Metis was the first wife of Zeus. She was either daughter of Oceanus and Tethys or Ouranós and Gaia . She, by Zeus, was mother of the Olympian Athena. She was the goddess of wisdom and good counsel.
Etymology
Metis, Μῆτις in Ancient Greek, means wisdom, skill, or craft. The word was regarded as a quality of cunning.
Role in Greek mythology
Freeing Zeus' Siblings
Metis helped Zeus free his siblings from his father Cronus. Cronus had ate Zeus' siblings, fearing a prophecy that they would overthrow him would come true. Metis made a potion and told Zeus to give it to Cronus. The potion made Cronus vomit out his children.
The Birth of Athena
Zeus had always taken a liking in Metis, and once he was the ruler of the gods, he married Metis. Zeus heard a prophecy that Metis would bore Zeus a son more powerful than him, that would overthrow him. Zeus tricked Metis to turn into a fly and swallowed her. However, Metis was already pregnant at the time. While in Zeus' head, Metis bore Athena and raised her. Once Athena was old enough, she crafted armor, a shield, and a spear for her. She told Athena to clash them together, resulting in Zeus having a terrible headache. The headache became so terrible, that Zeus ordered Hephaestus to cut his head open. Out of his head came Athena, full grown in armor, holding a shield and a spear, all of the objects that Metis created for the goddess.
In modern times
- An island in Antarctica is named Metis Island, after the goddess.
- 9 Metis, one of the larger main-belt asteroids, is also derived from the goddess.
- Metis gave her name to a moon of Jupiter.
Gallery
| Titans | |
|---|---|
| Parents | Ouranós · Gaîa |
| Elder Titans | Coeus · Crius · Cronus · Hyperion · Iapetus · Oceanus |
| Elder Titanesses | Phoebe · Mnemosyne · Rhea · Theia · Themis · Tethys |
| Coeonides | Asteria · Leto |
| Crionides | Astraeus · Pallas · Perses |
| Hyperionides | Eos · Hḗlios · Selene |
| Iapetonides | Atlas · Epimetheus · Menoetius · Prometheus |
| Oceanides | Oceanids (Clymene · Metis · Styx · Rhode) · Potamoi |
| Third Generation | Hecate · Astraea · Anemoi · Astra Planeta · Kratos · Nike · Bia · Zelus |
| Miscellaneous Titans | Dione · Anytos · Ophion · Eurynome (wife of Ophion) · Lelantos · Melisseus · Titan (brother of Helios) · Olymbros · Syceus · Titanic Muses |
| Topics | Overthrowing of Ouranós · Titanomachy |