D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths

“In olden times,” Greek shepherds and herdsmen worshiped “beautiful, radiant gods” (11). Resembling larger-than-life humans, they lived on Mount Olympus. Heroes existed to conquer monsters and beasts, who represented “all that was dark and wicked” (11).

After the Earth, Gaea, “joined in love” with Uranus, the Sky, she became “Mother Earth, the mother of all things living” (12). Their children were the Titans. Gaea also gave birth to three Cyclopes and three 50-headed, 100-armed ones. Believing them to be ugly, Uranus flung his six sons into Tartarus, “the deepest, darkest pit under the earth” (13). However, Gaea loved her children. She gave a sickle to her Titan sons, ordering them to free their brothers. Only Cronus, the youngest, dared take on his father, who fled, relinquishing his powers.

Mother Earth then married Pontus, “the boundless seas” (13), and their union produced sea gods. Trees and flowers bloomed from Earth, which produced sprites, beasts, and men. Cronus became “lord of the universe” (16) but did not free his brothers, angering Gaea. Fearing being overpowered as he had overpowered his father, Cronus swallowed each of the children his wife, Rhea, birthed. Distressed, Rhea sought advice from Mother Earth, who helped Rhea trick Cronus. When she gave birth to