ANCIENT TITANS

known as the “ELDER GODS”. They were giant, immortal deities and considered the first
generational gods born from the primordial gods, Uranus and Gaea. They ruled the earth before
Olympians over threw them. The ruler of titans is CRONUS.

THE GREEKS DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THE GODS CREATED THE UNIVERSE. IT WAS THE
OTHER WAY AROUND IN WHICH IT IS THE UNIVERSE THAT CREATED THE GODS.

TITANOMACHY – war between Titans and Olympians

12 TITAN CHILDREN OF GAEA AND URANUS:

1.) IAPETUS – titan of morality and the allotment of the mortal lifespan. He is considered as
the “PIERCER”, he was the titan of VIOLENT DEATH.
 He married CLYMENE (one of the Oceanide - daughter of Tethys and Oceanus)
 CHILDREN: Atlas (a marine creature), Epimetheus (the “after-thinker,”),
Prometheus (creator of humankind), and Menoeteus (Titan god of rash actions,
violent anger, and human mortality)
 Atlas was a leader of the Titanes (Titans) in their war against Zeus and after their
defeat he was condemned to carry the heavens upon his shoulders.
 While his brother Prometheus was famously clever, Epimetheus was hopelessly
foolish. Prometheus made human life and civilization possible by bringing fire to
the humans and teaching them crafts.
2.) CRIUS – titan of the HEAVENLY CONSTELLATIONS
 Married Eurybia - (daughter of Gaea and Pontus)
 CHILDREN: Astraeus (Titan god of stars and planets and of the art of astrology),
Pallas (Titan god of battle and warcraft), Perses (ancient Greek Titan god of
destruction)
3.) PHOEBE – titan Goddess of wise counsel and thoughtful replies
 Wife of Coeus
 CHILDREN: Leto (goddess of modesty, motherhood, kindness, childbirth, fertility
- Leto is Titan that became a goddess after her marriage to Zeus. ) and Asteria
(Titan goddess of falling stars and perhaps of nighttime divinations such as
oneiromancy (by dreams) and astrology (by stars)
4.) COEUS – titan of intelligence, wisdom and deep searching questions
 Husband of PHOEBE
 Father of Leto and Asteria
 Grandfather of Apollo and Artemis
5.) THEMIS – titan of divine law and order
 An early wife of Zeus – and his first counselor
 CHILDREN: 3 Horae OR HOURS goddesses of the seasons and the natural
portions of time; and keepers of the gates of heaven: Eunomia (Greek goddess
of law, governance, and good order), Dice (Astraea) goddess of justice, fair
judgements and the rights established by custom and law, Eirene(goddess of
peace and the season of spring),
 and the 3 Moerae “weavers of fate” (the three sisters who decide on human fate:
Clotho (the spinner,who spins the thread of life), Lachesis (the measurer,who

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 chooses someone’s lot in life, and measures off how long it will be), Atropos (the
sniper, who cuts the thread of life)
6.) MNEMOSYNE – titan of memory, remembrance, and the inventor of language and words
 Mother of nine muses (goddess of art and sciences) by Zeus

9 MUSES
Thalia - Muse of comedy and idyllic poetry.
Melpomene [mel-po-men-ee] - Muse of tragedy.
Cleo - Muse of history.
Euterpe - Muse of lyric poetry.
Terpsichore - Muse of music and dancing.
Erato - Muse of erotic poetry.
Calliope - Muse of epic poetry and rhetoric.
Urania - Muse of astronomy.
Polyhymnia or Polymnia - Muse of sacred hymns and harmony.
7.) THEIA – titan of sight and aether (the shining blue of the sky)
 She is the eldest among her 12 titan siblings
 Wife of Hyperion
 CHILDREN: Helios (god of son), Eos (goddess of dawn), Selene (goddess of
the moon and patron of feminine- ease childbirth and inspire love
8.) HYPERION – Titan of light, father of the lights of the sky
 Husband of Theia
 Father of Helios, Eos, Selene
9.) TETHYS – titan of freshwater that nourish the earth
 Her name is derived from “nurse” or “grandmother”
 Wife of Oceanus
 Mother of Oceanides (were three thousand goddess-nymphs who presided over
the sources of earth's fresh-water--from rain-clouds to subterranean springs and
fountains. Daughters who are most known are STYX and CLYMENE) and
Potamoi (were the gods of the rivers and streams of the earth, all sons) the
Nephelai (Clouds)
10.)OCEANUS –Titan god of heavenly light and watchfulness.
-controls the rising and setting of all heavenly bodies, which were believed to
descend into his watery realm at the ends of the earth
- husband of Tethys
- Father of Oceanides ,Potamoi, nephelai
11.)RHEA – titan of female fertility, motherhood, generation, comfort and ease
 Wife of Cronus
 Mother of Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus
12.)CRONUS – leader and the youngest of the titans
 The titan of time and ages, and is said to have led over Earth during its “golden
age”
 Husband of Rhea
 Father of Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, Poseidon, Zeus

