Final answer:
Athene, embodying wisdom and strategic warfare, influenced Greek contest outcomes, reflecting the cultural importance of patron deities and public excellence. Her role in such events, like the contest over Athens' patronage, shows deities' attributes could affect human affairs in myths and the broader Greek societal values.
Step-by-step explanation:
In ancient Greek culture, the qualities of deities like Athene (Athena) often played a significant role in the outcomes of contests and their influence underscored the values of Greek society. Reflecting wisdom and strategic warfare, Athene's involvement in a contest could tip the balance in favor of those she supported. For instance, her offering of an olive tree over Poseidon's saltwater spring demonstrated the Athenians' preference for wisdom, prosperity, and peace, reflecting her attributes. This not only decided the patronage of Athens but also highlighted the importance Greeks placed on public performance and virtue, as well as the influence of patron deities on human affairs.
Greek culture revered public excellence, as failure in contests was not merely a personal disappointment but also a source of public shame. Athene's qualities, embodying wisdom and strategic thinking, could affect contest outcomes such as disputes or warfare, where her favor could be decisive. Thus, her attributes were more than narrative devices — they were reflective of cultural values and directly influenced events and outcomes in Greek myths and potentially in the ethos surrounding actual historical events.