Hey everyone, Welcome to Mythology Explained. In today’s video, we’re going to discuss five of the most powerful goddesses in Greek mythology, goddesses so powerful that their powers often dwarfed those of their male counterparts.

And just a quick comment before we get started: this list isn’t ranked and is by no means comprehensive, so let us know in the comments who you think deserved to be included next to these legendary ladies.

Let’s get into it.

Starting off our list is Gaia.

Gaia was the personification of the earth, and along with Tartarus, Eros, Erebus, and Nyx, was one of the five first-generation primordial deities. Beyond being the manifestation of the earth, she also independently produced the observable features of the material world. Uranus, the sky, Ourea, the mountains, and Pontus, the sea, were her progeny, and she took Uranus as her consort. Together they made the Hecatonchires, the Cyclopes, and the 12 first-generation Titans. She was the preeminent force of creation in Greek mythology, and while she couldn’t exert her power or impose her will in a combative sense, she could function as a sort of divine brood mother, producing powerful children that could act destructively on her behalf. Per apollodorus account, she created the giants to wage war against the Gods in retaliation for the Titans being imprisoned in Tartarus, and afterwards, she created Typhon, the most powerful monster in the Greek mythos, who would challenge Zeus for supremacy over the cosmos.

Next we have Athena.

Athena had an unconventional start in life. She was born out the side of a man’s skull, instead of emerging from a woman’s womb. Her mother, Metis, was prophesied to bear incredibly powerful children, first a daughter, then a son mighty enough to overthrow his father, Zeus, who forestalled such an eventuality by swallowing Metis, who was already pregnant with Athena when she entered Zeus’ belly. This is all to say that Athena being extraordinarily powerful, even when compared to other gods, was written in prophecy. And she did not disappoint. She emerged fully grown, clad in armor, battle ready. She was one of the only gods to be described as killing more than one giant in the Gigantomachy, crushing Enceladus when she hurled the island of Sicily on him, and killing Pallas, flaying him, and using his skin to protect her during the war. Her great strength was matched by her deep wisdom, an attribute which made her far superior to her brother Ares. The two of them supported opposite sides in the Trojan war. Athena was for the Greeks, and Ares for the Trojans. Towards the end of the war they engaged in a one-on-one fight in which Ares was humbled. Athena backed away from Ares' spear thrust and then counterattacked by launching a boulder at his head, crumpling him to the ground in a heap.

Watch the video for the rest!

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