Stone Blind

Much of Natalie Haynes’s Stone Blind concentrates on the genealogy and history of Greek gods. The works of Hesiod and Homer, two ancient Greek poets who were likely contemporaries or near contemporaries, have been essential in documenting the myths and legends of the gods, which were previously told through oral traditions. Hesiod’s epic poem the Theogony (often dated to the eighth or ninth century BCE) details the importance of divine lineage: Uranus (personification of the sky), Chronos (a Titan, son of Uranus), and Zeus (god of the sky, son of Chronos) form one such lineage. However, these familial bonds do not produce peace or loyalty; rather, they create chains of paranoia and rebellion. Chronos rebels against Uranus, castrating his father in the process. In turn, Chronos, fearing his prophesized overthrow by a son, swallows each child he has with his fellow Titan Rhea until she gives birth to Zeus, whom she successfully hides. When Zeus returns to battle his father, his grown siblings are expelled from Titan’s stomach. In Stone Blind, Zeus worries about a future son similarly vanquishing him. Following his sexual assault of the Titan Metis, he fears their child will be this son.