In Greek mythology, the Titans were the elder gods who ruled the world before the Olympians came into power. The Titans were the children of Gaia (Mother Earth) and Uranus (Father Sky). There were 12 original Titans, six male and six female. As the elder gods, the Titans were immortal giants of incredible strength who helped shape the world.
Who were the 12 original Titans?
The 12 original Titans were:
| Male Titans | Female Titans |
|---|---|
| Oceanus | Rhea |
| Coeus | Theia |
| Crius | Mnemosyne |
| Hyperion | Themis |
| Iapetus | Phoebe |
| Cronus | Tethys |
Of these 12 Titans, the oldest and most prominent were Oceanus, Coeus, Crius, Hyperion, Iapetus, Theia, Rhea, Themis, Mnemosyne, Phoebe, and Tethys. Cronus was the youngest but rose to power by overthrowing his father Uranus.
Which Titan was the oldest?
According to most accounts, Oceanus was considered the oldest and wisest of the Titans. As his name suggests, Oceanus was the divine personification of the ocean. The ancient Greeks believed he encircled the entire world with his serpentine streams and rivers.
As the eldest son of Gaia and Uranus, Oceanus held a position of high honor among the Titans. His great age and experience commanded great respect from his fellow Titans. Oceanus married his sister Tethys, and together they produced the rivers and streams of the world.
In Hesiod’s Theogony, Oceanus is described as “the perfect river,” implying his seniority over the other Titans. Hesiod paints Oceanus as knowledgeable and possessing great wisdom derived from his advanced age. Oceanus did not actively participate in the power struggle between the Titans and Olympians. But as the respected elder, he provided advice and support throughout the changing of divine power.
Evidence that Oceanus was the oldest Titan
- Called “the perfect river” by Hesiod, denoting his ancient nature
- Encircled the entire earth with his waters, implying his existence before other lands and gods
- Father and husband to many other Titans and river gods
- Provided counsel to both Titans and Olympians due to his wisdom and experience
- Did not take an active fighting role in Titanomachy, befitting his peaceful elder status
Other theories about the oldest Titan
While most commonly Oceanus is considered the eldest Titan, there are other contenders for the title:
Coeus
Some argue that Oceanus’ father Coeus was the actual firstborn Titan. As a Titan of intelligence and premonition, Coeus possessed great knowledge passed down from the beginning of time. He married his sister Phoebe and fathered Leto and Asteria.
Hyperion
As the Titan of heavenly light, Hyperion has been interpreted as the first Titan since his domain illuminated the primordial darkness. He married Theia and fathered Helios, Selene, and Eos – the sun, moon, and dawn.
Crius
While not the most popular choice, some contend Crius was the eldest Titan as a god of constellations and the cycles of time. He married Eurybia, daughter of Gaia and Pontus, and fathered Astraeus, Pallas, and Perses.
Conclusion
In the end, Oceanus has the strongest claim as the oldest Titan in Greek mythology based on textual evidence and the accounts of ancient writers like Hesiod. As the all-encompassing river older than the mountains and seas, who provided counsel to gods old and young, Oceanus was revered in antiquity as the aged elder Titan. His great wisdom and knowledge of the world from its very beginning established him as the oldest in a race of immortal giants.
While other Titans like Coeus and Hyperion may have possessed equal antiquity, Oceanus’ depiction in myth aligns most consistently with the attributes and honors given to the eldest child. His seniority commanded respect from the other Titans and Olympians, even during the great war that overthrew his kind’s rule. Oceanus endures as the prototypical wise old man among the Titans and gods of Greek lore.
Other Interesting Facts about the Titans
They were children of Gaia and Uranus
The Titans were born to Mother Earth (Gaia) and Father Sky (Uranus). They were the elder siblings of the Cyclopes and Hekatonkheires (Hundred-Handed Ones).
Cronus overthrew his father Uranus
The youngest Titan, Cronus, led his brothers in a rebellion against their father Uranus. Armed with a sickle from his mother Gaia, Cronus ambushed his father and castrated him, claiming control over the cosmos.
Atlas led the Titans against Zeus
When Zeus and the Olympians overthrew the Titans, Atlas led the campaign against the new gods. After defeat, Atlas was punished by Zeus to forever bear the weight of the heavens on his shoulders.
Prometheus defied Zeus to help mankind
The Titan Prometheus took pity on mankind and stole fire from Mount Olympus to warm them. Zeus punished him by chaining him to a rock where an eagle ate his liver every day.
Helios was the Sun God
The Titan Helios was the god of the sun who drove a fiery chariot across the sky each day from east to west. His sister Selene was the goddess of the moon.
The Titan Family Tree
Here is a simplified family tree showing the origins and descendants of the Titans:
| First Generation | Gaia and Uranus |
|---|---|
| Second Generation | Titans and Cyclopes |
| Major Titans | Oceanus, Coeus, Crius, Hyperion, Iapetus, Theia, Rhea, Themis, Mnemosyne, Phoebe, Tethys, Cronus |
| Third Generation | Zeus, Hades, Hestia, Hera, Demeter, Poseidon and other Olympians |
This simplified family tree shows how the Titans were born to Gaia and Uranus, married each other, and gave birth to the Olympian gods like Zeus and Poseidon who would eventually overthrow them.
The Titanomachy: Titans vs Olympians
The power struggle between the Titans and Olympians was known as the Titanomachy. This great war shaped the future of Greek mythology:
- Started when Cronus learned one of his children would overthrow him
- Cronus imprisoned his children, the Olympians, in Tartarus
- Zeus escaped and freed his siblings, starting war against Cronus
- Lasted for 10 years until the Olympians finally prevailed
- Titans were imprisoned in Tartarus, though some later escaped
- Established Zeus as supreme ruler and the Olympians as new gods
Some key Titans and Olympians in the war:
| Titans | Olympians |
|---|---|
| Cronus | Zeus |
| Coeus | Hera |
| Hyperion | Poseidon |
| Iapetus | Demeter |
| Atlas | Hestia |
This epic war marked the end of the Titans’ golden age and beginning of the Olympian gods’ rule over the Greek world.
The Titans Imprisoned in Tartarus
After their defeat by Zeus and the Olympians, most of the Titans were imprisoned deep within Tartarus, the lowest part of the Underworld. Tartarus was surrounded by bronze gates and night to imprison these dangerous immortal giants.
Some notable prisoners of Tartarus were:
- Atlas – forced to forever hold up the sky
- Prometheus – chained and cursed to have his liver eaten daily
- Cronus – imprisoned for his children’s betrayal
- Hyperion and Iapetus – held in bonds for rebellion
Though physically immortal, this abyssal prison effectively neutralized the Titans’ threat to Olympian supremacy. However, some crafty individuals like Prometheus managed to escape their torment over time.
Exceptions
A few Titans did not actively oppose the Olympians, and were thus spared eternal punishment in Tartarus:
- Helios – allowed to continue driving the sun chariot
- Oceanus – remained neutral and retained authority over the seas
- Themis – her wise counsel was still appreciated
These neutral Titans retained their cosmic domains and some degree of freedom, though still subservient to Zeus and Olympian authority.
Conclusion
In conclusion, according to ancient Greek myths and texts, Oceanus was the eldest Titan. As the divine personification of the ocean that encircled the world, he was revered for his great age, wisdom, and neutrality in the Titanomachy. While other Titans like Coeus and Hyperion may also have been extremely ancient, Oceanus appears most consistently as the respected elder. The Titans were the earlier generation of immortals who shaped the world but were overthrown by their divine children, the Olympians, led by Zeus. This transfer of power marked a major shift in the cosmic order and governance of Greek mythology’s primordial world.