Genealogy of Gods: Olympians vs. Titans - A Detailed Comparison

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of the Olympians and Titans in Greek mythology, detailing their origins, relationships, and the pivotal conflict between them. It begins by establishing the primordial state of Chaos and the emergence of Gaea and Uranus, leading to the birth of the Titans, including Cronus. The narrative then focuses on Cronus's reign and his fear of being overthrown, which led him to swallow his children, until Rhea saved Zeus. The essay describes Zeus's rise to power, his alliance with the Cyclopes and Giants, and the ensuing war against the Titans. It highlights key figures such as Zeus, Cronus, Hera, and Poseidon, and details the Olympians' victory, the Titans' imprisonment, and the division of the universe among Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. The essay concludes with a comparison of the Titans and Olympians and their Roman counterparts, providing a valuable resource for understanding the complex family trees and roles of these significant figures in Greek mythology.

Olympians vs. Titans
Submitted by:
Pakeeza Shahzadi (19011502-063)
Section: B
Submitted to: Mam Shazia Waqas
English Department
Session 2019-2023

Genealogy of Gods
Olympians vs. Titans:
First of all, we have to understand the relationship between the Titans and Olympians.
Long before the Titans and Olympians exist, there was nothingness and chaos and complete
darkness. The ancient Greeks had several different theories about the origin of the world, but the
generally accepted notion is that before this world came into existence there was just Chaos.
Thus, came into being the most primitive Greek deities, Gaea and Uranus.
Uranus was very refined deity and represents the light and air of heaven, while, Gaea was great
flat and life sustaining earth. Uranus, the heaven, was believed to have united himself in
marriage with Gaea, the earth. And from their union came the race of Cyclopes, Hekatonchires,
giants, and titans. But after their children were born, Uranus became resentful of his own
children and throws them into Tartarus, the underworld, which cause Gaea pain due to wailing

and stirring of her children inside her and she asked them to revenge the evil deeds of their
father. But no one in her children was brave enough to do that task. Her younger son, Cronus,
the titan was very ruthless and tired of his father’s wrong doings. He agreed to slay his father
and became the ruler after dethroning him but he also was no different from him and did not kept
his promise with his mother, Gaea, and imprisoned his siblings in the pits of Tartarus again
which caused Gaea, great pain. Before leaving the heavens, Uranus cursed his son or rather
foretold him the future that his fate was going to be same as him and one of his children would
dethrone him same as he did to his own father.
Cronus was married to his sister, Rhea, and she ruled beside him as a queen. Cronus was afraid
of his coming future and like his own father was so resentful of his own children. Whenever, his
child was born, due to fear of his coming fate, he swallowed his own children.
Rhea was not happy with her children fate, and on the advice her mother Gaea, she was
determined to save her newborn son Zeus. So, when Cronus demanded from Rhea to present
him with baby Zeus to swallow him, she gave him a stone wrapped in cloth and in his hurry to
get rid of him, Cronus swallow the stone instead of verifying that what he swallow was really a
stone or his newborn child.
Rhea hid Zeus in the Mount Dicte, Crete. According to some myths, Zeus was born on Mount
Ida on Crete and raised by minor goddesses (Nymphs) who raised him on milk from a goat
named Amaltheia. He was also taught by Curetes whose loud brandishing of weapons obscured
his crying from Cronus. Under the watch and care of Nymphs, Zeus thrived and gains his
abilities and powers rapidly and combined his powers with his wisdom and intelligence. When
Zeus reached manhood, he was determined to compel his father for his crimes and wanted to
restore his siblings swallowed by his father. In his task to get his swallowed sibling back from
his horrible father, Zeus was assisted by Metis who was the sister of Coronus and Titaness.
Metis, very artfully persuaded Coronus to drink a potion which made him to throw up all his
children which he swallowed. And the stone that he swallowed considering that it was baby
Zeus was also came out and later placed in Delphi, where it was regarded as a sacred relic.
Cronus was so enraged at being circumvented that war between the father and son became
inevitable.
The rival forces ranged themselves on two separate high mountains in Thessaly; Zeus, with his
brothers and sisters, took his stand on Mount Olympus, where he was joined by Oceanus, and
others of the Titans, who had forsaken Cronus on account of his oppressions. Cronus and his
brother-Titans took possession of Mount Othrys, and prepared for battle.
For ten years, the Titans and the Olympians fought with neither side able to gain a lasting
advantage. Gaia advised Zeus to free the Cyclopes and the hundred headed Giants from Tartarus
(a place in the underworld) and persuade them to join his side. Zeus went down to Tartarus,
killed the monster which guarded the prisoners, and released them. In return for their freedom,
the Cyclopes and the Giants became allies with Zeus tipping the scale of power to the
Olympians.

