---
title: Theogony
author: Donald L. Wasson
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Theogony/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 2024-10-01
---
# Theogony
_Authored by [Donald L. Wasson](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/DWasson/)_
The *Theogony* is an 8th-century BCE didactic and instructional poem, credited to the [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) poet [Hesiod](https://www.worldhistory.org/hesiod/). The *Theogony* was, at first, not actually written down, rather, it was part of a rich oral tradition which only achieved written form decades later. The *Theogony* traces the history of the world from its creation through the [battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) between the Olympians and the Titans to the ascension of [Zeus](https://www.worldhistory.org/zeus/) as the absolute ruler of all of the Olympian gods. With the rise of Zeus to supremacy and the birth of his many children, the poem ends and does not address the continued struggles between mankind and the gods. Much of what is known today concerning early [Greek mythology](https://www.worldhistory.org/Greek_Mythology/) comes from Hesiod's work and that other great Greek poet [Homer](https://www.worldhistory.org/homer/). Collectively, their works would serve as a major influence on later [Greek literature](https://www.worldhistory.org/Greek_Literature/) and drama, and [Roman mythology](https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Mythology/), especially through the epic *Metamorphoses* by [Ovid](https://www.worldhistory.org/ovid/).
### Authorship
The *Theogony* (from the Greek *theogonia*, meaning "generations of the gods") is an epic poem of 1,022 hexameter lines which describes the birth of the gods in the Greek [pantheon](https://www.worldhistory.org/Pantheon/). It is thought to have been composed c. 700 BCE (give or take a generation either side of that date). Little is known of Hesiod's life. His father emigrated from Cyme in [Asia Minor](https://www.worldhistory.org/Asia_Minor/) and settled in Boeotia, a small state in central [Greece](https://www.worldhistory.org/greece/). It is assumed that the poet was a farmer; a fact garnered from the early verses of the *Theogony*. He may also have been a rhapsodist, a reciter of poetry, where he learned the technique and vocabulary of heroic songs.
Although there are some who question whether or not Hesiod actually wrote the *Theogony*, most classicists believe he did. However, parts of the work may have been added by later poets and there is a definite similarity in some aspects to earlier [Mesopotamian literature](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mesopotamian_Literature/). The historian Dorothea Wender believes that the *Theogony* was an earlier work than *[Works and Days](https://www.worldhistory.org/Works_and_Days/)*, the other work attributed to Hesiod. She considers the latter to be a better work, and while the *Theogony* seems to be unpolished, the author could have had difficulty with written composition.
Wender criticizes Hesiod for not discussing the dethroning of Kronos and his endless mention of "colourless deities." Also, Hesiod's Zeus is too invincible. There is no suspense. "Homer gets more excitement out of a footrace than Hesiod does out of a full-scale [war](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/) in heaven" (18). However, to Wender, the poem still has historical interest. Certainly, the *Theogony* was influential; the historian Norman Cantor in his *Antiquity* wrote that the Greeks adopted Homer and Hesiod's notion of the gods and
> a distinctive [Greek religion](https://www.worldhistory.org/Greek_Religion/) was developed. This [religion](https://www.worldhistory.org/religion/) was always complex and never consistent in all its details; still, its view of man and the world lies at the center of [Greek culture](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Greek_Culture/). (123)
Hesiod was influential on Classical Greek literature and philosophy, his Prometheus story, for example, inspiring such playwrights as Aeschylus (c. 525 - c. 456 BCE). His poetic style was much imitated, particularly in [Hellenistic](https://www.worldhistory.org/Hellenic_World/) times and in [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) times - both the Republic and Imperial [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/) - when Hesiod's works continued to be recited and set to [music](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Music/). The great Roman writer Ovid (43 BCE - 17 CE) would use many of the themes of the *Theogony* in his *Metamorphoses.*
[  The Twelve Elder Titans in Greek Mythology Simeon Netchev (CC BY-NC-ND) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17279/the-twelve-elder-titans-in-greek-mythology/ "The Twelve Elder Titans in Greek Mythology")### Homer vs Hesiod
In the introduction to her translation of the *Theogony*, Wender compared the gods of Homer to those of Hesiod. Although Homer's Olympians may not have been admirable ethically - they lied, cheated, and stole - they were still civilized. Homer erased their sins with no mention of any "primitive behavior." However, Hesiod made no effort to "whitewash the mythological past in terms of modern standards with one exception. The exception is Zeus, the hero of the poem, whose omniscience, power and justice are stressed at every opportunity" (17). Homer's epics were written for an upper-class audience while Hesiod's works were more pedestrian. In addition, "… Hesiod has allowed his world of primitive gods and chaotic forces to remain primitive and chaotic" (17).
