The Rise of Zeus

The Titans

• 12 Titans: Oceanus, Cocus, Crius, Gaia (Ge), Uranus (sky), Mountains, Pontus (ocean), Hecatonchires, Cyclopes ("hundred-handers"), Hyperion, Rhea, Cronos, Theia, lapetus, Themis, Mnemosyne, Phoebe, Tethys, Cronos, Hestia, Hera, Hades, Poseidon, Zeus, Demeter

The Birth of Zeus

• Rhea bore children to Cronos: Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus.
• Cronos swallowed each child to prevent being overthrown, as prophesied by Earth and starry Heaven.
• Rhea deceived Cronos by giving him a stone wrapped in swaddling clothes instead of Zeus.
• Zeus was hidden in Crete to be nourished and raised.

The Titanomachy

• A ten-year war between the Titans (from Othrys) and the gods (from Olympus), with no end in sight.
• Zeus unleashed his full might, using lightning and thunder to attack the Titans.
• The earth, sea, and sky were engulfed in flames and shaking during the battle.

Challenges to Zeus’ Power

• War Against the Olympians
  • The Titans
  • The Giants
• War Against Zeus
  • Typhon (Zeus’ Arch-enemy)
  • The Other Olympians (e.g. Thetis and the coup by Poseidon, Athena, Hera)
  • Prometheus and Man

Typhon

• Zeus battled Typhon, causing great turmoil on earth, in the sea, and in the heavens.
• The clash caused Hades and the Titans in Tartarus to tremble.