Classical Mythology, 7th Edition - obinfonet: dia logou

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 Hecatonchires
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 Cyclopes
forged for him his mighty thunder and lightning. On the other side, allied
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, divine
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 identification
with Zeus is more likely than with Poseidon hurling his trident. (National Museum
of Athens.)
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