### Hymn to the [Muses](https://www.worldhistory.org/muse/)
In the opening lines of the poem, Hesiod gives credit to the nine Muses, who came to him while he was tending his sheep, for having taught him to sing. Speaking of himself in the third person, Hesiod wrote:
> The Muses once taught Hesiod to sing
> Sweet songs, while he was shepherding his lambs
> On holy Helicon; the goddesses
> Olympian, daughters of Zeus who holds
> The aegis, first addressed these words to me:
> 'You rustic shepherds, shame: belies you are
> Not men!' (23-24)
[  Clio Mark Cartwright (CC BY-NC-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/1296/clio/ "Clio")However, Hesiod adds that while man knows enough to make up convincing lies, he still has the skill to speak the truth when needed. The Muses gave him a staff from a blooming laurel and
> breathed a sacred voice into my mouth
> With which to celebrate the things to come
> And things which were before. (24)
He was instructed by the Muses to speak of those who will "live forever." Hesiod, thus, paid homage to the gods with a hymn to the nine Muses who had told the poet of times past. It was a time before the days of Zeus when the earth was born out of Chaos. They spoke of the rise of their father Zeus to the throne on Mount Olympus after his defeat of his own father, Kronos ([Cronus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Cronus/)):
> We start then, with the Muses, who delight
> With song the mighty mind of father Zeus
> Within Olympus, telling of things that are
> That will be, and that were, with voices joined
> In harmony. The sweet sound flows from mouths
> That never tire; the halls of father Zeus
> The Thunderer, shine gladly when the pure
> Voice of the goddesses is scattered forth. (24)
Hesiod continues by hearing how the Muses celebrated both the "august race of the first-born gods" and Zeus, the father of both the gods and men. They tell him how Zeus eventually defeated Kronos and divided power among the other gods, most significantly with his brothers [Poseidon](https://www.worldhistory.org/poseidon/) and [Hades](https://www.worldhistory.org/Hades/). Hesiod tells of how Zeus became supreme,
> for he had beaten his father, Kronos, by force
> And now divided power among the gods
> Fairly, and gave appropriate rank to each. (25)
[  The Twelve Olympian Gods of Ancient Greece Simeon Netchev (CC BY-NC-ND) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/19516/the-twelve-olympian-gods-of-ancient-greece/ "The Twelve Olympian Gods of Ancient Greece")### Birth of the Gods
After the hymn to the Muses, Hesiod describes the birth of the gods. He asks the Muses to "give me sweet song" to tell
> how the gods and earth arose at first
> And rivers and the boundless swollen sea
> And shining stars, and the broad heaven above
> And how the gods divided up their wealth
> and how they shared their honours, how they first
> Captured Olympus with its many folds. (26)
They spoke of Chaos and how from Chaos came night and day. From Chaos came Earth ([Gaia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Gaia/)) who bore Heaven or Sky (Ouranos) as well as other children including [Eros](https://www.worldhistory.org/Eros/) (Desire), [Tartarus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tartarus/) (Underworld), Erebus (Darkness), and [Nyx](https://www.worldhistory.org/Nyx/) (Night). From Nyx would come Doom, Dreams, Discord, Blame, and Sleep.
Hesiod speaks of how Nyx also gave birth to the Destines and the merciless [Fates](https://www.worldhistory.org/Fates/),
> who track down the sins of men
> And gods, and ever cease from awful rage
> Until they give the sinner punishment. (30)
However, from the "marriage" of Earth and Sky came the "crooked-scheming Kronos," the enemy of his father. All of the sons of Earth and Heaven - who would become known as the Titans - were hated by their jealous father from the moment of their birth. After each child was born, Ouranos would hide the babe deep in the Earth away from the light. However, their grief-stricken mother had a plan to repay his wicked crime. One evening, when Ouranos approached his wife, a hiding Kronos emerged and took a long-bladed sickle (given to him by his mother) and castrated his father. The dripping blood gave birth to both the [Furies](https://www.worldhistory.org/Furies/) and the [Giants](https://www.worldhistory.org/Giants/). The severed genitals were thrown into the sea from which [Aphrodite](https://www.worldhistory.org/Aphrodite/), the goddess of love, was born.
