Essay Archive - Hesiod and the Ascent of Zeus
Hesiod and the Ascent of Zeus
The Theogony, attributed to the Greek poet, Hesiod, is a description of the creation of the world and Zeus's rise to power through the succession of fathers to sons. It starts with Ouranos and ends when Zeus prevents the succession from continuing to his own son.
The very first being is Chaos. Next is Gaia, the earth. She is "the ever-immovable base for all the immortals" (Theog. 117). Then Tartaros, Eros, Erebus, and Night arose. After these, Gaia created "star-studded" (Theog.127) Ouranos, "him who is equal to her" (Theog. 157), and Pontos, the sea, from herself.
With Ouranos, her....
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