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Athena is the daughter of Zeus and Metis. She is one of Zeus’ favourite children and trust me he has millions. She made a pretty spectacular and unusual arrival to Olympus. Once Metis was pregnant with Athena it was prophesised by an oracle that Metis’ first born child would be a girl and then her second born would be a boy who would be so powerful that one day would over throw Zeus. After hearing this Zeus got scared and decided that it would be a good solution to turn his wife into a fly and then eat his wife. Metis still gave birth to Athena inside of Zeus. After a while Metis just became a thought at the back of Zeus’ mind. After Athena had grown up she decided that she didn’t want to be in Zeus’ stomach so she travelled up his spine and into his head. She caused Zeus such a headache that he got his son Hephaestus to cut his head open. Athena then pops out as a grown goddess with armour and a helmet on. Her helmet was made by her mother when she was inside Zeus’ stomach.
Athena was a maiden goddess. Now I know what your thinking but she has had loads of kids. Well your right she has. But they aren’t born in the normal way. For example one time Hephaestus fell in love with Athena. Athena rejected him as she thought his limp was ugly. So she tried to get away from him he leaped onto her leg. She ran away from him. Later in disgust she wiped her leg with a wool cloth. She threw threw the cloth off Mount Olympus. Somehow this turned into a baby who was named Erikchthonius. Athena then took her baby, put him in a box an then put him inside the sanctuary of the Athenian Arcopolis. Here she pleaded her the daughters of king Cercrops not to open or look inside the box until she came back. Of course you can probably guess what she did. Yes, she did open the box. To their horror they found out the baby was curled up with a snake in the box. They were so shocked they all threw themselves of a cliff. Athena went crazy but she had no one left to be angry at because they were all dead. Erikchtonius didn’t become immortal as his mother wanted but he became a great king in Athens later.
Athena became the patron goddess of Athens after winning a contest against Poseidon. They both presented themselves in front of Cercrops who was half-snake and half-human and the first king of Athens. Cercrops asked for them to offer a gift that would truly be useful and grateful for Athens. Athena offered them olive trees . Poseidon gave them salt water. but the Athenians preferred the olive tree.
Athena is the goddess of many things