[  The Birth of Aphrodite Mark Cartwright (CC BY-NC-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/2194/the-birth-of-aphrodite/ "The Birth of Aphrodite")Aside from the rise of Zeus and the battle with the Titans, much of the poem is spent on the birth of a variety of minor deities, among them Protho, Eukrante, [Thetis](https://www.worldhistory.org/Thetis/), Hippothoe, and Cymatolege. Hesiod also tells of the marriage of Thaumas and [Electra](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/electra/), who gave birth to the Harpies. Hesiod then speaks of the Gorgons and [Medusa](https://www.worldhistory.org/Medusa/),
> …she who suffered painfully
> Her sisters were immortal, always young
> But she was mortal, and the Dark-haired one. (32)
According to legend, Medusa would die at the hands of [Perseus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Perseus/) (another son of Zeus), and when he severed her head,
> … great Chrysaor sprang out
> And [Pegasus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Pegasus/) the horse, who is so called
> Because his birth near to Ocean's springs. (32)
The poet speaks of the "unspeakable [Cerberus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Cerberus/),"
> who eats raw flesh
> The [bronze](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/bronze/)-voiced hound of Hades, shameless, strong
> With fifty heads. (33)
He wrote of the Hydra, Chimera, and the Nemean lion that would be defeated by the hero [Hercules](https://www.worldhistory.org/hercules/), the son of Zeus. Then there was the birth of [Hekate](https://www.worldhistory.org/Hecate/) ([Hecate](https://www.worldhistory.org/Hecate/)) daughter of Phoebe and granddaughter of the Titans,
> who, above all
> Is honoured by the son of Kronos, Zeus
> He gave her glorious gifts: a share of earth
> And of the barren sea. In starry heaven
> She has her place, and the immortal gods
> Respect her greatly. (36)
[  Head of Zeus, Artemesium Bronze Robert H.Consoli (Copyright) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/1245/head-of-zeus-artemesium-bronze/ "Head of Zeus, Artemesium Bronze")### Zeus & Kronos
Finally, Hesiod comes to the birth of Zeus:
> ...father of gods and men
> Whose thunder makes the wide earth tremble. (38)
[Rhea](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rhea/) next gave birth to [Hestia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Hestia/), [Demeter](https://www.worldhistory.org/demeter/), [Hera](https://www.worldhistory.org/Hera/), and Hades,
> who has his home beneath the earth
> The [god](https://www.worldhistory.org/God/) whose heart is pitiless, and him
> Who crashes loudly and who shakes the earth. (38)
However, Kronos seized each child and swallowed them, except, of course, Zeus who was stolen away by his mother to be reared in secret on the island of [Crete](https://www.worldhistory.org/crete/). Kronos had learned from Earth and Heaven that his destiny was to be overthrown by one of his own. He believed that no one should be superior to the gods except himself. After the future king of the gods returned from his hiding place, he would rise up against his father and castrate him. Wender wrote that Hesiod did not dwell on Zeus's attack of his father - not mentioning the castration - for he did not want the hero of the poem to demonstrate disrespect of a parent.
### [Atlas](https://www.worldhistory.org/Atlas/) & Prometheus
Later, the poet introduces other notable figures of Greek [mythology](https://www.worldhistory.org/mythology/) such as the offspring of the Titans. One of these, Atlas,
> forced by hard necessity
> Holds the broad heaven up, propped on his head
> And tireless hands, at the ends of Earth. (39)
[  Hercules and Atlas Mark Cartwright (CC BY-NC-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/438/hercules-and-atlas/ "Hercules and Atlas")Next, there was the birth of the "brilliant" Prometheus. However, Prometheus had angered the mighty father of the gods. He had tried to deceive Zeus and had stolen a ray of fire and given it to humanity, but Zeus did not want them to have fire. For this deception, the great god would have his revenge, and Prometheus
> was bound by Zeus
> In cruel chains, unbreakable, chained round
> A pillar, and Zeus roused and set on him
> An eagle with long wings, which came and ate
> His deathless liver. But the liver grew
> Each night, until it made up the amount
> The long-winged bird had eaten in the day. (40)
Hercules, son of Alcmene and Zeus, would later free Prometheus from his chains.
### The First Woman
In another important, if blatantly misogynistic episode, a young woman is created. Although not named, she was dressed by [Athena](https://www.worldhistory.org/athena/) in [silver](https://www.worldhistory.org/Silver/) robes and from her
> comes all the race of womankind
> The deadly female race and tribe of wives
> Who live with mortal men and bring them harm
> No help to them in dreadful poverty
> But ready enough to share with them in wealth. (42)
Later Greek mythology speaks of [Pandora](https://www.worldhistory.org/Pandora/), the wife of Epimetheus, who opens Pandora's Box, an act that brought evil to the world. However, Pandora, by name, is not mentioned until Hesiod's later work, the *Works and Days*. Hesiod wrote that a woman was bad for a man because she conspires. If a man avoids marriage and the difficulties it brings, he will be miserable in his old age because there will not be anyone to care for him; his relatives will divide his property upon his [death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/). However, a married man with a good wife gets both good and bad but lives his entire life in everlasting pain.
