Athena's Birth out of the Head of Zeus

Athena is believed to have been born in the ancient Arcadian city of Alipheira in Greece.

The Announcement of the Pregnancy

While Zeus was married to his first wife, the Oceanid Metis, Metis soon became pregnant. According to a prophecy at that time, Metis would bear a son who would pose a severe threat to Zeus, so right after Metis revealed her pregnancy, Zeus fearfully swallowed her in order to protect his kingdom.

The Birth of Athena

Nine months passed by and then suddenly Zeus started feeling a strong pain in his head and asked the Gods' smith Hephaestus to comfort him. Hephaestus obeyed and opened Zeus' head with an axe, without hurting him though and out of Zeus' head sprang goddess Athena. She was already an adult and in panoply, holding a shield in her hands and uttering warlike cries!

From the first moment goddess Athena came into the world, she won the heart of Zeus and for ever became his favorite child. However, since she never received a mother's care, she inevitably possessed more masculine than feminine attributes.