Greek Myths

According to various accounts of the creation of the world. Hesoids version describes that in the beginning, there was only Erebus, or darkness, Nyx, or night, and Chaos, who has been interpreted as the opening form which the other ancient characters arose. Then appeared Gaea, or mother earth, personified as the solid foundation of the world. Next, was Tartarus who is usually confused with the residence Hades, but was depicted as the father of some of Gaea’s children. Also appearing after Chaos was Eros, the source of sexual love/attraction that brought beings together to produce more children.

Gaea bore Uranus, the sky, asexually and then bore Pontus, the sea. In sexual union with Uranus, her son, she bore the twelve titans (six male and six female), three Cyclopes, and the Hecatonchires (hundred-handers). In her sexual union with Pontus she bore the monsters who were Nerus (wise old man of the sea), Ceto (the sea monster) and Chimera (she-goat) among others. Cronus, Gaea’s last-born titan, hated his father Uranus and set up an ambush for him with Gaea, as he lay with her at night. Cronus grabbed his father and castrated him with the stone sickle, throwing the severed genitals into the sea. From his dripping blood came the Giants and the Erinyes. From the combination of the sea with the foam oozing from his genitals, formed Aphrodite, the force of sexual attraction. The magic of these creatures being reared and formed through sexual union and asexually are miracles in that such odd beings are introduced into the world from the original darkness.

A last example of magic and miracles that we studied was the description of how Cronus tried to avoid being overthrown by one of his children. He swallowed each of them as they were ...

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...ones wrapped completely in "glistening fat" (something inedible hidden inside a pleasing exterior). Zeus chose the latter, setting a precedent for future sacrifices; hereafter, humans would keep the meat for themselves and burn the bones wrapped in fat as an offering to the gods. This angered Zeus, who hid fire from humans in retribution. Prometheus in turn stole fire in a giant fennel-stalk and gave it back to mankind. Prometheus, was put into eternal punishment by Zeus. His punishment involves him being chained to a rock, where his liver is eaten out daily by an eagle. Years later, Heracles slays the eagle and frees Prometheus from his chains. This myth shows that while in a very rigid Greek society people or heroes are willing to risk their lives or reputations for others. This myth is very important in showing that not all Greek myths involved unhappy endings.