Zeus had overthrown his own father, Kronos - as Kronos had overthrown his father, Ouranos. When Gaia told him that his first wife, Metis, was destined to bear two children: first a daughter, who would be strong and wise as her father, and then a son, who would rule over gods and men. Therefore, Zeus tricked Metis into playing a game of shape-changing.
Metis changed herself into all sorts of shapes. When she took on the shape of a fly, Zeus swallowed her. As the time for Athene's birth drew near, Metis made a robe and helmet for her daughter. Zeus cried out in agony, and Hephaistos eventually split open his skull with a labrys (double-bladed axe). Athene burst out, fully armoured,and let out a victory cry. Olympos trembled, and the gods watched in awe.
This is the principal story of Athene's birth. There are other legends, however, and Robet Graves says that Hesiod's story reconciles three different ideas: that a) Athene was the daughter of Metis alone, who took care of wisdom and knowledge; b) Zeus, by swalllowing Metis, did not lose wisdom (it was now ascribed to him); c) Athene was Zeus' daughter alone. According to one myth, Athene was originally the daughter of Poseidon and the Triton lake. After some unknown quarrel with him, she became Zeus' daughter.
Some said that, soon after this birth, Athene was sent to live with the lake god Tritonis, in Libya and to be reared with his daughter, Pallas. Athene and Pallas became firm friends. They both lived like soldiers, and despised the normal limits imposed on girls. They wrestled, hunted and had mock battles. One day, they armed themselves with sticks and stones for one of these mock battles. It got out of hand, and Athene and Pallas began to fight seriously. When Pallas struck a mighty blow (Athene was distracted at that point), Athene lunged.
Zeus tried to stop the fight by placing a shield between the two, but he only succeeded in blocking Pallas' blow. This allowed Athene to kill Pallas. When Athene came to her senses, she almost went mad with grief. Howling with grief, she went to the mountains. While lying on the earth, she saw the image of her friend in a piece of wood. She brushed her tears away, and released the image of Pallas. This is how she became the patron of sculptors, setting their target - to release the image concealed in stone, wood, or metal.
Athene placed the carving beside Zeus, and said that anyone who prayed beside this statue would be given protection. When Zeus raped Elektra (one of the Pleiades), however, the image did not help her. Zeus, irritated by its presence, threw it down into Athene's temple in Troy, which was being built. It became the famous Palladion. According to this myth, Athene gained the epithet Pallas from the name of her friend.
One legend states that Athene was born beside Lake Tritonis. She was nurtured by the three nymphs of Libya, who dressed in goatskins. She then accidentally killed Pallas, as related above.
According to this tale, Athene was the daughter of Pallas - a monster, with the shape of a legless goat's body and a gigantic serpent's tail. Pallas developed a passion for his daughter, and decided to ravish her. He hid behind several rocks (it is said that this was during the battle between the gods and giants), waiting for Athene to appear.
Pallas did not manage to ravish Athene - she withstood his attack. Pallas claimed that this was his right, as he was her father. The enraged Athene killed him, cut him in half, and took his skin. She used this hide to make her aigis. This is another myth which explains how Athene gained the epithet Pallas - from her father.
It is worthwhile to note that Athene was supposed to have helped Zeus to assume control of the universe - before her birth. However, gods were not subject to Time's limitations.
The Giants were children of Gaia, born from the blood of Ouranos. They had human shape above the waist, but serpent's tails below. Gaia loved them even so - as she had the Kyklopes and the Hekatonkheires. She was enraged when Zeus imprisoned the Titans in Tartaros - in her own body. She begged the Giants to fight the Titans - and they needed no encouragement.
The war dragged on. Zeus had known that he would need a mortal hero to win this war, and fathered Herakles on Alkmene. Athene protected him throughout his life. Gaia tried to counteract this by creating herbs which would make the giants immortal, and immune to any attacks from mortals. Zeus told Helios (the Sun) and Selene (the Moon) to cease shining, and Eos (the Dawn) not to appear. Zeus and Athene went aroung the Earth, eliminating the herbs.
Athene distinguished herself in the battle, imprisoning Enkeldaus under the island of Sicily. It was said that a giant, Pallas, tried to violate her. Athene killed him and used his skin for her aigis. This is yet another myth which explains how Athene gained the epithet Pallas - from the giant.
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