the TITANS & early Greek Mythology
Helios:
Chronos
Member
Member # 2051
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posted 07-28-2004 08:40 AM
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For the next phase in the chronology, I would like to concentrate more on what we know on the individual second generation of Titans, with emphasis first on the generation that contained Gaia and Ouranus, then the second, obviously "myself," Chronos' generation, finally the Titan generation that included Hyperion, Prometheus and obviously Atlas.
The others, Rhea, Oceanus, Tethys, Mnemosyne, Themis, Iapetus, Epimetheus, Metis are fair game as well, but at this point, I've found, at least, there comes a certain levelling off of good material. Very little other than the general information seems to be known of Coeus and Phoebe, and, in the case of Crius and Thea, very little at all.
Ideally, I should like this document to proceed along a linear fashion commencing along these lines:
* The basis for the myth, Titanaomchy
* The original, first generation Titans
* The second and third generation Titans, especially in terms of the ones just mentioned.
* "Titanmochy", the war the Titans fought with the Olympians, explored in greater detail.
* Zeus and his generation, including Hades, Demeter, Hera, and, of course, Poseidon.
* The second war with the Titans, as I like to call it, or rather "Gigantomchy", the war with the giants.
* The second generation that evolved from the gods of Olympus. This would include, of course, Artemis, Apollo, Aphrodite etc.
* The role the gods played in other Greek tales, such as the tales of Troy and Atlantis (which can be shown throughout).
* The demise of the gods, both literally and what Greek literature tells us about it.
I realize that everyone may not be interested in contributing to this material, which is fine. Ideally, the main goal, for me, anyway, is to have a document true to the title of the topic, or some semblance thereof, rather than one that strays away from those ideals.
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Posts: 1008 | From: various | Registered: Jul 2004
Helios:
Chronos
Member
Member # 2051
Member Rated:
posted 07-28-2004 08:44 AM
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Incidentally, originally, I meant to also include talk of giants and the Watchers/Nephilim in this thread. That topic still interests me, but since that might confuse things and make the thread needlessly longer than it is, I imagine I might start a separate thread for that topic.
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Posts: 1008 | From: various | Registered: Jul 2004
Helios:
MYTHOLOGY IN MODERN SOCIETY
PLACES IN THE UNITED STATES
NAMED FROM MYTHOLOGY
Mythology is everywhere! There are hundreds of places in the United States (and Canada, not to mention the entire world!) named from Greek Mythology. Odds are you'll find a few good examples right in your own state, wherever you live.
Consider that there are at least 16 cities named Athens in the United States! Or, even more amazing, there exist no less than 26 American cities that contain Troy in their names!
I've researched each of the 50 States and have put together a huge list of American cities whose names relate to mythology. Let me know if I've missed any and I'll be happy to add them.
Athens, the capital city of Greece, is named after the goddess Athena:
Athens, Georgia
Athens, Ohio
Athens, Alabama
Athens, Indiana
Athens, Maine
Athens, New York
Athens, Pennsylvania
Athens, Tennessee
Athens, Texas
Athens, West Virginia
Athens, Wisconsin
Athens, Louisiana
Athens, Michigan
Athens, Illinois
Athens, Pennsylvania
New Athens, Illinois
Athens County, Ohio
Athens, Wisconsin
Attica, New York
Athena's Roman equivalent was Minerva:
Minerva, Kentucky
Minerva, New York
Minerva, Ohio
Achilles was the greatest warrior of the Trojan War, killed only when an arrow struck his heel, the only vulnerable spot on his body:
Achille, Oklahoma
(a reader mentioned that this is a Native American derivation, not Greek)
Achilles, Virginia
Ajax was the name of two famous warriors of the Trojan War:
Ajax, South Dakota
Apollo was another Olympian, the god of music and light. After him is named:
Apollo, Pennsylvania
North Apollo, Pennsylvania
Apollo Beach, Florida
Apollo Annex, Florida
Apollo Theater, Chicago
Apollo Theater, New York
Amazons in Greek mythology were a ferocious race of warrior women:
Amazonia, Missouri
Arcadia was a famous place in ancient Greece:
Arcadia, California
Arcadia, Florida
Arcadia, Indiana
Arcadia, Iowa
Arcadia, Kansas
Arcadia, Louisiana
Arcadia, Michigan
Arcadia, Missouri
Arcadia, Nebraska
Arcadia, Pennsylvania
Arcadia, South Carolina
Arcadia, Wisconsin
Ares was one of the 12 Olympians, the despised god of war:
Ares Peak, New Mexico
Argo was the name of the famous ship that Jason and the Argonauts used to sail on their voyage to get the Golden Fleece.
