About Us

Who is Athena Books?
Athena Books is an independent bookstore.
We are owned and run by a family right here in Christchurch. Our goal is to provide a unique shopping experience with an emphasis on the things we love: great books, tabletop gaming and personal stationery.

So who is Athena?
Athena is the Greek goddess of wisdom and battle strategies. As such, we thought she was a good choice for the name of our store.

But what about the Owl?
Athena is often shown with her companion, a Little Owl named Glaukopis. This is the reason owls are considered ‘wise birds’. The Little Owl is widespread throughout Europe and was introduced here in New Zealand in the early 20th century. A Parliament of Little Owls lives in our own Christchurch Botanic Gardens!