What do titans mean?

Greek mythology is full of gods, demigods, heroes, and strange creatures, yet there was a primary generation from which all of them were born. In this article, it is explained what are titans and who belonged to this group. In the same way, the difference of these with the titans is explained and the offspring they had is mentioned.

What do the titans mean?

In Greek mythology, before the reign of the gods of Olympus and Zeus, there were other beings who ruled the earth. These deities are the forerunners and parents of many of the gods and creatures described by Hesiod in his theogony. In this sense, the Titans are very important for this culture, despite the fact that most of them are not very popular, except for the specific case of Crono.

The word titanides is the feminine equivalent of the noun titan. This word is used to refer to the deities that, according to Greek mythology, ruled in the Golden Age. It is a group of 6 or 7 women they belong to the titans.

Very little is known about Titans and Titans, since most literary works of the time do not mention them. In the same way, it is unknown if there was a cult towards these beings before that of the Greek gods originated. The poet Hesiod was the one who popularized them by telling part of his story, where the most relevant fact is the titanomachy (war of the titans).

What is the difference between titans and titanides?

Hesiod told the etiological myth of the precursors of the gods of Olympus, that is, he revealed the origin. In this sense, this poet described that the titans and the titanides come from Uranus (heaven) and Gaia (earth) that they were the supreme beings. Here, it should be noted that most of these beings can be related as people or as fundamental concepts of life on earth, such is the case of the Sun, nature and the Ocean.

Both words can be used to describe any deity that was born prior to the Olympians, the generation of Zeus. However, the term titan and its plural titans describe beings of the masculine gender. While, titanides encompasses entities or beings of the female gender, although there are authors who do not make this distinction. Therefore, they group the 12 pre-Olympic and their offspring as titans or titanides.

Names of Titans in Greek Mythology

The original titanides may vary depending on the author who describes them, since there are some who include Dione as part of the group. However, they are counted 6 as the primordial and that they were born from Uranus and Gaia. It should be noted that some of these are more relevant than the others due to their relationship with Zeus.

• Febe: She is the one about which there is less information, she was Ceo’s wife.
• Mnemosyne: Represents memory, had a relationship with his nephew Zeus, from which emerged the 9 muses.
• Themis: She represents justice, order, laws and equity. She also had a relationship with Zeus, where she fathered the Fates and the Hours.
• Tea: Wife of Hyperion. She is the goddess of sight and light.
• Thetis: She is a titan of the sea, married to Océano.
• Rea: It is the best known for being the Queen of the Titans and Titansmarried Crono.

For their part, the Titans were:

• Ocean: God of the river and the ocean.
• Hyperion: God of fire.
• Iapetus: Father of Prometheus, from which humans come.
• Crío: Personification of the ram, god of the flock.
• CEO: It is related to intelligence.
• Chrono: The youngest son of Gaia and Urano, but the one who received the leadership of the Titans by overthrowing Uranus. He received a prophecy that one of his children would defeat him, so he ate them until Zeus appeared.

From the union of the titans and titanides arose what is known as the second generationso they should also enter this list.

Second Generation Titans:

• Asteria: Reflects the stars. Daughter of Phoebe and Ceo.
• Circe: It’s a magician who ruled the island Aeaeadaughter of Helios.
• Astrea: It is a titanic Hour, a deity that reflects justice.
• Eos: Deity of the auroras.
• Hecate: Daughter of two members of the second generation, but does not count as a third.
• Leto: Born of Phoebe and Ceo, she is the mother of the god Apollo and Artemis after having a relationship with Zeus.
• Pirra: Daughter of the Titan Epimetheus with Pandora, she could also integrate a third generation.
• Selene: Born from Hyperion, she is known as the goddess of the moon

Second Generation Titans:

• Atlas: Known for taking punishment from charge the vault of heaven to separate it from the ground.
• Heósfoto: Represents the planet Venus, the morning star.
• Epimetheus: He helped his brother create humanity.
• Prometheus: The friend of menhe stole the fire from the gods to deliver it to humanity.
• Helios: The god of the sun.
• Pallas and Perses: Children of Crío.
• Titan: It can be the brother of Cronus and Iapetus or the brother of Helios.

Rea and Crono formed the most important couple in the group of twelve titans or titans, however, their offspring did not have the same classification. In that sense, their first children were the Cyclopes and the Hecatonchitos, whom they banished to earth for their deformity. Then the first Olympic gods were born Hestia, Hera, Demeter, Hades and Poseidon, which Chrono swallowed to prevent his defeat. Finally, Zeus was born, whom Rhea hid, he grew up and defeated his father, bringing back his brothers and was left with the kingdom of the gods.