Also known as Pallas Athene, Athena, the Greek personification of wisdom, is goddess of strategic warfare and arts and crafts such as spinning and weaving. She was born of Zeus and Metis after Zeus swallowed Metis, fearing she would have a son stronger than himself. The god Hephaestus struck Zeus on the forehead with an axe, and Athena sprang from the opening fully armed. Athena is often equated with the Roman goddess Minerva.