The Protogenoi
There are many creation myths of Greek Mythology, but this is probably the most famous and popular. It is told by Hesiod of 700 BCE and it is often called the “Olympian Creation Myth”. It starts with Chaos, the shapeless void. From Chaos emerged Gaia, Mother Earth; Tartarus, the underworld; and Eros, the force of love. Gaia bore starry Ouranos, Father Sky, as she slept. She also gave birth to Pontus, the sea; the Urea, the mountains; and the Nesoe, the islands. Chaos bore Nyx, the night; and Erebus, the darkness of the underworld. Eros caused all things to mingle, and from then on many children would have two parents. Nyx married Erebus and they produced their opposites, Aether, light; and Hemera, day. Nyx next produced many children parthenogenetically, or without a father. Her children are Morus, doom; the Onirus, dreams; the Keres, destiny; Momus, blame; Philotes, friendship; Geras, old age; Thanatus, death; Nemesis, retribution; Hypnus, sleep; Oizys, pain; Apate, deceit; Charon, the ferryman of the dead; and Eris, discord. Nyx also had a union with Ouranos; the results were Lyssa, madness, who Hera sent to Herakles to drive him insane and kill his family. These first gods were called the Protogenoi.
The Titans
But the fun, exciting action starts when Gaia marries Ouranos. They ruled the universe together and had many children. Their first-born were Briareus, Cottus and Gyges. They were called the Hecatonchires and they each were huge monsters with one hundred arms and fifty heads. Their next born were the three Cyclopes, huge monsters with only one big round eye each. Their names were Brontes, Steropes and Arges. The next children were still gigantic however they slightly resembled the later humans. They were called the Titans. I will not list all of the Titans names but just a few important ones: Oceanus, the sea god, the oldest Titan who liked to avoid trouble; Cronus, the youngest Titan, who was the craftiest, and he hated his father; and Rhea, the Earth-goddess who would marry Cronus. Ouranos hated the Cyclopes and the Hecatonchires because he thought they were ugly, so he threw them into the deepest pit in Tartarus. Gaia was devastated and called on the Titans for help. She wanted one of them to overthrow their father and free their brothers. Only the youngest, Cronus, was brave enough. What Cronus really wanted to do was seize control of the universe.
The Castration of Ouranos
One night when Ouranos went to make love to Gaia, Cronus jumped out and attacked. He castrated his father with the sickle his mother had given him. When some of the blood from Ouranos fell onto the Earth (Gaia), up sprouted the Giants, huge monsters with beards and snakes for legs; the three avenging furies called the Erinyes; as well as the Meliae, the ash-tree nymphs. Cronus threw the genitals from the island of Cythera into the sea where foam formed around it and it drifted and washed up at Cyprus. Aphrodite was born from the foam. Ouranos then faded from the Greek myths. Cronus, King of the Gods
Cronus was the new supreme ruler of the universe and took his sister Rhea in marriage. Cronus, who was originally the god of time, was also a god of agriculture and also became god of the skies when he overthrew Ouranos. He did not free the Hecatonchires or the Cyclopes. However something had been troubling him ever since the castration. It was prophesied that because he had usurped his father, that he, in turn, would be usurped by one of his sons. Cronus however, to avoid his fate had devised a plan. At the birth of each of his children Cronus swallowed each of his offspring whole. First Hestia, then Demeter, and Hera, Hades and Poseidon were devoured and had taken up residence in their father’s stomach. Rhea was horrified and worried she would never have any children that she could raise. She talked to her mother Gaia and they decided to trick Cronus. When the sixth and final Cronid (child of Cronus) was born Rhea handed Gaia the newborn child and substituted the baby with a carved stone, wrapped in swaddling blankets. She gave Cronus the stone and he ate it, thinking he was safe.
Zeus's First Wife
The baby, whose name was Zeus, was taken away to be raised at either Mount Ida or Mount Dicte on the island of Crete, where he was suckled by the she-goat Amalthea and cared for by nymphs. He set Amalthea among the stars as the constellation Capricorn, the goat, as a thank-you for her help. When Zeus left Crete, as a present he gave the nymphs a horn of plenty, or Cornucopia that filled with food and never became empty. The Curetes danced around the island bashing swords and shields so that when Zeus cried, the Curetes’ racket blocked the sound from reaching Cronus. Zeus learned of his mother and brother and sister’s sufferings and was ready for revenge. He married his cousin Metis, the Oceanid, or ocean-nymph. Metis was the goddess of prudence and was extremely smart. Metis thought of a plan to overthrow Cronus. She knew that Cronus would have all the other Titans on his side and Zeus, not being able to fight alone, therefore, required a larger army. She made a potion and gave it to Zeus. Rhea arranged for Zeus to be Cronus’ cupbearer. Zeus mixed the potion into Cronus’ beverage and gave it to Cronus, telling him he would become all-powerful. Cronus, not recognising his son, drank and started to feel sick. He soon vomited up the stone (which was later taken to be preserved at Delphi) and Zeus’ siblings. (Because they were immortal, they had survived living inside Cronus.) Zeus and his siblings, who were called the Olympians, waged war against the Titans. This ten-year war was to be known as the “Titanomachy”. The Titanomachy
Atlas, the son of Iapetus, was chosen as the Titans’ army general, for Cronus was past his youth. Zeus set up his base on Mount Olympus, hence the name “Olympians”, while Cronus established his base at Mount Othrys. Oceanus decided to remain neutral in the war. His daughter, Styx, sided with Zeus and he rewarded her by transforming her into a great river. Prometheus, who could see the future, knew Zeus would win the battle and with his brother Epimetheus, switched sides. He tried to change his father Iapetus’ mind, as well as those of his brothers Atlas and Menoetius, but they stuck with Cronus. Prometheus advised Zeus that if he released the Cyclopes and Hecatonchires from Tartarus he would be victorious. Zeus killed Campe, the monster-woman who had been guarding Tartarus. He freed the Cyclopes on the condition they give him and his brothers gifts. The Cyclopes, who were master blacksmiths, wielded thunderbolts for Zeus; made a large three-pronged fork called a trident for Poseidon; and the helmet of invisibility to Hades. Zeus figured that the Hecatonchires’ many strong arms would be helpful to throw boulders at the Titans and he freed them too. He gained Gaia’s support. Gaia told the Titans to join Zeus, because he would eventually win. Not many responded.
The Triumph
Zeus, Hades and Poseidon held a war counsel and developed a war strategy. Hades snuck into Cronus’ lair, wearing his helmet of invisibility, and stole his weapons. Poseidon threatened Cronus with his trident while Zeus blasted him with his new thunderbolts. The Hecatonchires hurled large rocks at the rest of the Titans. The new generation’s time had come! The Titans were banished to Tartarus where the Hecatonchires guarded them forever. Atlas, as their military leader received a special punishment. He had to hold the skies on his shoulders for eternity to separate the Earth and sky. Cronus descended to Italy where he ruled over a golden age. He retired to the Elysian Fields, the home for heroes in the underworld, and ruled it. The Titanesseses (female Titans) were spared for the sake of Metis and Rhea.Zeus, the New King
Zeus became the new king of the gods and divided up the world with his brothers. Zeus would rule the skies, Poseidon drew the sea and Hades would live among the dead in the underworld. The Earth was common territory and was ruled by all three. As for the Hecatonchires, Poseidon recognised Briareus’ courage during the Titanomachy and gave his daughter, Cymopolea, to him in marriage. The Cyclopes worked in the forge of the smith-god Hephaestus and were later killed by Apollo. Zeus was never overthrown.