Final answer:
Athena's hatred of the Trojans affected her actions during the Trojan War, influenced by divine conflicts and personal vendettas, notably Paris's judgment in the beauty contest. This is graphically represented in Hellenistic sculptures showing heightened emotion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Athena's animosity towards the Trojans significantly influenced her conduct during the Trojan War. This hostility emanated from events preceding the war, including the famous beauty contest judged by Paris, in which she was a contestant. The prevailing attitude of the gods often impacted their behavior and allegiances during conflicts involving mortals, as seen in Homer's epics and other ancient Greek stories.
Athena, who symbolized wisdom and warrior spirit, was enraged when Paris, a Trojan prince, awarded the prize of the fairest to Aphrodite instead of her. Hellenistic sculptures often depict this emotional intensity, as seen in the depiction of Athena's battle with the giant Alkyoneus with heightened emotion. Athena's hatred for the Trojans can thus be seen as both a personal vendetta and part of the wider divine conflicts that reflect the intricate relationships between gods and mortals in Greek mythology.