Uranus, Gaia and the four seasons |
Uranus
God of the Sky and first Ruler of the Universe
Uranus and Gaia (the goddess of the Earth), were the first rulers of the Universe. They gave birth to the Titans: a race of godlike giants, who personified the forces of nature. But Uranus was fearful of his offspring’s power, and hid them away in the darkest regions of the underworld, Tartarus. Gaia, wanting to free her children, and also wanting to save herself from the pain of carrying and giving birth to any more giants, asked her offspring to help her to castrate Uranus.
Cronus, the youngest of the twelve Tittans, agreed to help, and sought assistance in the battle that followed from Uranus’ other sons - the one-eyed Cyclopes and the Hecatoncheires (Briareus, Cottus and Gyes: three fifty-headed, hundred-handed giants Gaia gave Cronus an adamantine sickle, with which he severed his father’s genitals with one mighty blow. Where Uranus’ blood fell to the earth, the Erinyes (Furies), the Giants and the Meliae (nymphs of the manna ash trees) were born. Cronus threw his father’s genitals into the sea, and Aphrodite was created out of the sea foam.
By his actions, Cronus also separated heaven and earth.