[1] There was also a colossal acrolithic statue of her, at a temple at Plataea, built with the spoils given to that city by the Athenians after the Battle of Marathon.
[3] Plutarch mentions a gilded statue in this temple, but does not specify the name of the deity it honors.
[4][5] Athena's worship under this name was said to have been instituted by Orestes after he had been acquitted by the Areopagus of the murder of his mother.
[6] It was Athena Areia who gave her casting vote in cases where the Areopagites were equally divided.
[8][9][10] From these circumstances, it has been surmised by some scholars (primarily in the 19th century) that the name "Areia" ought not to be derived from Ares, but from "ara" (ἀρά), a prayer, or from "areo" (ἀρέω) or "aresko" (ἀρέσκω), to propitiate or atone for.