Born directly from the forehead of Zeus after he swallowed her mother, Metis, Athena bypasses traditional maternal birth. This origins story detaches her from the conventional realm of ancient womanhood.

Depending on your interest, "Athena" may refer to other topics where gender or identity intersect:

To understand the modern resonance of a trans-feminine or gender-nonconforming Athena, one must first look to her classical origins. In ancient Greek text and art, Athena consistently defies the rigid gender roles assigned to mortal women.