Legends of Greece and Rome
Athena
When Zeus discovered that Metis was pregnant with Athena he swallowed her. He then developed great pains in his head and eventually asked Hephaestus to break open his head to remove the pain. When this happened Athena rose fully grown and fully armed from her father's head.
Athena (the goddess of wisdom) has been credited for the invention of the bridle, yoke, plough, rake, flute, trumpet, and the clay pot. She also developed mathematics and tools for homemaking. She was not a peaceful goddess however. She was a great warrior although her war was not unplanned like that of Ares. For Athena, battle was strategic and ordered. She was level headed and intelligent. She was also chaste.
Hephaestus
Hephaestus was the god of craftsmanship, blacksmiths and artisans. He was married to Aphrodite but was not often in receipt of her attentions. He was ugly. Some say that Hera conceived him alone, others say that Zeus was his father, Either way, Hera was appauled at what she had given birth to and hurled him from Mount Olympus.
Hephaestus was rescued by the nymphs Thetis and Eurynome who encouraged his interest in becoming a blacksmith. His talent was boundless and he made the strongest armour and weapons, but also created beautiful, intricate jewlery. Hera eventually welcomed her son back to Olympus, but his happiness there was not to last long
Zeus discovered some treachury of Hera's and hung her up by her wrists. Hephaestus became angered at this and condemned Zeus. Zeus immediately flung Hephaestus from the heavens again, breaking both his legs, making him lame. It is said that he fashioned his own, golden leg braces to aid his walking.
The rape of Athena
Athena planned to visit Hephaestus to ask him to make her some armour. Poseidon told him that she was on her way, but also said that she was full of lust for the blacksmith and wanted him to make love to her. When she offered to pay for the armour, Hephaestus said he would do it for love and Athena, not understanding, accepted the kind offer.
When the armour was ready Hephaestus threw himself onto the goddess who pushed him away in disgust. Before she could push him though, some of his semen fell onto her leg. She wiped it away, horrified, and threw it onto the snow which suddenly yielded the first statues.
The union of Wisdom and Handicrafts had produced art.
Source: 'Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome'
Morgan J. Roberts
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