Overview
This lecture covers the ancient Greek creation myth as told by Hesiod in "Theogony," explaining the origins of the universe, the gods, and key mythological figures.
Understanding Greek Cosmogony
- A cosmogony is a myth that explains how the universe was created.
- Hesiod's "Theogony" (8th Century BCE) is the oldest complete Greek creation myth, describing both the origins of the cosmos and the gods.
- In ancient Greek belief, every part of the world and aspect of life had its own presiding god or spirit.
The Origins of the Universe and Gods
- "Theogony" begins with Chaos (an abyss or void), followed by Gaia (Earth), Tartarus (the pit below the Underworld), and Eros (love).
- From Chaos came Erebus (darkness) and Nyx (night), who together produced Aether (brightness) and Hemera (day).
- Gaia gave birth to Uranus (sky), Ourea (mountains), and Pontus (sea).
- Gaia and Uranus together produced the Titans, the Cyclopes, and the Hecatoncheires (giants with 100 arms and 50 heads).
The Titans and Their Offspring
- The first-generation Titans: Coeus, Crius, Hyperion, Iapetus, Thea, Rhea, Themis, Mnemosyne, Phoebe, Tethys, and Cronus.
- Cronus castrated Uranus, leading to the birth of the Erinyes (Furies), Giants, Meliae (ash tree nymphs), and Aphrodite (from sea foam).
- Nyx produced deities such as Moros (doom), Hypnos (sleep), Thanatos (death), Nemesis (retribution), the Moirai (Fates), and others representing aspects of night and darkness.
Monsters and Sea Deities
- From the sea came Nereus and other sea deities, as well as monsters like the Gorgons (including Medusa), Echidna, Chimera, and Hydra.
- Many giants and monsters were born from unions among primordial beings, such as Typhon and Echidna, who produced creatures like Cerberus and the Hydra.
Olympians and the Titanomachy
- Thea and Hyperion's children: Helios (sun), Selene (moon), and Eos (dawn).
- Iapetus's children: Atlas (who holds up the sky), Prometheus (who gave fire to humanity), Epimetheus, and Menoetius.
- Cronus swallowed his children (Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, Poseidon, Zeus) to avoid being overthrown, but Zeus survived, freed his siblings, and led them in the Titanomachy—a ten-year war that ended with the Olympians defeating the Titans.
Zeus and the New Divine Order
- Zeus and his consorts produced many gods: Athena (wisdom), Apollo and Artemis (with Leto), the Horae (hours), Fates, Graces, Muses, Hebe, Ares, Hephaestus, Hermes, and Dionysus.
- Hades became ruler of the Underworld, Poseidon ruled the sea, and Zeus ruled the sky.
- Other important goddesses included Hestia (hearth), Hera (marriage and family), and Demeter (agriculture).
Key Terms & Definitions
- Cosmogony — myth describing the origin of the universe.
- Theogony — myth describing the origin of the gods.
- Chaos — the primordial void before creation.
- Titans — the first generation of giant deities.
- Olympians — principal gods of the Greek pantheon led by Zeus.
- Titanomachy — the war between Titans and Olympian gods.
- Primordial deities — the earliest gods representing fundamental aspects of existence.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review Hesiod's "Theogony" for the detailed genealogy of gods.
- Prepare for a quiz on key gods, primordial beings, and the sequence of creation.