The Story of Ate
Ate was the goddess of folly, ruin and reckless impulse. Hesiod names her as a daughter of Eris, the goddess of strife, while Homer calls her the eldest daughter of Zeus. Her name means ruin or delusion, and she stood for the blind moment when a person makes a terrible mistake.
In the Iliad, Agamemnon blames her for his quarrel with Achilles. He describes her as a goddess with soft feet who never touches the ground but walks lightly over the heads of men, leading them into harm. Even the wise, he says, cannot always escape her.
Agamemnon also tells how Ate once deceived Zeus himself. On the day Heracles was to be born, Zeus boasted that a descendant of his born that day would rule all those around him. Blinded by Ate, he swore an oath to it, and Hera then delayed the birth of Heracles and hurried the birth of Eurystheus, who took the power meant for Heracles.
Furious at being tricked, Zeus seized Ate by her hair and hurled her from Olympus, swearing she would never return. In one legend she landed in Phrygia on a hill that became known as the Hill of Ate. Ilus later founded the city of Troy on that very spot, after following a cow as an oracle had told him.
Homer adds that Ate is strong and swift, running ahead of everyone to do her damage. Behind her limp the Prayers, the slow, wrinkled daughters of Zeus, who come along afterward to heal the harm she has done. Greek tragedy often showed Ate as the ruin that falls on proud and reckless people, the final stage of a fall that begins with arrogance.
Famous Myths About Ate
Cast Down from Olympus
On the day Heracles was to be born, Ate led Zeus to swear a hasty oath that let Hera put Eurystheus ahead of him. Furious at being deceived, Zeus grabbed Ate by the hair and hurled her from Olympus down to the world of mortals.
The Hill of Ate
In one legend, Ate landed in Phrygia on a hill that became known as the Hill of Ate. Ilus later founded the city of Troy on that spot, following a cow as an oracle had told him.
Ate's Family Tree
Parents of Ate
Partners of Ate
Children of Ate
Frequently Asked Questions About Ate
Who is Ate in Greek mythology?
Ate is the goddess of folly, ruin and delusion, who leads gods and mortals into reckless mistakes.
Who are Ate's parents?
Hesiod names Ate as a daughter of Eris, while Homer calls her the eldest daughter of Zeus.
Why was Ate thrown out of Olympus?
Ate tricked Zeus into making a rash oath on the day Heracles was to be born, which allowed Hera to deny Heracles his birthright. Furious, Zeus seized her by the hair and threw her down to earth, where she walks lightly over the heads of men.
