(Μῆτις/mêtis, literally ‘cleverness’, ‘clever advice’). M. first appears as an attribute of Zeus (Mētíeta‘ gifted with wisdom’, e.g. Hom. Il. 1,175 etc.) and is personified as a goddess for the first time in Hes. Theog. 358 as one of the daughters of Oceanus. She becomes the first wife of Zeus (ibid. 886ff.). But Gaia and Uranus warn Zeus that M. will bear dangerously clever children and advise him to swallow her. By doing this he prevents the birth of a son, but not the birth of Athena, who ultimately springs from his head. By swallowing M., Zeus acquires her wisd…
Metis(354 words)
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Käppel, Lutz (Kiel), “Metis”, in: Brill’s New Pauly, Antiquity volumes edited by: Hubert Cancik and , Helmuth Schneider, English Edition by: Christine F. Salazar, Classical Tradition volumes edited by: Manfred Landfester, English Edition by: Francis G. Gentry. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e802720>
First published online: 2006
First print edition: 9789004122598, 20110510
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