Argo, Texas
Argos was the hundred-eyed watchman of Hera, slain by the Greek messenger god Hermes:
Argos, Indiana
Arion was the poet tossed overboard by Pirates who was saved by a dolphin:
Arion, Iowa
Arion, Ohio
Atlas was the hapless Titan who was doomed to support the heavens on his shoulder forever. Many variations of his name have given us a number of American place names:
Atlantic Beach, Florida
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Idaho
Atlanta, Illinois
Atlanta, Indiana
Atlantic, Iowa
Atlanta, Kansas
Atlas, Kansas
Atlanta, Louisiana
Atlanta, Michigan
Atlas, Michigan
Atlanta, Missouri
Atlanta, Nebraska
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlanta, New York
Atlantic Beach, New York
Atlantic, North Carolina
Atlantic Beach, North Carolina
Atlantic, Pennsylvania
Atlasburg, Pennsylvania
Atlanta, Texas
Atlantic, Virginia
Aurora was the Roman goddess of the dawn, similar to the Greek Eos:
Aurora, Colorado
Aurora, Illinois
Aurora, Indiana
Aurora, Iowa
Aurora, Kansas
Aurora, Kentucky
Aurora, Maine
Aurora, Minnesota
Aurora, Missouri
Aurora, Nebraska
Aurora, New York
East Aurora, New York
Aurora, North Carolina
Aurora, Ohio
Aurora, Oregon
Aurora, South Dakota
Aurora, Utah
Aurora, West Virginia
Daphne was a beautiful woman who was pursued by the god Apollo. She turned into a laurel tree in order to escape from his amorous advances. After her is named:
Daphne, Alabama
Castor and Polux were famous twins of Greek mythology:
Castor, Louisiana
The Nymph Calypso was a witch who tried to convince the hero Odysseus to stay with her on her island, rather than sailing home:
Calypso, North Carolina
Cassandra was the seer who was cursed by Apollo, so that her prophecies were never believed:
Cassandra, Pennsylvania
Ceres was the Roman goddess of the harvest, similar to the Greek goddess Demeter:
Ceres, California
Ceres, Virginia
Clio was one of the nine Muses of Greek mythology:
Clio, Alabama
Clio, California
Clyo, Georgia
Clio, Iowa
Clio, Michigan
Clio, South Carolina
Clio, West Virginia
Corinth was a famous place in Greek mythology, figuring in numerous myths:
Corinth, Kentucky
Corinth, Mississippi
Corinth, New York
Corinth, Texas
Corinth, Vermont
East Corinth, Vermont
Crete was the island where Zeus was raised as a baby while hiding from the wrath of his father, Cronus:
Crete, Illinois
Crete, Nebraska
Diana was the Roman name for the Greek Artemis, goddess of the forest and the hunt:
Diana, Texas
Diana, West Virginia
Fortuna was the Roman goddess of luck, similar to the Greek Tyche:
Fortuna Ledge, Alaska
Fortuna, California
Fortuna, Missouri
The Oracles in mythology were respected seers who foretold the future:
Oracle, Arizona
The most famous Oracle was Apollo's, at a place called Delphi:
Delphi, Indiana
Delphia, Kentucky
Delphi Falls, New York
Hector was a brave warrior who fought on the Trojan side against the Greeks during the Trojan War. He was killed by Achilles:
Hector, Arkansas
Hector, California
Hector, New York
Homer was the ancient poet and writer who gave us the famous books the Iliad and the Odyssey:
Homer, Alaska
Homer, Georgia
Homerville, Georgia
Homer, Illinois
Homer, Indiana
Homer, Louisiana
Homer, Nebraska
Homer, New York
East Homer, New York
