Creation Story, Cronus and Creation Story, Cronus and RheaRhea
Birth of ZeusBirth of Zeus
According to Greek mythology, in the According to Greek mythology, in the
beginning there was nothing.beginning there was nothing.
This was called Chaos.
From this nothingness came light,From this nothingness came light,
Mother Earth (Gaia),Mother Earth (Gaia),
and Sky (Uranus) and Sky (Uranus) were formed. were formed.
From Gaia and Uranus came six twins From Gaia and Uranus came six twins
known as the Titansknown as the Titans..
The six twin Titans were namedThe six twin Titans were named
Oceanus (god of the sea) and Thethys, Oceanus (god of the sea) and Thethys,
Coeos and Phoebe,Coeos and Phoebe,
Hyperion and Thea,Hyperion and Thea,
Creos and Themis,Creos and Themis,
Iapetos and Clymene,Iapetos and Clymene,
And finally Cronus (strongest god) and And finally Cronus (strongest god) and Rhea…Rhea…
Gaia and Uranus also gave birth to three Gaia and Uranus also gave birth to three Cyclopes, three giants, each with fifty heads Cyclopes, three giants, each with fifty heads
and one-hundred arms.and one-hundred arms.
Uranus disliked his offspring, so he forced Uranus disliked his offspring, so he forced
them to return to their mother’s womb.them to return to their mother’s womb.
The pain of carrying the numerous children The pain of carrying the numerous children
angeredangered Gaia, and she made a plan for revenge Gaia, and she made a plan for revenge against Uranus. She called upon the Titans to against Uranus. She called upon the Titans to
help her. The youngest, Cronos (master of help her. The youngest, Cronos (master of
time), came to her aid.time), came to her aid.
Cronos, with his mother’s help, Cronos, with his mother’s help, created a sicklecreated a sickle
and cut off his father’s genitals when his father came to be with his mother.
Cronos cast the cut off genitals Cronos cast the cut off genitals into the sea.into the sea.
According to some versions of the myth, According to some versions of the myth, the goddess Aphrodite was created from the goddess Aphrodite was created from
the blood that dropped into the sea.the blood that dropped into the sea.
In addition some of the blood In addition some of the blood dropped on to the earthdropped on to the earth
creating all types of scary creating all types of scary offspringoffspring … …
After defeating his father, After defeating his father, Cronos married his sister Rhea.Cronos married his sister Rhea.
The two had six children: Hestia,The two had six children: Hestia,
Demeter,Demeter,
Hera,Hera,
Hades,Hades,
PoseidonPoseidon
and Zeus…and Zeus…
Cronos, after each birth, swallowed the Cronos, after each birth, swallowed the first five childrenfirst five children
because of a …because of a …
that claimed one of his children would overthrow him.
Rhea tricked Cronos with the sixth child. Zeus, Rhea tricked Cronos with the sixth child. Zeus, instead of handing Cronos the child, she gave instead of handing Cronos the child, she gave
him a rock in a blanket.him a rock in a blanket.
Cronos swallowed it believing it was the Cronos swallowed it believing it was the baby. Rhea then smuggled the baby Zeus baby. Rhea then smuggled the baby Zeus
to the island of Creteto the island of Crete
to be raised by nymphs..to be raised by nymphs..
Later Zeus would return to defeat his Later Zeus would return to defeat his father in the battle between the father in the battle between the
Olympians and the Titans.Olympians and the Titans.
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