Ouranos (Uranus) was the first born son of Gaia (Earth) ... he was her equal in all ways and was created to cover Gaia on all sides and to provide an ever-sure abode for the Immortals. (Theogony, lines 126-129)
Gaia was the mother of several of the elder Immortals without the aid of a consort but her union with Ouranos brought forth the dreaded race known as the Titans. Ouranos gave them the name Titans to exemplify their character ... Titan literally means Stretchers or Strainers ... they stretched and strained the limits of propriety and indulged themselves to the point of self destruction. The Titans are:
Kronos is the youngest and most terrible of the Titans. When Ouranos interfered with Gaia’s plans for the population of the world, she begged her children to come to her rescue ... only Kronos seemed willing to do her bidding and confront his father, Ouranos. (Theogony, lines 134-137)
Briareos, Kottos and Gyes were three of the most bazaar of Gaia and Ouranos’ children ... they were presumptuous and overmastering ... and worst of all, they hated their father. Each time they would attempt to emerge from Gaia’s womb, Ouranos would force them back inside ... Gaia suffered greatly and finally, in desperation, she devised a treacherous and evil plan ... she created the element flint and formed a sickle ... she then called upon her male children and explained to them that Ouranos had to be punished for his brutal behavior. Fearing their father, all but one of her sons refused to help ... only devious, devising Kronos was willing to stand against Ouranos. He reasoned that Ouranos was the first to act shamefully and anyone who stood against him would be absolved of any blame.
Gaia rejoiced when she Kronos’ promised to help her ... she gave Kronos the flint sickle with its jagged edge and hid him in a secret place so that he could surprise Ouranos. As night fell, Ouranos came to Gaia ... Kronos took the sickle in his left hand and struck at his father ... Ouranos was caught unawares and could not protect himself from the cruel flint ... his male members were cut off and the drops of blood were absorbed by Gaia ... as the seasons passed, Ouranos’ blood gave life to the Erinys, the Giants and the Nymphs called the Meliae, i.e. the Nymphs of the Ash Tree. The remaining flesh fell into the sea and from the foam and water a maiden was created ... this maiden became the goddess of Love, Aphrodite. (Theogony, lines 146-201)
No matter how he justified his actions, Kronos was frightened that, just as he had attacked his father, one of his sons would rise against him and take away his power and authority. Ouranos was vanquished and diminished but he was not destroyed.
When Zeus, the grandson of Gaia and Ouranos, became infatuated with the goddess, Metis, both Gaia and Ouranos warned him that any child she conceived would be powerful and apt to challenge Zeus for his throne ... Zeus took the warnings seriously and promptly swallowed Metis. The child Ouranos and Gaia had foreseen was the wise and fierce Athene (Athena), goddess of Wisdom ... she finally burst from Zeus’ head fully clad in armor ... she did not contend with Zeus or try to usurp his power and authority but instead became his loving and obedient daughter. (Theogony, line 467)
