The Titans were a race of giant, powerful gods who ruled the earth before being overthrown by Zeus and the Olympians. The twelve original Titans were the descendants of Gaia, the Earth goddess, and Uranus, the sky god. Uranus was the son of Gaia but also married her, and together they created the first generation of Titans.

When Gaia was pregnant with her twelve children, Uranus trapped them within her womb, causing Gaia much discomfort. Cronus, the youngest, turned upon his father and castrated him, freeing Gaia to give birth to the children. With this act Cronus also established himself as the Titan king.

First Generation Titans

Cronus – The youngest of the Titans, this king earned his power by castrating his father. He married Rhea, who bore him children. However, fearing his safety, Cronus ate each one of his children as they were born.

Rhea was unhappy about the loss of her children, so she tricked Cronus into eating a rock when Zeus was born. Zeus was sent to Crete to be raised, but would eventually return to revolt against the Titans. Gaia helped Zeus gave Cronus a potion that caused him to regurgitate all of Zeus’ siblings. Cronus was viewed as destructive, and was the god of time.

Aided by the Cyclops and the Hecatonchires, Zeus won a ten year war against the older gods and banished many of them to Tartarus. Zeus became the king of Mount Olympus. Zeus eventually released them from Tartarus and made Cronus king of the Elysian Islands.

Rhea - Rhea was the goddess of motherhood and female fertility. She represented the flow of time and was the queen of heaven. Rhea became the wife of Cronus.

One myth says she helped Zeus by making a feast for Cronus, during which he became drunk on fermented honey. Cronus fell into a deep sleep and was taken to the cave of Nyx, or night, where he has slept ever since.

Iapetus - Iapetus is the only Titan mentioned in the Iliad. He married Clymene and was the father of Promethius, Epimetheus, Menoetius, and Atlas, who were ancestors of humankind.

Themis - The Titan of justice and order, she oversaw proper relationships between men and women. She built the Oracle at Delphi and was at Delos when Apollo was born. Themis coupled with Zeus and was the mother of the Seasons and the Three Fates.

Oceanus - Oceanus is the personification of the ocean. He married Tethys and together they produced all of the chief waters of the world. Their children included three thousand ocean nymphs. He is depicted as the river of water that encircles the world, never ending.

At the wedding of Thetis and Peleus he arrived with a fish and a serpent, representing bounty and prophecy.

Tethys – Tethys is the sea goddess who became the wife of Oceanus. She was the god mother of Rhea.

Hyperion – Hyperion married Theia, and is the Titan of light. Considered an early sun god, his children were Helius – the sun, Selene – the moon, and Eos – the dawn.

Theia – Theia was the goddess of shining light and sight. She was the wife of Hyperion and had an Oracle shrine in Thessaly. She is the goddess who bestows brilliance on gold, gems, and silver.

Crius – Crius fathered Perses and was the grandfather of Hecate. He also fathered Astraios and Pallas by joining with Eurybia.

Mnemosyne – She was the personification of memory. She slept with Zeus for nine nights, creating each of the nine Muses. Her gift to kings and poets is the power of speech and their special relationship with the Muses.

Coeus – He was the father of Leto and Asteria, and was the Titan of intelligence. Through Zeus and Leto he is the grandfather of Apollo and Artemis.

Phoebe – Married to Coeus, Phoebe was the Titan of the moon and of bright intellect. She was the third goddess to have the Oracle at Delphi, which she gave to her grandson Apollo on his birthday.

Following the war with Zeus and his followers, Oceanus continued to encircle the world. Phoebe earned the name “bright and shining” and was attached by name to Apollo. Those who had not fought against the Olympians became prominent figures on Mount Olympus.

Mnemosyne, Rhea, Hyperion, Themis, and Metis all had roles within the new society of gods.

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