The Mark Of Athena

Annabeth is the daughter of Greek goddess Athena and Frank Chase, a professor of military history. At the beginning of the novel, she is about to land in New Rome and see her boyfriend Percy for the first time in year. Athena’s favorite child, Annabeth is interested in architecture and an effective strategic thinker. She feels resentful of New Rome because she associates it with Percy being taken away from her. At the same time, she is drawn to its beauty and organization. As someone who loves architecture and building, she cannot help but appreciate it. This experience exemplifies what the demigods on both sides of the Greek/Roman conflict need to do: learn to respect each other’s gifts so that they can overcome their animosity and work together to defeat Gaea.

In addition to the quest associated with Prophecy of Seven, Annabeth also has her own quest in the novel that she must undertake alone. Before the events in The Mark of Athena, Annabeth had a puzzling and distressing meeting with her mother in which Athena demanded that her daughter avenge her. Annabeth found Athena’s desire for vengeance at odds with her domains of wisdom, prudence, and strategic thinking. Athena sounded more like Ares, the war god associated with rage and bloodlust.