CMLT316 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Omphalos, Typhon, Phorcys
31 May 2018
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2/13 Class Notes
Succession Myths
Key themes: seizing and maintaining power, ancient anthropology (what are we and where did
we come from?)
Theogony: the birth and succession of the gods
Three Important Successions
1. Uranus and Gaia/Ge (Heaven and Earth)
2. Kronos (aka Cronos) and Rhea (Titans)
3. Zeus and Hera (Olympians)
Three Important Interpretations
● Parallels between divine and human worlds
○ Struggle for power
● Replacement of other beliefs
○ An old god “Kronos” might have been replaced by a new god “Zeus” in beliefs
○ Different belief systems
● Underlying psychological concerns
○ Child surpassing the parent
The Rule of the Titans
● Gaia (earth) was angry at Uranus (heaven) for locking away her children in Tartarus
○ Universal theme of the relationship between the mother, father, and children
○ Mother supports the children
● She therefore devised a plan with her son Kronos
○ Last born son and strongest
● Adamant: the unbreakable thing
○ The castration of Uranus done by Kronos
○ Used a sickle
○ Takes away Uranus’ power
● Kronos is first successor, becomes ruler of the universe
● The birth of Aphrodite
○ Born from the castrated testes of Uranus mixed with the sea washed upon
Cyprus
○ What she is in charge of: the whispers of girls; smiles; deceptions; sweet
pleasure; intimacy; and tenderness
● Echidna: half woman, half snake (from Ceto and Phorcys)
● Cerberus: three headed dog (from Typhon and Echidna)
● Children of Kronos and Rhea, aka the Olympians
○ Hestia
○ Demeter
○ Gold-sandalled Hera
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Document Summary
Key themes: seizing and maintaining power, ancient anthropology (what are we and where did we come from?) Theogony: the birth and succession of the gods. Three important successions: uranus and gaia/ge (heaven and earth, kronos (aka cronos) and rhea (titans, zeus and hera (olympians) An old god kronos might have been replaced by a new god zeus in beliefs. Gaia (earth) was angry at uranus (heaven) for locking away her children in tartarus. Universal theme of the relationship between the mother, father, and children. She therefore devised a plan with her son kronos. The castration of uranus done by kronos. Kronos is first successor, becomes ruler of the universe. Born from the castrated testes of uranus mixed with the sea washed upon. What she is in charge of: the whispers of girls; smiles; deceptions; sweet pleasure; intimacy; and tenderness. Echidna: half woman, half snake (from ceto and phorcys) Cerberus: three headed dog (from typhon and echidna)
