Greek Mythology

Greek Mythology – How the gods came about

Written by GHP on 1:46 AM

Greek Mythology – How the gods came about

To get a better understanding of Greek mythology, it would be beneficial to know the origin of the gods.

It begins with the creation of the earth, and divine orders of gods who loved in the heavens, on earth’s surface and in the cavernous depths below. The oldest deities were Eros, Gaea, Chaos and Tartarus. Eros claimed the title of god of love. Gaea was the earth, the great mother.

The first race of gods included Gaea’s children, Uranus, the sky, and the Titans. They, in turn, produced the next generations of gods, the Olympians, who deposed their elders and made Zeus their supreme ruler. The Olympians came into being over two generations. The Greeks always referred to Zeus as the Olympians’ supreme god, and the Romans gave the same place to his counterpart Jupiter.

Between the twelve Titans they divided the rule of the forces of nature. Some ruled the skies, stars and planets and others, the oceans, seas, rivers and springs. Other more abstract and natural themes, such as the arts and the seasons, where devoted by deities that were the offsprings of several female Titans – who presided over more abstract realms such as memory and justice – and their nephew Zeus.

Many of the Greeks believed themselves to be descended from the Titan Iapetus through his sons, Prometheus and Atlas; therefore Iapetus was named the Father of Humanity. Iapetus’ siblings, Oceanus and Tethys, created important families through their sons, the river gods Scamander, Peneus and Inachus.

Cronus ruled the Titans. He and his consort, Rhea, were the parents and grandparents of the Olympian gods. Their son, the Olympian ruler Zeus, was the greatest divine progenitor of all. Zeus went among the human race conceiving children, many of whom became famous heroes, founders of dynasties and even gods and goddesses themselves. The liaisons of Zeus and his family with mortal women through more than sixteen generations founded all of the great dynastic families of the Greek world and thus, the many Greek mythology stories that we read about.

Greek Mythology – How the gods came about