Lady Isabel, also known as Atena, is the reincarnation of the Greek goddess Athena, returning to Earth every 200 years to protect humanity. Raised in the 20th century as Saori Kido, adopted granddaughter of billionaire Mitsumasa Kido, she displayed a spoiled, arrogant demeanor as a child. She treated the orphans training to become Saints, including future Bronze Saints like Pegasus Seiya, with cold superiority, viewing them as servants. This behavior persisted until Mitsumasa's death, when she learned her divine identity and underwent maturation, renouncing her former attitude to dedicate herself as Athena. Her background includes rescue as an infant by Sagittarius Aiolos during an assassination attempt by the corrupted Pope Gemini Saga. Aiolos delivered her to Mitsumasa Kido in Greece, who raised her in Japan. This established her connection to the Saints and her eventual leadership of the global Graude Foundation, which she managed successfully even before fully embracing her divine role. In the Hades Chapter - Sanctuary arc, faced with an invasion by Hades' forces—including resurrected Gold Saints Gemini Saga, Aquarius Camus, and Capricorn Shura, coerced under a 12-hour ultimatum to kill her—she initially forbade the Bronze Saints from participating in Sanctuary's defense to spare them further suffering. This protective decision was later challenged as the Saints defied her orders to aid the remaining Gold Saints. Her strategic acumen is evident when she allows herself to be stabbed by a ceremonial dagger, a calculated move to feign defeat and infiltrate the Underworld. This demonstrates her willingness for personal sacrifice for tactical gains, aligning with her role prioritizing defense and hope. Her abilities include channeling cosmic energy for healing, creating protective barriers, and wielding the divine Niké staff, symbolizing victory, which can pierce entities like Hades. She also possesses the forbidden, immensely destructive Athena Exclamation technique, considered dishonorable. Throughout this arc, her dual identity as Saori Kido and Athena remains central. She balances mortal compassion with divine duty, notably valuing the loyalty of the Gold Saints despite past conflicts. Her relationship with Seiya is marked by mutual respect and unspoken affection, though their roles prevent personal fulfillment. The arc concludes with her entering a self-induced coma to journey to the Underworld. Her character design features purple hair in anime adaptations, distinct from the manga's light-brown depiction. She typically wears elegant white dresses or formal attire, symbolizing her status as deity and societal figurehead. The narrative emphasizes her resilience, often placing her in peril—kidnapped, cursed, or physically weakened—to underscore her role as a unifying force for her Saints.