The Titanomachy, the Battle of the Titans - Mount Othrys and Mount Olympus The Titanomachy, meaning the Battle of the Titans, was a fierce ten year war between the 12 young Olympians against their older predecessors. In Greek mythology Mount Othrys was the base of the older Titans during the Battle of the Titans and Mount Olympus was the base of the younger generation, led by Zeus. The Main Combatants in the Battle of the Titans - The Titanomachy The family of supreme beings and Immortals took sides. According to the description of the Titanomachy by Hesiod in “The Theogony” the main combatants for the Battle of the Titans were: - The Othrysians including Cronus, Coeus, Crius, Iapetus, Menoetius and Atlas
Who were opposed by: - The Olympians including Hyperion, Oceanus, Themis, Helios, Eos, Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Prometheus and Epimetheus
The Titanomachy, the Battle of the Titans The Battle of the Titans - The Titanomachy The Battle of the Titans (the Titanomachy) lasted for ten years with the elder Titans based on Mount Othrys and the younger Titans who were based on Mount Olympus. All of the family of Titans were gods and therefore immortal so no permanent casualties were possible in the Battle of the Titans - the victors would have to capture and imprison the losers or the losers would have to surrender. The Battle of the Titans - The Cyclopes and the Centimani At the beginning of the Battle of the Titans the Olympians were defeated in the first conflicts by the experienced and powerful Othrysians. Zeus realised that he would need reinforcements. He therefore released the three Cyclopes and the three Centimani (Hundred-Handed Ones) from Tartarus, where they had languished so long, stipulating that in exchange for their freedom they should supply him with thunderbolts, powerful weapons which only they knew how to forge. The Olympian gods used of the powerful thunderbolts and the help of the Cyclopes and the 'Hundred-handers', who had kept the gods on Mount Othrys under attack from a constant barrage of massive rocks. The 'Hundred Hander' giants throwing rocks 'Fall of the Titans' by Rubens The Battle of the Titans - Victory for the Olympians The defeated Titans who had fought against the Olympians were imprisoned in Tartarus and the 'Hundred-Hander' giants became their jailors. Cronus, the leader and instigator of the revolt, weary of bloodshed and strife, withdrew to found a new kingdom where he reigned in peace. The Titans who did not fight against the Olympians joined them on Mount Olympus. The Battle of the Titans - The Typhon The peace enjoyed by the Olympian gods was short-lived. The goddess Gaia (the mother of Cronus and the older Titans) was furious with Zeus and wanted to punish him for depriving her children of their birthright. Gaia therefore created a terrible monster, called Typhoeus, or Typhon, which she sent to attack Zeus. This Typhon was a giant, from whose trunk one hundred dragon heads arose, flames shot from his eyes, nostrils, and mouths; while he incessantly uttered such blood-curdling screams, that the gods, in terror, fled from Mount Olympus. In mortal fear lest this terror-inspiring monster would pursue them, the gods there transformed themselves into different animals. Zeus quickly became ashamed of his cowardly flight, and resolved to return to Mount Olympus to slay the Typhon with his terrible thunderbolts. A long and fierce struggle ensued and Zeus emerged victorious. The Battle of the Titans - The Enceladus Once again Rhea was furious and released Enceladus, another giant to avenge Typhoeus. He too was defeated, and bound with chains in a burning cave under Mount Etna where people heard his cries and groans and sometimes breathed fire and flames. Over time his anger lessened but according to Greek Mythology he occasionally changes position, which, owing to his huge size, causes the earth to tremble, producing what is called an earthquake. Enceladus The Battle of the Giants - The Gigantomachy Gaia continued to meddle and encouraged the Gigantes (Giants) to revolt against Zeus and the Olympians. The Gigantes were angry with Zeus because he had established laws that they refused to obey. Gaia encouraged the Gigantes to rebel against the Olympians and at the instigation of Gaia they made war on the gods of Mount Olympus. In Greek mythology and legend the war would be referred to as the Battle of the Giants or the Gigantomachy, or following the final victory of the Titans, some call the conflict the Revenge of the Titans. Mythical World of the Battle of the Titans for kids Fall of the Titans We hope that you have enjoyed discovering interesting information about the Battle of the Titans. A fast educational resource for homework help containing interesting facts about Battle of the Titans. Fascinating information to increase your knowledge about the World of the Battle of the Titans and the Immortals. |