Saori Kido, the mortal incarnation of Athena—Greek goddess of war, wisdom, and justice—is destined to shield Earth from celestial dangers. Born in 1973, she was found as an infant beneath her statue in Sanctuary and adopted by Japanese billionaire Mitsumasa Kido as his granddaughter. Raised in opulence yet isolation, she initially dismissed the orphaned Saints, many of whom were Mitsumasa’s biological children, as mere servants rather than kin. Her aloofness faded when Mitsumasa disclosed her divine lineage on his deathbed, compelling her to shed arrogance and accept her cosmic duty. As Athena’s avatar, Saori wields vast cosmic energy (Cosmo) and divine artifacts: Nike’s golden staff, the Aegis shield, and a peerless Divine Cloth. Her blood reignites dormant Cloth powers, while her Cosmo heals wounds, enables teleportation, and conjures barriers. Though untrained in combat, she withstands immense pain to safeguard humanity and amplifies her Saints’ strength through her divine aura. Her Cosmo also unlocks the Eighth Sense, permitting her to navigate the Underworld’s realm unbound by its rules. In the Sanctuary arc, Saori orchestrates the Galaxian Wars tournament to appoint a guardian for the Sagittarius Gold Cloth, a scheme upended by Gemini Saga, the traitorous Pope. Stricken by a cursed arrow, she guides the Bronze Saints to confront Saga, her survival hinging on their allegiance. This arc charts her metamorphosis from sheltered heiress to selfless leader. During the Poseidon conflict, she surrenders herself as a hostage to stall the sea god’s cataclysmic floods, showcasing her tactical use of sacrifice. The Hades arc tests her resolve further as she battles the Underworld’s ruler, ultimately sealing him with her staff. Here, her internal struggles surface—grappling with mortality and the weight her divine role imposes on allies. Spin-offs like *Saint Seiya: Next Dimension* and *The Lost Canvas* delve into her past lives, such as 18th-century incarnation Sasha, who waged an earlier Holy War alongside Saints. These narratives underscore her eternal cycle as Earth’s guardian and her timeless bond with warriors. The film *Heaven Chapter: Overture* introduces Olympian siblings Apollo and Artemis, anchoring her deeper within godly lore. Her rapport with Pegasus Seiya evolves from icy skepticism to unwavering devotion, tinged with unspoken romance restrained by their roles. Later media, including *Saint Seiya Omega*, depict her mentoring a new generation of Saints as a nurturing figure, extending her legacy beyond her own battles. Throughout iterations, Saori Kido/Athena merges tactical brilliance with empathy, navigating celestial obligations while confronting mortal frailties. Her odyssey remains a tension between divinity and humanity, securing her place as Saint Seiya’s linchpin.