by C.M Porter

Created on: June 06, 2008

In Greek mythology, the Titans are the deities who preceded the more famous Olympians as the overseeing deities. Most of the Olympians came from Titan stock, as did many of the less important deities. The Titans were overthrown by Zeus and the Olympians in the "War of the Titans" and most were imprisoned in Tartarus, a deific prison deep within the earth. Despite this fact, they play a role in a remarkably large number of myths.

There were twelve "primary" Titans, six male (Titanes) and six female (Titanides or Titanesses). These twelve were the children of Uranus, the primordial god of the sky, and Gaia, the earth. Additionally, three of the primary TitansHyperion, Coeus, and Iapetushad children who were also considered to be Titans. In all, there were 21 entities considered to be Titans, in addition to dozens of Olympians who had at least one Titan parent.

Oceanus was the eldest of the Titans. He was the god and embodiment of the oceans. He was one of the three Titans who did not side with Cronus when Zeus and the Olympians revolted against him. Instead, he retreated to distant, deep waters and gave dominion over the oceans to his nephew Poseidon. Oceanus was the father of all of the Nereids, or sea nymphs, as well as Amphitrite, Poseidon's consort. He was considered the progenitor of all of the individual river, stream, and other aquatic deities.

Tethys was Oceanus's wife, and the mother of all of his children. Like Oceanus, she was a sea deity. Tethys was rarely mentioned in ancient texts, likely because she would have been imprisoned with the rest of the Titans during the war. However, she is mentioned as the mother of quite a few important mythological figures. Among these are: Amaltheia, the mythological goat that nursed the infant Zeus, Circe, the sorceress who attempted to waylay Odysseus, and Metis, Athena's mother.

Hyperion was the first god of the Sun. He was noted mainly for being one of the three Titanes to father other Titans. His three children were Helios, who would supplant him as god of the sun, Selene, goddess of the moon, and Eos, goddess of dawn.

Theia was Hyperion's wife. She was the mother of all three of his children, but otherwise of little importance.

Coeus was another Titan who fathered other Titans. His two daughters were Leto and Asteria. Leto later went on to become the mother of the Olympians Artemis and Apollo, while Asteria gave birth to Hecate. Coeus was the deity of intellect.

Coeus's wife was his sister Phoebe. She was the mother

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