Who was Metis in Greek mythology?
Metis was a pre-Olympian goddess of wisdom, counsel, and deep thought in ancient Greek religion, and a member of the Oceanids. She served as the advisor and first wife of Zeus, the king of the gods.
Questions about Metis (mythology)
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Why did Zeus swallow Metis?
A prophecy from Gaia and Uranus warned that Metis would first bear a daughter wiser than herself and then a son mightier than Zeus who would overthrow him. To stop this, Zeus tricked Metis into turning into a fly and swallowed her while she was already pregnant with Athena.
How is Metis connected to the birth of Athena?
Metis was already pregnant with Athena when Zeus swallowed her, and she raised her daughter from inside Zeus's mind. Once Athena was fully grown, Metis made her a set of robes, an armor, a shield, and a spear, and Athena's use of the shield and spear gave Zeus a headache so severe that Hephaestus split his skull open on the banks of the river Triton, freeing Athena fully grown.
What does the name Metis mean?
Metis, Μῆτις in ancient Greek, translates as Wisdom, Skill, or Craft. The related Greek word metis described a quality combining wisdom and cunning, embodied by figures such as Odysseus.
What is Metis a moon or asteroid named after?
The asteroid 9 Metis and one of Jupiter's moons, simply named Metis, are both named after the Greek goddess. Metis Island in Antarctica also carries her name.
Are there different versions of the Metis myth?
Yes. A scholiast on Hesiod's Theogony said Metis could change shape at will, Apollodorus wrote that Zeus raped her as she shifted through many forms, and one alternative version names the Cyclops Brontes rather than Zeus as Athena's father.