Hesiod - Theogony 3p39

Hesiod - Theogony 3p39

This video presents a portion of Hesiod's 'Theogony', recounting the origins of the gods and the struggles between them, especially highlighting the conflict between Cronus and Zeus. It illustrates the swallowing of gods by Cronus, Rhea's efforts to save Zeus, the eventual overthrow of Cronus, and the birth of pivotal figures like Prometheus and Atlas.

Key Points:

Cronus and the Swallowing of Children
Cronus fears being overthrown by his children, as foretold. To prevent this, he swallows each child as they are born, leading to significant grief for Rhea, their mother.

Rhea's Deception for Zeus
In her desperation, Rhea hides her last child, Zeus, by giving Cronus a stone wrapped in swaddling clothes instead. This cunning ploy allows Zeus to grow up secretly away from Cronus's grasp.

Zeus Overthrows Cronus
Upon reaching maturity, Zeus forces Cronus to regurgitate his siblings and leads a revolt against him, reclaiming the power of the skies and the throne among the immortals.

Prometheus and Human Struggles
Prometheus plays a significant role in the story, representing cleverness and rebellion, as he challenges Zeus by tricking him during an offering. This act leads to severe consequences for both Prometheus and humanity.

The Creation of Pandora
In retaliation for Prometheus's theft of fire for mankind, Zeus creates Pandora, a woman endowed with gifts, to bring about further troubles for humanity.