Other Images

Birth of Athena

On this black-figure vase, Athena is being born out of Zeus’ head as Hephaistos says “Voila!” (or something of the sort). Notice the attributes of each god that help identify him/her: Zeus’ thunderbolts in his right hand, Athena with her shield, and Hephaistos with his ax. (See next image below.)

This gem shows the fully-grown, fully-armed Athena stepping away from the seated Zeus just after her birth. Hermes appears between the figures of Athena and Zeus. Notice the owl on Athena’s shield, the eagle below Zeus and to the far right, Hera with her peacock.

On this coin from 263-241 B.C. a seated Athena is pictured in full armor. Notice the Gorgon head on her shield, and the bow near the right side of the coin.