THE 12 GREAT OLYMPIANS AND THEIR DESCRIPTION;

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Mount Olympus- an actual mountain in Greece, where Zeus's palace is located and where gods
and goddesses reside.

The Twelve Olympian gods and goddesses are a group of deities from ancient Greek
mythology who were believed to reside on Mount Olympus.

1. Zeus- the god of skies, King of the gods and the ruler of Mount Olympus. He controlled the
weather and had a thunderbolt as his symbol. He was the son of Cronus and Rhea, raised in
secret in the island of Crete. He defeated Cronus and known for numerous love affairs and had
many offspring.

His siblings include;

Poseidon or - god of the seas

Hades- god of the underworld
Hera- queen of the gods
Demeter- goddess of agriculture
Hestia- goddess of the heart

2. Poseidon: The god of the seas, also son of Cronus and Rhea making him a sibling of Zeus. He
is depicted holding a Trident, a three-pronged spear like weapon. Was widely worshipped in
ancient Greece.

3. Hera: The queen of the gods, the wife and sister of Zeus, and the goddess of marriage, women,
childbirth and family. Hera is known for her strong and sometimes vengeful personality

4. Athena- The goddess of wisdom and knowledge. She is often depicted with an owl which
represents wisdom. She was born fully grown and armored from the forehead of her father. She
was the patron deity of Athens.

5. Demeter- The goddess of agriculture, fertility, and the harvest. She was associated with the
growth of crops and changing season. Her daughter is Persephone.

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6. Apollo: The god of healing, medicine, music and poetry. Greeks loved Apollo and called him
"the most Greeks of all the gods". He represents the ideal man; handsome, athletic, intelligent,
talented and good. Apollo became the "God of the Sun" while his twin sister is the "Goddess of the
Moon".

7. Artemis- the goddess of the moon and hunting, the twin sister of Apollo. She is often depicted
as a skilled archer, a protectress of young animals and women in labor. Known for her
independence, and strong connection in nature.

8. Ares: the god of war. He is known as a strong and violent deity who revels in the chaos and
bloodshed of battle. Son of Zeus and Hera, he is typically associated with more brutal and
destructive aspect of warfare.

9. Aphrodite: The goddess of love, beauty, and desire. She is often depicted as a beautiful and
alluring woman. She is associated with love, passion, the power to inspire romantic feelings in
both human & gods.

10. Hephaestus: The god of blacksmithing, metalworking and craftsmanship. He is often depicted
as a skilled artisan, who forged powerful weapons and intricate items for the other gods and
heroes.

11. Hermes: The messenger of the gods, and is often depicted as a youthful and athletic figure.
Hermes was also associated with various other aspects, including commerce, travel and trickery.

12. Dionysus: The god of wine. He is often depicted as a youthful and a joyful deity associated
with celebrations and revelry and also his worship involved festival and rituals that include the
consumption of wine

These Twelve Olympian gods and goddesses played significant roles in Greek mythology and
were central to the beliefs and rituals of the ancient Greeks.

