Story · Greek Mythology · 3 chapters
The Birth of Athena
Zeus swallowed Metis, pregnant with their child, to avert the prophecy that the child would overthrow him. Athena was born fully formed and armored from Zeus's head [S1]S1 · Hesiod, Theogonyc. 700 BCEtextOpen source ↗[S4]S4 · Homeric Hymnsc. 700–300 BCEtext[S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text.
historical mythology
Ancient Greek religion is a historical religion. Its myths are attested in primary literary and material sources; disagreements between authors (Hesiod vs. Orphic vs. local cults) are preserved as variants, not resolved.
⚠ Scholars disagree
Her mother is Metis in the Theogony and Iliad (a variant gives Dione) [S1]S1 · Hesiod, Theogonyc. 700 BCEtextOpen source ↗[S2]S2 · Homer, Iliadc. 750 BCEtextOpen source ↗.
The Prophecy
A child of Metis would overthrow Zeus [S1]S1 · Hesiod, Theogonyc. 700 BCEtextOpen source ↗[S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text.
Sources[S1]S1 · Hesiod, Theogonyc. 700 BCEtextOpen source ↗ [S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text
The Swallowing
Sources[S1]S1 · Hesiod, Theogonyc. 700 BCEtextOpen source ↗
The Birth
Athena sprang from Zeus's head, fully armed [S4]S4 · Homeric Hymnsc. 700–300 BCEtext[S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text.
Sources[S4]S4 · Homeric Hymnsc. 700–300 BCEtext [S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text
Primary sources[S1]S1 · Hesiod, Theogonyc. 700 BCEtextOpen source ↗ [S4]S4 · Homeric Hymnsc. 700–300 BCEtext [S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text