Athena is the virgin goddess of reason in war and peace, intelligent activity, arts and literature. She sprang full grown from Zeus' head. She is Zeus' favorite and is allowed to use his weapons including his thunderbolt. The goddess was usually shown wearing a helmet and carrying a spear and shield. Like her father, she also wore the magic aegis, a goatskin breastplate, fringed with snakes, that produced thunderbolts when shaken. Athena was very different from the war god Ares. She represented the intellectual and civilized side of war; she was not so much a fighter as a wise and prudent adviser. Sacred to her are the olive, serpent, owl, and crow. She invented the bridle, the trumpet, the flute, the rake, the plow, the yoke, and (in some myths) the chariot.