Divine Might: Goddesses in Greek Myth

by Natalie Haynes

Hesiod uses the language of giving birth to explain that having swallowed Metis, Zeus then produces Athene from his own body.7 If we want to sustain the language of a more traditional birth scenario, then Hephaestus – who frees Athene from her father’s head with a mighty blow from his axe – is the midwife. Athene is indeed cleverer and mightier than the other gods, but not so much so that her father has anything to fear from her. In fact, their relationship in, for example, the Odyssey is a close one, which we’ll examine in more detail below. Zeus is usually able to rely on Athene to do his bidding, and she often goes to him to help her get what she wants, even at the expense of other gods.