Fr. 37

       οἵη τε Τρίτωνος ἐφ' ὕδασιν Ἀσβύσταο

         Ἡφαίστου λόχιον θηξ[α]μένου πέλεκυν  

       βρέγμ[α]το[ς] ἐκ δίοιο σὺν ἔντ[ε]σιν []λαο πατρός

Fr. 37 Harder (= 37 Pf., = 44 Mass.)
  1 St. Byz. 1.270
  2-3 anon. comm. in P.Oxy. 2260 [image], Trismegistos 59148

The three lines of this story which remain describe Athena's birth from the head of Zeus. Callimachus locates the event near the Asbystian lake, Triton. Whether this is an aition of her birth, a description of a statue, or part of a dream sequence is debated.

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Suggested Citation

Susan Stephens, Callimachus: Aetia. Carlisle, Pennsylvania: Dickinson College Commentaries, 2015. ISBN: 978-1-947822-07-8.https://dcc.dickinson.edu/el/callimachus-aetia/book-1/libyan-birth-athena