PALLAS is one of Athena's epithets. She was originally the Minoan-Mycenaean snake goddess, and the exact meaning of Pallas is unknown. Isidore suggests that she is named after an island in Thrace or after a giant she killed (Etym VIII.xi.57). She is the goddess of wisdom because she sprang fully grown and fully armed out of Zeus's head. The Palladium, an ancient wooden statue of the armed Pallas, was the Luck of Troy, sent by Jupiter from heaven to Ilus, the descendant of Dardanus who founded Troy. As long as the statue was preserved, Troy was impregnable (Fasti VI.417-436). After the theft of the statue, Troy was easily attacked and destroyed. Pallas is represented helmeted, with a snake peeping out from under her shield, a detail indicative of her Minoan origin. She wears a goatskin or aegis thrown over her shoulders and bosom. The owl is her bird. The Roman goddess Minerva took over some of Pallas Athena's attributes as goddess of war, wisdom, and handicrafts.

Virginia is as wise as Pallas, PhysT 49-50. Pallas is confused with Bellona, Mars's sister, Anel 5. Her Palladium protects Troy, Tr I.152-154. Criseyde goes to the temple to celebrate the feast of the Palladion, and Troilus sees her for the first time, Tr I.155-172. Criseyde asks for Pallas's help, Tr II.425. Pallas was angry with Aglawros when she became jealous of Hierse, Tr III.729-730. Troilus leaves his shield to Pallas after his death, Tr V.307-308. Criseyde swears by "Pallas with hire heres clere," Tr V.999. "Heres clere" seems to be Chaucer's rendering of Latin flavius, the customary adjective for Minerva; flavae Minervae occurs in Met II.749, Met VIII.275, "of golden Minerva." [Aglawros: Bellona: Minerva]

The name never occurs initially. It appears five times in medial position, PhysT 49; Anel 5; Tr III.730, V.308, 999; and twice in final rhyming position, Tr II.425, V.977.