Heaven

Also known as: starry Heaven · Family: primordial deities · Role: primordial god · First appears: Hesiod, Theogony 1-116

Heaven, also known as starry Heaven, is a primordial god. First, Earth brought him forth “to cover her on every side” and to establish an abiding-place for the blessed gods, while Earth also brought forth Pontus. Afterwards, Heaven and Earth produced the Titans: Oceanus, Coeus, Crius, Hyperion, Iapetus, Theia, Rhea, Themis, Mnemosyne, Phoebe, and Tethys.

After these children, Cronus was born as the youngest, and “he hated his lusty sire.” Earth and Heaven also had the Cyclopes Brontes, Steropes, and Arges, followed by Cottus, Briareos, and Gyes. Heaven hated the three mighty sons from the beginning, hid them in a secret place within Earth, and rejoiced in this act.

When Heaven’s severed flesh was cast into the sea, foam gathered around it and Aphrodite emerged as a goddess. Later, Heaven and Earth advised Zeus.