15% OFF sitewide with code SELENE15
black figure lekythos telling the birth of Athena
£40.00
This is one of the most famous 'birth' stories in ancient Greek mythology. The goddess Athena was, literally, Zeus' 'brainchild'. Zeus had an affair with Metis, the goddess of intelligence. When she inconveniently became pregnant, he turned her into a fly and swallowed her. Nine months later he had an horrendous migraine.... Zeus called on his son Hephaistos to come and cut his head open with an axe. Hephaistos duly obeyed and out popped baby Athena, fully armed and ready for action! Height: 13cm
quantity
about Athena
Athena, daughter of Zeus, was the goddess of intelligence, wisdom, resourcefulness and strategic thought. She was also the protectress of women and of female crafts such as weaving.
Zeus discovered that Metis, the goddess of intelligence, was pregnant with his child. Fearing that the child would be superior to him, he turned Metis into a fly, and swallowed her. Nine months later, Zeus had a terrible migraine, and summoned his son Hephaistos, who promptly took his axe, cut open Zeus' head, and out popped baby Athena. His brainchild. Fully formed in miniature, and armed for combat, with her helmet, shield, and spear. With her father, she later shared the aegis, the snake-fringed cloak with the image of the head of Medusa in its centre, after Athena had helped Jason to decapitate her.
Following a contest with her uncle, Poseidon, she became the patron goddess of Athens, to which she gave her name and the gift of the olive. Athena (also Athene) favoured the heroes Herakles, Jason, Achilles, Perseus and Odysseus, and was associated with Nike, the winged goddess of achievement and victory.
Her symbols are the owl and the olive.
about this pottery collection
This pottery collection is produced in Greece in the workshop of the Lioulias family, with whom It's All Greek is proud to have been working since 2004.