[  The Titan Oceanus Mary Harrsch (CC BY-NC-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/1083/the-titan-oceanus/ "The Titan Oceanus")### The Battle with the Titans
Long ago, a jealous and envious Ouranos had bound three of his sons - the Giants Kottos, Gyes, and Briateus - and
> made them live beneath the broad-pathed earth
> And there they suffered, living underground
> Farthest away, at great earth's edge; they grieved
> For many years, with great pain in their hearts. (43)
However, Zeus was able to free them and a battle ensued between the Olympian gods, helped by the Giants, and the Titans. The war between the gods of Olympus and the Titans would last for ten years.
> They joined in hateful battle, all of them
> Both male and female. [Titan](https://www.worldhistory.org/Titan/) gods and those
> Whom Kronos sired and those whom Zeus had brought
> To light from Erebos. Beneath the Earth
> Strange, mighty ones, whose power was immense. (45)
The battle continued until
> Zeus no longer checked his rage, for now
> His heart was filled with fury, and he showed
> The full range of his strength. (45)
The Titans were defeated and sent to Tartarus deep beneath the earth. Those Giants Zeus had freed and fought alongside the Olympians were rewarded for their loyalty.
[  Theogony (Generations of the Gods) by Hesiod, c. 700 BCE Simeon Netchev (CC BY-NC-ND) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17243/theogony-generations-of-the-gods-by-hesiod-c-700-b/ "Theogony (Generations of the Gods) by Hesiod, c. 700 BCE")### The Children of Zeus
The remainder of the poem is concerned with Zeus and the birth of his many children. His first wife was Metis, who bore him Athena. With [Leto](https://www.worldhistory.org/Leto/), he sired the twins [Apollo](https://www.worldhistory.org/apollo/) and [Artemis](https://www.worldhistory.org/artemis/), the huntress. With Hera, his sister, [Hebe](https://www.worldhistory.org/Hebe/), [Ares](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ares/), and Eileithuia were born. To Hera, "without the act of love" the limping god [Hephaistos](https://www.worldhistory.org/Hephaistos/) was born. From Mnemosyne came the nine Muses: Clio, Euterpe, Thalia, Melpomene, Terpsichore, Erato, Polyhymnia, Urania, and [Calliope](https://www.worldhistory.org/Calliope/). After mentioning the many sons and daughters of Zeus's offspring Hesiod ends his poem by saying,
> These are the goddesses who lay with men
> And bore them children who were like the gods
> Now sing of [women](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/women/), Muses
> You sweet-voiced
> Olympian daughters of aegis-bearing Zeus. (57)
#### Editorial Review
This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).
## Bibliography
- Anonymous. *Hesiod.* Encyclopedia Britannica
- Bagnall, R.S. *The Encyclopedia of Ancient History.* Wiley-Blackwell, 2012
- [Cantor, N. *Antiquity.* Harper Perennial, 2003.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0060930985/)
- [Garland, R. *Ancient Greece.* Sterling, 2008.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/B01K0UJ53W/)
- [Hendricks, R. *Classical Gods and Heroes by Rhoda Hendricks.* Harper Perennial; First Edition edition (1974-08-01), 2004.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/B01FKS5XVM/)
- [Hornblower, S. *The Oxford Classical Dictionary.* Oxford University Press, 2012.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0199545561/)
- [Morford, M. *Classical Mythology.* Oxford University Press, 2013.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0199997322/)
- Wender, D., Translator. *Hesiod - Theogony and Works and Days.* Penguin Books
## About the Author
Donald has taught Ancient, Medieval and U.S. History at Lincoln College (Normal, Illinois)and has always been and will always be a student of history, ever since learning about Alexander the Great. He is eager to pass knowledge on to his students.
## Timeline
- **c. 700 BCE**: [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) poet [Hesiod](https://www.worldhistory.org/hesiod/) writes his *[Theogony](https://www.worldhistory.org/Theogony/)* and *[Works and Days](https://www.worldhistory.org/Works_and_Days/)*.
## Cite This Work
### APA
Wasson, D. L. (2017, December 19). Theogony. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Wasson, Donald L.. "Theogony." *World History Encyclopedia*, December 19, 2017. .
### MLA
Wasson, Donald L.. "Theogony." *World History Encyclopedia*, 19 Dec 2017, .
## License & Copyright
Submitted by [Donald L. Wasson](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/DWasson/ "User Page: Donald L. Wasson"), published on 19 December 2017. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.