able to control himself” (255). Discuss what this reflects about Roman heroism and how it differs from Greek concepts of the hero exemplified in Annabeth and Percy.

When Annabeth reminds Arachne that she lost the weaving contest to Athena, she exclaims, “That’s the story written by the winner!” (317-8). What is the implication of Arachne’s statement? How does the idea that history is written by the winners appear throughout The Mark of Athena?