Titans, in Greek mythology, are any of the children of Ouranos (Heaven) and Gaia (Earth) and their descendants. According to Hesiod’s poem, Theogony, there were 12 original Titans: the brothers Oceanus, Koeus, Krius, Hyperion, Iapetus, and Kronos and the sisters Thea, Rhea, Themis, Mnemosyne, Phoebe, and Tethys. Gaea convinced her children to rebel against their father, who had locked them up in the underworld (Tartarus). Under the leadership of Kronos, they took power from Ouranos and set up Kronos as their ruler.

Later, one of Kronus’ sons, Zeus, rebelled against his father, and a struggle then ensued between them in which most of the Titans sided with Kronos. Zeus and his brothers and sisters finally defeated the Titans after 10 years of fierce battles (the Titanomachia). The Titans were then hurled down by Zeus and imprisoned in a cave beneath Tartarus.

Hesiod’s poem, Works and Days makes the Titans seem like they were “the golden race”, happy and long-lived. The idea of Titans developed further under the Romans—who identified Cronus with Saturn—into a golden age of peace and prosperity.

What is a Titan?

Who created the Theogony?

How many children did Gaia and Uranus have?

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Who became ruler after Uranus?

What happened to Kronos?

What was the name of the ten year war? What connection can you make?

How does Hesiod view the Titans?