Homer, Ohio
Homerville, Ohio
Hymera was the Greek personification of the Day:
Hymera, Indiana
Hesperia was the Greek goddess who personified the Evening:
Hesperia, California
Hesperus was the elusive god who personified the Evening:
Hesperus, Colorado
Irene was the ancient Greek personification of Peace:
Irene, South Dakota
Irene, Texas
Iris was the Greek goddess of the Rainbow:
Iris, South Carolina
Ithaca was the island home of the Trojan War hero, Odysseus; the Odyssey by Homer detailed his voyage back home to Ithaca:
Ithaca, Nebraska
Ithaca, New York
Ithaca College, New York
Ithaca, Ohio
The Parthenon in Athens was the splendid temple at the Acropolis, built in honor of the great goddess Athena:
Parthenon, Arkansas
Dike (or Dyke, pronounced DEE-key) was the Greek mythological personification of Justice:
Dike, Iowa
Dike, Texas
Dyke, Virginia
Echo was the beautiful maiden who fell in love with the vain Narcissus and was reduced to just an echo:
Echo Lake, California
Echo, Louisiana
Echo, Minnesota
Echo, Oregon
Echo, Texas
Echo, Utah
The Elysian Fields was the final resting place of famous heroes:
Elysian, Minnesota
Elysian Fields, Texas
Eros was the Greek god of love, similar to the mischievous Roman Cupid:
Eros, Louisiana
Eros, Arizona
Flora was the Roman name for the Greek Chloris, goddess of plants and vegetation:
Flora, Illinois
Flora, Indiana
Flora, Louisiana
Flora, Mississippi
Glen Flora, Texas
Glen Flora, Wisconsin
The Griffin was a mythical creature with the face, beak, talons and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion:
Griffin, Georgia
Griffin, Indiana
Hades was the feared god of the Underworld:
Hades Creek, Washington
Hercules (Heracles) was the greatest hero of ancient Greece. He performed the famous 12 labors:
Hercules, California
Luna was the Roman goddess of the moon, equivalent to the Greek goddess Selene:
Luna, New Mexico
The city of Marathon was the setting for a magnificent battle, and where we get the modern day race called the marathon:
Marathon, New York
Mars was the Roman god of war, the equivalent of the Greek god Ares:
Mars Hill, Maine
Mars, Pennsylvania
Medusa was the monster who would turn to stone whomever happened to look upon her:
Medusa, New York
Mentor was a famous tutor/teacher in ancient Greek mythology:
Mentor, Minnesota
Mentor, Ohio
Mercury was the Roman name for the Greek god Hermes, winged messenger to the gods:
Mercury, Nevada
Mount Olympus was the lofty home of the ancient gods. From Olympus we get place names such as:
Olympic Valley, California
Olympia Heights, Florida
Olympia Fields, Illinois
Olympia, Kentucky
East Olympia, Virginia
Olympia, Washington
The nine Muses in Greek mythology were the ones who inspired the arts, sciences, music and all things cultural:
Muse, Pennsylvania
Neptune was the Roman name for Poseidon, Greek god of the sea:
Neptune Beach, Florida
Neptune, New Jersey
Neptune City, New Jersey
Orestes was the tragic figure who killed his mother, Clytaemnestra, and was pursued by the Furies, in the tragedy Oresteia by Aeschylus:
Orestes, Indiana
Pandora (all-gifted) was the first mortal woman. Her curiosity made her open up a jar (box), which unleashed all the world's evils upon the earth:
Pandora, Ohio
