Athena "Tritogeneia" Ramble
[Disclaimer: I'm no Homeric scholar. I'm a Greek myth fan who just finished Iliad(Robert Fagles Translation) and thought this was neat.]
So in Homeric works, one of Athena's epithets is Tritogeneia, with its meaning being unclear. In the Iliad, or at least the Fagles translation, it's written as "third-born of the gods," with Zeus being the one calling her that both times.
The Iliad, Book 8, Lines 43-46
“Courage, Athena, third-born of the gods, dear child. Nothing I said was meant in earnest—trust me, I mean you all the good will in the world.”
The Iliad, Book 22, Lines 218-211
“Courage, Athena, third-born of the gods, dear child. Nothing I said was meant in earnest, trust me, I mean you all the good will in the world. Go. Do as your own impulse bids you. Hold back no more.”
It shows up again in a Hymn
Homeric Hymn 28 to Athena
I begin to sing of Pallas Athene, the glorious goddess, bright-eyed, inventive, unbending of heart, pure virgin, saviour of cities, courageous, Tritogeneia.
One explanation is that it refers to Athena's birth order, with "third-born of the gods" being literal amongst Zeus's kids. However, Hesiod complicates things.
The Theogony, Lines 924-927
But Zeus himself gave birth from his own head to bright-eyed Tritogeneia, the awful, the strife-stirring, the host-leader, the unwearying, the queen, who delights in tumults and wars and battles.
He writes that Athena was conceived first but born while Zeus was married to Hera, placing her birth after the likes of Artemis, Apollo, and Ares, which makes "third-born" feel... off. Another theory is that Tritogeneia means "Triton-born," which ties to a version where Athena is raised by the sea god Triton alongside his daughter Pallas.
Pseudo-Apollodorus, Book 3, Section 12.3
They say that when Athena was born she was brought up by Triton, who had a daughter Pallas; and that both girls practised the arts of war.
If so, the epithet becomes a sweet homage to her foster father and that early part of her life.
That said, another theory is that Tritogeneia is linked to her birth from Zeus's head, the upperpart of the body, with Trito- referring to the third word, aka the sky. Overall, depending on the source, Tritogeneia can point go her literal birth order, her upbringing, or her origin of birth. Headcanon/conclusion: While all explanations are sound, I like to see Tritogeneia meaning "born three times" or "thrice born." Her first birth was her conception during Zeus's and Metis' marriage. Her second birth is her literal birth, when Metis gave birth to her inside Zeus, where Athena grew up in his head as Metis forged her armor. And her third birth is her emergence, when she sprang fully grown and armored from Zeus's head and entered the world. Three births. Tritogeneia.
