Power In Hesiod's Theogony

The desire for power is a common struggle in both the human world and Ancient Greek myth. Hesiod’s Theogony is a classic piece of Greek literature that details the history and stories of Greek myth, including the relationship between the gods Ouranos, Kronos, and Zeus. Many humans are able to attain power by simply working towards their goals, while others often resort to betrayal. The only way a Greek god can rise to power is by overthrowing their predecessors. The battle between established gods and aspiring rulers exists because of their immortality. Since a Greek god cannot be killed, violent attacks are planned in order to take their power. The struggle between each of these generations constructs much of the Theogony related to power.

Gaia, one of the first Greek beings, gave birth to Ouranos by herself to “cover her all over, and to be an always safe home for the blessed gods.” (Theog. 127-8). She later married her son, Ouranos, and gave birth to Kronos. Ouranos hated all of his children from birth and banished them inside of Gaia so that they would never see the light (Theog. 157-8). Gaia, not happy with the way she and her children were being treated, used her cunning intelligence to create a plan that would destroy Ouranos. With the help of “crooked-minded Kronos” (Theog. 168), she was able to carry out her plan and have Ouranos castrated. By defeating his father, Kronos was able to rise to power. Later on in the Theogony, Kronos marries and has children with his sister, Rhea. Gaia and Ouranos strike fear in Kronos when they tell him that one of his children will succeed him (Theog. 460-5). Terrified that the prophecy will come true, Kronos turns away from the idea of family and swallows each of his children as they are born. The pattern continues over the course of five births, but Zeus, their sixth child, slips by. Rhea turns to her mother, Gaia, for advice when she is pregnant with Zeus. Gaia’s cunning plan is revealed when Hesiod writes, “Rhea wrapped a huge stone in a baby’s robe, and fed it to Sky’s wide-ruling son, lord of the earlier gods;” (Theog. 485-6). Rhea is able to trick Kronos and

This dependence, however, seems to only go to a certain extent. It is Gaia’s plans and ideas that allow Zeus to grow as an individual and gain the support and loyalty of other gods, but he is able to rule and carry out ideas by himself as well. One of Gaia’s greatest ideas is explained in the Theogony when Hesiod writes, “So now with firm mind and willing spirit we will defend your power in hostile war, fighting the Titans in strong battles.” (Theog. 661-3). Gaia advises Zeus to release the Hekatoncheires; Cottus, Briareus, and Gyges from the underworld because she realizes that they are “blameless” (Theog. 654), and knows that they are powerful enough to help Zeus defeat the Titans. At this point, he has already released the Cyclopes and attained one of his most valuable weapons, the lightning bolt (Theog. 620). Zeus follows Gaia’s advice, releasing the Hekatoncheires and makes a deal with them, “Gyges, Cottus, and great-spirited Briareus live, the faithful guards of aegis-bearing Zeus.” (Theog. 734-5). In exchange for their support, Zeus allows them to become guards of the defeated Titans in Tartarus. Their contribution to the war against the Titans is significant because they provide almost all of the strong artillery that Zeus has (Theog. 620). The Cyclopes disappear from the war shortly after creating the lightning bolts, leaving Zeus with fewer allies to