Pandora, Texas
Paris was the Trojan prince who ran away with beautiful Helen, an act which caused the famous Trojan War:
Paris, Tennessee
Paris, Texas
Penelope was the faithful wife to Odysseus, of Trojan War and Odyssey fame:
Penelope, Texas
Sparta was a famous city state in ancient Greece, renowned for its highly disciplined and ferocious warriors:
Sparta, Georgia
Sparta, Illinois
Sparta, Kentucky
Sparta, Michigan
Sparta, Mississippi
Sparta, New Jersey
Sparta, New York
East Sparta, Ohio
Sparta, Tennessee
Sparta, Virginia
Sparta, Wisconsin
Thebes was another famous city state, with a storied mythical history:
Thebes, Illinois
Troy was the ancient mythological city where the famous Trojan War took place. Many US places are named Troy:
Troy, Alabama
Troy, Idaho
Troy, Illinois
Troy Grove, Illinois
Troy, Indiana
Troy Mills, Iowa
Troy, Kansas
Troy, Maine
Troy, Michigan
New Troy, Michigan
Troy, Missouri
Troy, Montana
Troy, New Hampshire
Troy, New York
Troy, North Carolina
Troy, Ohio
Troy, Pennsylvania
Troy, South Carolina
Troy, Tennessee
Troy, Texas
Troy, Vermont
North Troy, Vermont
Troy, Virginia
Troy, West Virginia
East Troy, Wisconsin
Venus was the Roman name for gorgeous Aphrodite, Greek goddess of Love:
Venus, Florida
Venus, Pennsylvania
Venus, Texas
Vesta was the Roman name for the Greek goddess Hestia, ancient goddess of the home and hearth. Her attendants were called the Vestal virgins:
Vesta, Minnesota
Vesta, Virginia
Vestal, New York
Victoria was Roman for the Greek Nike, winged goddess of Victory:
Victoria, Minnesota
Victoria, Mississippi
Victoria, Texas
Victoria, Virginia
Vulcan was the Roman name for Hephaestus, Greek god of the forge:
Vulcan, Michigan
Vulcan, Missouri
Vulcan, West Virginia
Zephyr was one of the wind gods, the West Wind:
Zephyrhills, Florida
Zephyr Cove, Nevada
Zephyr, Texas
Notus was another wind god, this one the South Wind:
Notus, Idaho
Orion was a giant in Greek mythology who was placed in the stars as the Constellation Orion:
Orion, Illinois
Orion, Michigan
Juno was the Roman name for Hera, wife to Zeus, the supreme Greek Olympian:
Juno Beach, Florida
Jupiter was the Roman name for the King of the Olympians, Zeus:
Jupiter, Florida
Helen of Troy was the most beautiful woman on earth, and the cause of the Trojan War:
Lake Helen, Florida
Helen, Georgia
Helena, Georgia
Helen, Maryland
Helena, Missouri
Helena, Montana
Helena, New York
Helena, Oklahoma
Helen, West Virginia
Helenville, Wisconsin
Marathon was another famous Greek place and the scene of a decisive ancient battle. We get the modern 26 kilometer Marathon Race from this city:
Marathon, Florida
Marathon Shores, Florida
Marathon, Iowa
Marathon, Texas
Marathon, Wisconsin
The Phoenix was the legendary bird that would perish every few hundred years, only to be reborn from the ashes:
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Maryland
Phoenix, New York
Phoenix, Oregon
Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
Phenix, Virginia
Ulysses was the Roman name for Odysseus, hero of Homer's epic saga The Odyssey:
Ulysses, Kansas
Ulysses, Kentucky
Ulysses, Nebraska
Ulysses, Pennsylvania
Urania was the one of the nine Muses, the Greek Muse of astronomy, astrology and Universal love.