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 Lesser Gods of Olympus
Hesiod or Hesiodes in Greek

 One of the earliest Greek poets

 Father of the Greek didactic poetry
 Famous works are Theogeony, Works and Days, and Shield of Heracles
Homer

 Author of Illiad and the Odyssey, two epic poems that are foundational works of Ancient Greek
Literature
Mount Olympus

 In Greek mythology In Greek Mythology, Mount Olympus was regarded as the abode of the gods
and the site of the throne of Zeus. The name Olympus was used for several other mountains as well
as hills, villages, and mythical personages in Greece and Asia Minor.
 According to the myth, the mountain was created after the Titanomachy, an epic battle between the
young Olympians gods and the Titans. When the Olympian gods won the battle, they created their
new majestic home – Mount Olympus.
Eros/Cupid

 Greek god of love

 Son of Aphrodite
o In early accounts he is an independent god
o Not a child of Aphrodite but a companion.
 Eros the Greek god of love, or more precisely, passionate and physical desire. Without warning
Eros selects his targets and forcefully strikes at their hearts, bringing confusion and irrepressible
feelings. In the words of Hesiod, he “loosens the limbs and weakens the mind’” (Theogony, 120).
 Childlike form or Blindfolded
“Love is Blind”
Eris

 Roman name Discordia

 Greek goddess of Strife and Discord
 She was called the daughter of Nyx(Night) by Hesiod,
 But she was sister and companion of Ares in Homer’s version
 Responsible for the Trojan waar
Iris

 Greek goddess of the Rainbow

 Messenger goddess
 IRIS the goddess of the rainbow and the messenger of the Olympian gods. She was often
described as the handmaiden and personal messenger of Hera
 Delivers the messages of gods to humans
 Wife of Zypherus (the west wind)
 Daughter of Thaumas(marine/sea god) and Elektra(Nymph)
Hebe

 Greek goddess of youth

 Goddess of eternal youth, prime of life, and forgiveness Cupbearer to the gods
 Daughter of Zeus and Hera
 Married to Heracles/Hercules
 She was also worshipped as the goddess of forgiveness and mercy
 She attends her mother Hera and the goddess of love Aphrodite
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Muses

 THE MOUSAI (Muses) were the goddesses of music, song and dance, and the source of inspiration
to poets. They were also goddesses of knowledge, who remembered all things that had come to
pass.
 Inspire artistic endeavors
 Daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne (Memory)
 Invoked or called upon to aid artists in their endeavors to glorify the gods
 Later the Muses were assigned specific artistic spheres:
Calliope the Muse of epic poetry

She the oldest of the nine Muses, and she is connected to the art of epic poetry and eloquence. According
to the ancient Greek writer, Hesiod, for whom the Muses were a huge inspiration, Calliope held a very high
status among the Muses. Calliope went on to marry Oeagrus with whom she had two children, Orpheus
and Linus.

Calliope has been given the name, ‘the one with the beautiful voice’ because she taught Achilles how to
sing.

Clio the goddess of memory and the Muse of history and creativity. The role of Clio was generally to
attend to the political relations between nations and men.

Clio is frequently depicted with a book written by Thucydides, and, interestingly, is considered to be the
creator of the guitar.

Erato is the Muse of romance and love poetry, specifically romantic poetry. In Ancient Greece, Erato was
typically depicted wearing a laurel wreath but, since the Renaissance period, has been depicted instead
wearing a crowned covered with myrtle and roses. She is also typically represented carrying a zither, which
is a small lyre-like instrument invented by Hermes. At her feet, you will often find two turtle-doves, and, from
time to time, this Muse will be accompanied by Eros, the god of love.

The name, Erato, means lovely, and she had the ability to make all those who were guided by her to be
desirable and worthy of being loved.

Euterpe the Muse of music and lyric poetry, and is also known as ‘the very pleasant one’ and ‘the one with
a pleasant genius’. Whilst Euterpe is the Muse of all music, she is most closely associated with the flute.

Euterpe had a child named Reso, who was famous in his own right for being the warrior who died at the
hands of Diomedes in Troy, the story of which is detailed in Homer’s Iliad.

Melpomene the Muse of tragedy

Melpomene, whose name means ‘the melodious one’ is one of the two Greek Muses of theatre. To begin
with, Melpomene was just the Muse of singing and musical harmony, but, over time, she became better
known as the Muse of tragedy.

