Athame Doctrine

Athame is an asari goddess. The ancient asari believed she protected their homeworld Thessia from attacks by other, jealous gods. Along with her guides Janiri and Lucen, Athame is credited for helping to bring enlightenment to the ancient asari, with Janiri teaching them agricultural practices (including the seasons), Lucen teaching them about the stars, and Athame teaching them mathematics.

Although the worship of Athame has largely fallen out of favor with the asari, many asari still swear "by the goddess." The very well-preserved Temple of Athame still stands on Thessia. Three of the planets in the Parnitha System, the asari's home system, are named for Athame, Janiri, and Lucen.

During the course of Mass Effect 3, Commander Shepard travels to the Temple of Athame in hopes of finding information regarding the Catalyst, the final component needed for the Crucible, a Prothean anti-Reaper weapon. There, Shepard's squad finds a Prothean beacon hidden within a statue of Athame. This beacon contains Vendetta, a Prothean Virtual Intelligence. It is also revealed that Athame, Janiri, Lucen were actually Protheans.