Urania, Louisiana
Uranus (Sky) was an original Titan, husband to Gaea (Mother Earth):
Uranus, Alaska http://www.thanasis.com/modern/places.htm
Helios:
http://www.pantheon.org/areas/mythology/europe/greek/articles.html
Atlas
by Micha F. Lindemans
Atlas is a scion of the Titans, the Greek race of giants, and the son of Iapetus and the nymph Clymene. He is the father of the Hesperides, the Hyades and the Pleiades. He was also thought to be the king of legendary Atlantis ("Land of Atlas").
In the revolt of the Titans against the gods of the Olympic, Atlas stormed the heavens and Zeus punished him for this deed by condemning him to forever bear the heavens upon his shoulders. Hence his name, which means "bearer" or "endurer".
To complete the eleventh of his twelve labors, Heracles had to obtain the golden apples of the Hesperides, and he asked Atlas for help. Heracles offered to bear Atlas's burden in his absence, when he went to retrieve the apples. Atlas agreed to perform the task readily enough, since he did not plan on ever bearing that burden again. When Atlas returned with the apples, Heracles requested him to assume the load for a moment, saying he needed to adjust the pad to ease the pressure on his shoulders. After Atlas bore the heavens again, Heracles walked off with the golden apples.
When Atlas refused to give shelter to Perseus, the latter changed Atlas into stone, using Medusa's head. On the place where Atlas stood, now lie Mount Atlas (north-western Africa). In art, Atlas is usually depicted as a man bearing a globe.
The story of Atlas, as told by Thomas Bulfinch.
Etymology:
He who dares or suffers
Helios:
Chronos
Member
Member # 2051
Member Rated:
posted 07-28-2004 08:53 AM
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Concerning the parentage of Atlas, who is so important in the Atlantis story, we have this quote from Bullfinch:
"Atlas is a scion of the Titans, the Greek race of giants, and the son of Iapetus and the nymph Clymene. He is the father of the Hesperides, the Hyades and the Pleiades. He was also thought to be the king of legendary Atlantis ("Land of Atlas")."
Then there is this one from Critias (the Benjamin Jowett translation):
"He (Poseidon, with Cleito)also begat and brought up five pairs of twin male children; and dividing the island of Atlantis into ten portions, he gave to the first-born of the eldest pair his mother's dwelling and the surrounding allotment, which was the largest and best, and made him king over the rest; the others he made princes, and gave them rule over many men, and a large territory. And he named them all; the eldest, who was the first king, he named Atlas, and after him the whole island and the ocean were called Atlantic."
Classic Greek mythology clearly states that Iapetus and the nymph Clymene were Atlas' parents, not Poseidon and Cleito. In fact, Poseidon was either a contemporary of Atlas or born after him. Of course, prior to the war between the Titans and the Greek gods, Poseidon was one of the children swallowed by his father Chronos, swallowed at birth, I might add, and hardly in any position to father anyone. Poseidon was not released until the war and by this time Atlas was already in command of the Titan forces. It is worth noting that, in the mythology I have seen, only Plato makes this mistake, if it is a mistake...
I submit that the name "Atlas" was a common name, there was more than one Atlas, and modern researchers only link the original Atlas with the story of Atlantis because they are confused by the usage.
That said, when Plato mentions "after him the whole island and the ocean were called Atlantic..." it might be a case of ascribing easy answers to complex solutions. According to the legend, Cleito and her parents were already living on the island before Poseidon reached it, the island could have already had a different name, been named after the original Titan, perhaps even named after someone else with a name similar to "Atlas."
I'm confident that Atlantis existed, that there was perhaps a large island in the Atlantic, or something similar in the vicinity of Gibralter. I also believe, though, that the account itself might be open to some errors, both by the tellers of the story, and by it's translators. The essential truth, though, has to be something along the lines of what we have always believed about it, else that truth wouldn't have been so stressed by greatly by Plato.
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Posts: 1008 | From: various | Registered: Jul 2004
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