Classical Mythology

CHAPTER

4

ZEUS' RISE TO POWER:

THE CREATION OF MORTALS

THE TITANOMACHY: ZEUS DEFEATS HIS FATHER, CRONUS

When Zeus had grown to maturity, Cronus was beguiled into bringing up all
that he had swallowed, first the stone and then the children.^1 Zeus then waged
war against his father with his disgorged brothers and sisters as allies: Hestia,
Demeter, Hera, Hades, and Poseidon. Allied with him as well were the Heca-
tonchires and the Cyclopes, for he had released them from the depths of the
earth, where their father, Uranus, had imprisoned them. The Hecatonchires were
invaluable in hurling stones with their hundred-handed dexterity, and the Cy-
clopes forged for him his mighty thunder and lightning. On the other side, al-
lied with Cronus, were the Titans—with the important exception of Themis and
her son Prometheus, both of whom allied with Zeus. Atlas, the brother of
Prometheus, was an important leader on the side of Cronus.
The battle was of epic proportions, Zeus fighting from Mt. Olympus, Cronus
from Mt. Othrys. The struggle is said to have lasted ten years.^2 An excerpt from
Hesiod conveys the magnitude and ferocity of the conflict (Theogony 678-721):

¥

The boundless sea echoed terribly, earth resounded with the great roar, wide

heaven trembled and groaned, and high Olympus was shaken from its base by

the onslaught of the immortals; the quakes came thick and fast and, with the

dread din of the endless chase and mighty weapons, reached down to gloomy

Tartarus.

Thus they hurled their deadly weapons against one another. The cries of

both sides as they shouted reached up to starry heaven, for they came together

with a great clamor. Then Zeus did not hold back his might any longer, but now

immediately his heart was filled with strength and he showed clearly all his

force. He came direct from heaven and Olympus hurling perpetual lightning,

• Zeus. Bronze, ca. 460 B.C., height 82 in. The viewer feels awe at the superhuman size, di-
  vine nudity, and commanding mien of the god as he hurls his thunderbolt. This statue
  was found in the sea off Cape Artemisium (at the northern end of Euboea). The identi-
  fication with Zeus is more likely than with Poseidon hurling his trident. (National Mu-
  seum of Athens.)

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