The struggle was long and fierce, and at length Zeus, finding that he was no nearer
victory than before, bethought himself of the existence of the imprisoned Giants, and knowing
that they would be able to render him most powerful assistance, he hastened to liberate them.
He also called to his aid the Cyclops (sons of Poseidon and Amphitrite), who had only one eye
each in the middle of their foreheads, and were called Brontes (Thunder), Steropes (Lightning),
and Pyracmon (Fire-anvil). They promptly responded to his summons for help, and brought with
them tremendous thunderbolts which the Hecatoncheires, with their hundred hands, hurled down
upon the enemy, at the same time raising mighty earthquakes, which swallowed up and
destroyed all who opposed them.
The Cyclopes gave Zeus the power over thunder and lightning. Then gave the helm of darkness
to Hades and to Poseidon they gave a trident (three-pronged spear). Hades used the helm of
darkness to steal away Cronus’ weapons and Poseidon came at him with the trident.
Aided by these new and powerful allies, Zeus now made a furious onslaught of his enemies, and
so tremendous was the encounter that all nature is said to have throbbed in accord with this
mighty effort of the celestial deities.
The sea rose mountains high, and its angry billows hissed and foamed; the earth shook to its
foundation, the heaven sent forth its thunder, and flash after flash death bringing lightening,
which build a blinding mist around Coronus and his allies. And now the fortunes of war began
to turn, and victory smiled on Zeus. Cronus and his army were completely overthrown, his
brothers dispatched to the gloomy depths of the lower world. With the defeat of Cronus and the
added power of the Cyclopes and Giants, the Olympians were able to defeat the Titans. Cronus
himself was banished from his kingdom and deprived forever of the supreme power, which now
became vested in his son Zeus.
With the defeat of Cronus and his banishment from his dominions, his career as a ruling Greek
divinity entirely ceases. But being, like all the gods, immortal, he was supposed to be still in
existence, though possessing no longer either influence or authority, his place being filled to a
certain extent by his descendant and successor, Zeus.
The Titans, who participated in the war, were imprisoned in Tartarus. Atlas was given a special
punishment for his role in the war, as he led the army of titans. He was required to hold up the
sky.
After the Titans’ War Zeus and his brothers, Hades and Poseidon decided to divide the universe
into three parts. They drew straws to see who would rule over which part. Zeus drew the
longest straw, so he was given the title of king of the sky. This also meant that he was the head
of mortals and all the gods, too. Poseidon got the middle straw, so he became king of the sea.
Hades drew the shortest straw, so he became the ruler of the Underworld.
Lets checkout the Titans and Olympians and what they represent.
Titans:
Titans were the children of Uranus and Gaea and ruled before Gods over threw them.
Iapetus was the titan of morality and allotment of the mortal lifespan. He was also the titan of
violent death. He was married to Clymene (daughter of Tethys and Oceanus). He was father of
Atlas, Prometheus, Epimetheus, and Menoteus.

Krios was the titan of heavenly constellation. He was married to Eurybia (daughter of Gaea and
Pontus). He was father of Astraeus, Pallas, and Perses.
Phoebe was titan goddess of wise counsel and thoughtful replies. She was wife of Coeus and
mother to Leto and Asteria.
Koios was the titan wisdom, intelligence, and deep searching question. He was husband of
Phoebe and father of Leto and Asteria. He was also the grandfather of Apollo and Artemis.
Themis was the titan goddess of law and divine order. She was the first counselor of Zeus and
also his early wife.
Mnemosyne was the titan goddess of memory and the inventor of language and words. She was
the mother of nine muses by Zeus.
Theia was the titan goddess of sight and aether-the shining blue of the sky. She was the
Hyperion and mother of Helios, Eos, and Selene.
Hyperion was the titan of light, the father of the light of the sky. He was the husband of Theia
and father of Helios, Eos, and Selene.
Tethys was the titan goddess of fresh water and also nourishes the earth. She was the wife of
Oceanus and mother of Oceanides and Potamoi.
Oceanus was the titan of all the fresh water bodies including rivers, springs, wells, and rain
clouds. He was the husband of Tethys and father of Oceanides and Potamoi.
Rhea was the titan goddess of female fertility, motherhood, generation, and ease. She was the
wife of Cronus and mother of Hades, Hestia, Poseidon, Demeter, Hera, and Zeus.
Cronus was the titan of time and ages. He was the leader of Titans. Cronus was the husband of
Rhea and father of Hades, Hestia, Hera, Demeter, Poseidon, Hestia, and Zeus.
Roman names of Titans:
Greek Name Roman Name
Cronos Saturn
Rhea Ops
Hyperion Sun
Oceanus Ocean
Iapetus Japetus
Krios Crius
Koios Coeus
Tethys Tethys
Mnemosyne Moneta
Themis Justitia
Theia Dione
Phoebe Phoebe

Olympians
Olympians are the gods and progeny of Titans.
Zeus was the god of sky, air, and heaven. He was the husband of Hera and father of all the
important Olympians.
Poseidon was the god of sea. He was the husband of Amphitrite and father of Triton. He also
sired the Pegasus with Medusa and Arion with Demeter both were horses.
Hades was the god of underworld. He was the husband of Persephone. He was also the master
of Death, Thanatos.
Hera was the queen of heaven and wife of Zeus. She was the goddess of fidelity and marriage.
Demeter was the goddess of agriculture. She was the mother of Persephone.
Hestia was the goddess of hearth and eldest born to Cronus and Rhea.
Athena was the goddess of wisdom and war craft. She was also the goddess of arts and craft.
She was the daughter of Zeus and Metis.
Apollo was the god of sun and prophecies. He was also the patron of music and poetry. He was
the son of Zeus and Leto.
Artemis was the goddess of hunting and moon. She was also the maiden goddess. She was e
daughter of Zeus and Leto.
Ares was the god of war. He was the son of Hera and Zeus.
Hephaestus was the god of fire and mechanics. He worked in forges. He was the son of Zeus
and Hera.
Aphrodite was the goddess of love and beauty. She was born from the sea foam and mother of
Eros/Cupid. She was the wife of Hephaestus.
Hermes was the messenger of gods. He was also the god of thieves, travelers, and merchants.
He was the son of Zeus and Maia.
Dionysus was the god of wine and madness. He was the son of Zeus and mortal Semele.
Roman names of Olympians:
Greek Name Roman Name
Zeus Jupiter or Jove
Hera Juno

Poseidon Neptune
Demeter Ceres
Hades Pluto
Hestia Vesta
Ares Mars
Athena Minerva
Apollo Apollo (Phoebus)
Artemis Diana
Hephaestus Vulcan or Vulcanus
Aphrodite Venus
Hermes Mercury
Dionysus Bacchus