Metis (mythology) - Definition and Overview

In Greek mythology, Metis ("wisdom") was a Titaness who was the first wife of Zeus and the mother of Athena. She was the goddess of wisdom and deep thought. Metis gave Zeus an emetic to force Cronus to vomit out Zeus' brothers and sisters.

Zeus lay with Metis but immediately feared the consequences. It had been prophesied that Metis would bear children more powerful than Zeus himself. In order to forestall these dire consequences, Zeus tricked her into turning herself into a fly and promptly swallowed her. He was too late: Metis had already conceived a child. In time she began making a helmet and robe for her fetal daughter. The hammering as she made the helmet caused Zeus great pain and Prometheus, Hephaestus, Hermes or Palamoan (depending on the sources examined) cleaved Zeus's head with an axe at the river Triton. Athena leaped from Zeus's head, fully grown, armed, and armored, and Zeus was none the worse for the experience.

Metis was also the mother of Porus.

Metis, a minor moon of the planet Jupiter, was named for her in 1979.