CMLT316 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Cronus, Castration, Hieros Gamos
3 Jun 2018
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CH 3: Myths of Creation
Genesis From Chaos
● Hesiod in his epic poem the Theogony offers the earliest Greek version of genesis
● Chaos provides the beginning for creation
○ Out of Chaos the universe came into being
○ Later writers interpret Chaos as a mass of many elements (earth, air, wind, and
fire) from which the universe was created
● From Hesiod’s Chaos came-
○ Ge/Gaia: most important and first; the earth and fertility mother came from Chaos
○ Tartarus: was an area in the depths of the earth; it became a place of
punishment in the Underworld
○ Eros: the potent concept of love, which is fundamental
○ Erebus: its darkness, became another name for Tartarus itself
○ Night
The Holy or Sacred Marriage of Earth and Sky
● Uranus
○ Of the elements that Gaia, earth, produced on her own, most significant is
Uranus
○ The male sky or heavens with his lightning and thunder
● The defication of the feminine, mother earth, and masculine god of the sky is basic to
mythological and religious thinking
● Their marriage is designated as a holy or sacred marriage
○ Hieros gamos, the technical term
The Children of Uranus and Gaia
● The three cyclopes
○ Only had one eye in the middle of their forehead
○ Forged lightning and thunderbolts
● The three Hecatonchires
○ “Hundred-handed”
○ Strong and monstrous creatures
● The twelve titans
○ Six brothers and six sisters who mate with each other
Some Titans and Their Offspring
Deities of Waters
● Oceanus was the stream of Ocean that encircles the disc of the earth in the early
concept of geography
● He is the father of the many spirits of waters
● The Oceanids
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Document Summary
Hesiod in his epic poem the theogony offers the earliest greek version of genesis. Out of chaos the universe came into being. Later writers interpret chaos as a mass of many elements (earth, air, wind, and fire) from which the universe was created. Ge/gaia: most important and first; the earth and fertility mother came from chaos. Tartarus: was an area in the depths of the earth; it became a place of punishment in the underworld. Eros: the potent concept of love, which is fundamental. Erebus: its darkness, became another name for tartarus itself. The holy or sacred marriage of earth and sky. Of the elements that gaia, earth, produced on her own, most significant is. The male sky or heavens with his lightning and thunder. The defication of the feminine, mother earth, and masculine god of the sky is basic to mythological and religious thinking. Their marriage is designated as a holy or sacred marriage.
