Hektoen International

A Journal of Medical Humanities

Tag: Birth of Athena who emerged from Zeus’ head

  • Divine birth: Athena, born from her father’s head

    Athena (Minerva), the goddess of war and wisdom, had a strange birth. Her father Zeus (Jupiter) had swallowed his pregnant consort Metis (“wisdom”), because he was afraid she would bear a son who would overthrow him. Then he developed a severe headache that nothing would cure. So Hephestos, god of fire and blacksmiths, took an…