When Zeus married his first wife, the Oceanid Metis, Metis soon became pregnant. According to a prophecy, Metis would bear first Athena and after a son who would pose a severe threat to Zeus. So, in order to protect his kingdom, Zeus swallowed Metis and his son. After nine months Zeus started feeling a strong pain in his head and asked the Gods’ smith Hephaestus to comfort him. Hephaestus obeyed and opened Zeus’ head with an ax. All of a sudden, goddess Athena sprang out of Zeus’ head. She was already an adult, wearing armor with a shield in her hands. From the first time goddess Athena came into the world, she became Zeus’ favorite child.