The Titanomachy

Chapters

1. 01

   Succession Becomes War

   Cronus's attempt to prevent succession is reversed, leaving Zeus and the released siblings outside their father. Hesiod and Pseudo-Apollodorus give different mechanisms for the disgorgement; only the later account names Metis's drug and the siblings' collective aid.

   CronusRheaZeusGaiaHestiaDemeterHeraHadesPoseidonCyclopesThe Swallowing of the ChildrenMetis
2. 02

   Olympus and Othrys

   Hesiod marks the camps with two mountains: the gods born from Cronus fight from Olympus and the Titan gods from Othrys. The collective wording does not prove that Oceanus or every Titan fought individually.

   GaiaUranusZeusCronusTitansMount OlympusMount OthrysTitanomachy
3. 03

   Ten Years Without Decision

   Both Hesiod and Pseudo-Apollodorus say the war lasts ten years; the later Bibliotheca account additionally says the released siblings collectively aid Zeus. The chapter invents no separate combat act for Hera, Demeter or Hestia.

   ZeusCronusTitansHestiaDemeterHeraHadesPoseidonTitanomachy
4. 04

   Gaia's Condition

   Gaia identifies the release of the Tartarean prisoners as the way to change the deadlock. Hesiod names no jailer; Pseudo-Apollodorus separately says Zeus kills Campe before freeing the Cyclopes and Hundred-Handers.

   GaiaZeusHundred-HandersCyclopesTartarusCampe
5. 05

   The Hundred-Handers' Covenant

   Zeus invites the freed Hundred-Handers to fight. Cottus recalls how the brothers escaped suffering and bondage and accepts the covenant. The source supports memory, response and consequence, but supplies no deeper private psychology.

   GaiaZeusHundred-Handers
6. 06

   Styx Comes First

   The story looks back to the earlier summons: on Oceanus's counsel Styx first responds with her four children by Pallas. Zeus makes her the gods' oath and keeps the children beside him; the later account explicitly places their support in the war.

   OceanusTethysStyxPallasNikeKratosBiaZelusZeus
7. 07

   Thunder and the Three Weapons

   Hesiod explicitly gives only thunder, lightning and thunderbolt to Zeus. Pseudo-Apollodorus expands the allies' gifts into three weapons: Zeus's thunderbolt, Poseidon's trident and Hades's helmet.

   CyclopesZeusPoseidonHadesMetisTitanomachy
8. 08

   Heaven and Earth Boil

   When the hosts close, Zeus no longer restrains the thunderbolt; fire, shaking and sound fill the cosmos. The Hundred-Handers launch three hundred rocks, one upon another, turning the prolonged deadlock into the Titans' collapse.

   ZeusHundred-HandersTitansTitanomachyMount OlympusMount Othrys
9. 09

   The Titans Fall

   The Titans are overwhelmed and bound. The line of Iapetus supplies two individual fates: the reason and battlefield placement of Menoetius's thunderbolt differ by source, while Atlas's sky burden is assigned by Zeus without the passage calling it punishment for defeat.

   ZeusCronusTitansHundred-HandersIapetusAtlasMenoetiusTitanomachy
10. 10

    The Gates of Tartarus

    The story closes at the bronze enclosure, gates and threshold: the defeated Titans dwell in the depths and the Hundred-Handers take guard.

    ZeusPoseidonHadesTitansHundred-HandersTartarusTitanomachy

Ancient sources

MythWeave distinguishes ancient-source evidence from later adaptations and modern interpretation.

• Hesiod, Theogony, Lines 453–467: Rhea bears six children and Cronus swallows them because of the succession prophecy
• Hesiod, Theogony, Lines 468–491: Rhea seeks help, Zeus is hidden in Crete and a swaddled stone is substituted
• Hesiod, Theogony, Lines 492–506: Cronus releases the children, Zeus sets up the stone, frees the Cyclopes and receives thunder
• Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca, 1.2.1: Metis' drug, ten-year war, Gaia's prophecy, Campe, three weapons, Titan imprisonment and division by lot
• Hesiod, Theogony, Lines 126–153: Gaia brings forth Sky, Mountains and Sea, then the children of Gaia and Uranus
• Hesiod, Theogony, Lines 617–653: prolonged war, the Olympus and Othrys camps, Gaia's counsel to free the Hundred-Handers, and Zeus's invitation to fight
• Hesiod, Theogony, Lines 644–663: Zeus invites the Hundred-Handers to fight and Cottus answers, recalling their release
• Hesiod, Theogony, Lines 383–403: the four children of Pallas and Styx, Styx first answering Zeus and the honours that follow
• Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca, 1.2.3–5: Menoetius struck during the war with the Titans and Styx with her children fighting for Zeus
• Hesiod, Theogony, Lines 664–686: the Hundred-Handers enter the front rank and the two hosts begin the decisive clash
• Hesiod, Theogony, Lines 687–735: Zeus' thunder, cosmic upheaval, three hundred stones, and the Titans defeated and bound
• Hesiod, Theogony, Lines 507–520: Iapetus' children, Menoetius struck by thunderbolt and Atlas bearing heaven
• Hesiod, Theogony, Lines 736–806: Tartarus' depth, bronze enclosure, gates and threshold
• Hesiod, Theogony, Lines 807–819: the Titans dwelling beyond the gates and the later stations of Cottus, Gyes and Briareus