What is athenas birth story?

Answer 1

Zeus desired her mother, Metis (who was also his cousin), who was a Titaness (part of the Titan race who were old rivals to the Greek Gods). She devised the plan for Zeus to get Kronos to vomit up his siblings.

Metis is the Titan goddess of advice, wisdom, and cunning. She was Zeus's advisor and lover during the Titan war. It was prophesized that she would later bear a daughter, and then a son, who would rule the world (surpass Zeus). Zeus, afraid of having his children overpower him (a repeat of what happened to his father, Kronos), tricked a then pregnant Metis into turning into a fly (after a game of transformation) and swallowed her whole.

After several months, Zeus began to suffer terrible headaches and called for Hephaestus to split his head to end the pain. Upon doing so, a fully grown (and clothed by Metis, who faithfully spun clothes and made armor for her daughter inside Zeus' head--the hammering of her helmet was the source of Zeus' headaches) Athena sprang from his skull. Metis remains in Zeus' head as a source of wisdom and counsel.