Commonly depicted wearing a diadem and luxurious dresses. The main feature of her image, however, is
the mask of tragedy that she carries in her hands.

In Greek Mythology, Melpomene is described as the mother of the mermaids. It is believed that Melpomene
had everything a woman could desire, including beauty, money, and men, however, the one thing that she
did not have was happiness. This upsetting fact about Melpomene is said to embody the nature of tragedy
in and of itself: that you can have everything you ever wanted without ever satisfying your innermost
desires.
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Polyhymnia is the Muse of songs to the gods

Is credited in Greek mythology with creating the lyre, harmony, and even agriculture. In addition to all of
this, Polyhymnia is also the Muse of dance, geometry, and rhetoric.

In terms of her appearance, Polyhymnia is often depicted in white clothing, leaning on a pedestal and
gazing off into the distance with an introspective look. She is also occasionally depicted with a chain in her
hands, which symbolises the power that she had over being eloquent.

Thalia the Muse of Comedy

Earlier we learned that Melpomene is one of two Greek Muses of theatre, and Thalia is the other. Whilst
Melpomene is associated with tragedy, Thalia is closely linked with comedy and poetry that evokes the
natural world. For this reason, Thalia is commonly depicted as a joyful young woman, often laughing. She is
also shown to be wearing a mocking expression, and carrying the theatrical mask of comedy.

The name, Thalia, means ‘flourishing’.

Terpsichore the Muse of lyric poetry and dancing.

This Muse is also regarded as the mother of the Sirens, who would seduce sailors with their songs 9in
Homer’s Odyssey.

She is often depicted as a happy young woman with a joyful and light-hearted personality. On her head,
Terpsichore can usually be seen sporting a crown of flowers and playing the lyre.

-Urania Muse of Astronomy and Astrology

is the youngest of the nine Muses, and is the Muse of astronomy and astrology. The name of Urania is
believed to have been the inspiration for many observatories and astronomy groups, and both the planet
Uranus and the Greek god of the same name are even named after her.

Urania is commonly seen wearing a blue dress with a globe in close proximity to her, upon which she
measures positions with a compass. On her head, she is depicted wearing a crown of stars, with a
selection of different mathematical instruments at her feet. This is why Urania is also considered as the
Muse of mathematics.

Graces

 Roman name Gratia/ Gratiae

 THE KHARITES (Charites) or Graces, were three goddesses of grace, beauty, adornment, joy,
mirth, festivity, dance and song.
 The number of Graces varied, though most myths included three sisters: Aglaia (brightness or
splendor), Thalia (good cheer, or blossoming one), and Euphrosyne (mirth or joyfullnes)

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THEMIS

 The Titan goddess of divine law and order--the traditional rules of conduct first established by the
gods.
 She was also a prophetic goddess who presided over the most ancient oracles, including Delphoi
(Delphi). In this role, she was the divine voice (themistes) who first instructed mankind in the primal
laws of justice and morality, such as the precepts of piety, the rules of hospitality, good governance,
conduct of assembly, and pious offerings to the gods.
 Devine Justice
 The early bride of Zeus and his first counsellor
DIKE

 The goddess of justice and moral order

 Goddess of justice, fair judgements and the rights established by custom and law. She was one of
the three Horai (Horae), goddesses of the seasons, and keepers of the gates of heaven.
 Human Justice
 Daughter of Zeus and Themis
NEMESIS

 The goddess of indignation against, and retribution for, evil deeds and undeserved good fortune.
 She was a personification of the resentment aroused in men by those who committed crimes with
apparent impunity, or who had inordinate good fortune.
 Nemesis directed human affairs in such a way as to maintain equilibrium.
 Righteous Anger
 Daughter of Nyx
AIDOS

 The goddess or personified spirit of modesty, shame, reverence and respect.

 She was a companion of the goddess Nemesis.
 As a quality Aidos was the feeling of shame which restrains men from doing wrong, while Nemesis
was righteous indignation aroused by the sight of wicked men receiving undeserved good fortune.
 Daughter of Prometheus