ElysiumAN ATLAS OF GREEK MYTHOLOGY
The figuresUranus
Primordial deityΟὐρανός

Uranus.

The starry heavens

Uranus: Greek God of the Sky

The first ruler of the sky, whose union with gives rise to the —and whose fall begins a cycle of divine rebellion.

Ancient fresco interpretation of Uranus with a starry celestial dome above mountains.
A PORTRAIT FROM MYTH · Οὐρανός✧
BEYOND THE NAME

More than a myth.

brings forth to cover her on every side. Sky and earth become the parents of a formidable divine family, but Uranus conceals their children within Gaia. The suffering earth asks her children to act, and only agrees.

Armed with a sickle, ambushes his father and separates earth from sky. From the blood received by come the , Giants, and Meliae. In ’s account, emerges from the sea foam surrounding the severed flesh. Creation and violence are inseparable in this early divine succession.

LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER

There’s more to the myth.

3 short readings

Lesser-known moments, places of worship, and stories that change with the storyteller. Follow each reference to the ancient voices behind it.

01After the overthrow

The sky still gives counsel

does not disappear from myth after losing power. In , he and warn of his future defeat. They later advise about . A defeated ruler becomes a source of knowledge about the very succession that ended his reign.

READ THE SOURCEHesiod, Theogony 459 and 886 onward
03A different literary setting

Heaven in a hymn

The Hymn to praises an encompassing, watchful power and calls for a favorable hearing. This is a voice of invocation, distinct from ’s violent family narrative. A deity’s role changes when we move from an account of origins to a poem addressed directly to a god.

READ THE SOURCEOrphic Hymn 4 to Uranus
EVERY FIGURE HAS CONNECTIONS

It’s a family affair.

Follow any connection
PARENTS
Gaia
Ancient fresco interpretation of Uranus with a starry celestial dome above mountains.

Uranus

Sky & the heavens
UNIONS
Gaia
CHILDREN IN THIS ATLAS 15
CronusRheaOceanusHyperionTheiaIapetusAphroditeCoeusCriusPhoebeTethysThemisMnemosyneCyclopesThe Furies
WHERE THE THREADS LEAD

The stories of Uranus.

Selected myths from this edition
3 MIN READ
ORIGINS & BEGINNINGS

When the sea became beautiful

A goddess emerges from the aftermath of rebellion.

DesireCreation
3 MIN READ
ORIGINS & BEGINNINGS

Before there was a world

An opening, an earth, and the first divine family.

CosmogonyGenealogy
GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING

Ancient voices.
Enduring stories.

Myths have many tellings. These are the ancient works behind this profile, linked to freely available English translations.

01
Hesiod

Theogony

Lines 126–210

Readings above include further references to ancient works. Translations and source collections are hosted externally; the profile text is original editorial writing.
THE READING COMPANION

Explore the collected passages

Ancient testimonies, alternative versions and depictions, gathered by Theoi.

There’s always another connection.
A FEW PLACES TO BEGIN7 results
↑↓to explore↵to openCuriosity is a good beginning.