Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ATHENIAN LEGENDS
1. THE BIRTH OF ATHENA
When Zeus impregnated his mistress Metis, he was told she would have a son who
would dethrone him. As a preventative measure, he swallowed Metis whole, but the
unborn child continued to grow in Zeus's head. After nine months, Hephaestus split
open the god's head with an axe, and out sprung the girl goddess Athena, already in
full armour.
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2. THE NAMING OF ATHENS
Athena and Poseidon, god of the sea, competed for patronage of the great city in Attica
by offering their best gifts. Poseidon struck his trident into the rock of the Acropolis
and out gushed salt water. But Athena offered the olive tree, and the Olympian gods
awarded her the city.
3. THE BIRTH OF ERICHTONIUS
Hephaestus tried to rape Athena, but only managed to spill his seed on her leg. Athena
brushed it to the ground, where it grew into the baby Erichtonius (“earth-born”).
Athena raised him to become a king, and he is considered the first ancestor of all
Athenians.
4. THE RAPE OF PHILOMELA
Erichtonius's son Pandion had two daughters, Procne and Philomela. When Procne's
husband Tereus raped Philomela and cut out her tongue, Procne took revenge by
serving the flesh of their son to Tereus. The sisters then turned for help to the gods,
who made Philomela into a swallow, Tereus into a hoopoe and Procne into a nightin-
gale (which cries “Tereu”).
