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The second part of three, of the creation of the Greek World: The Coming of the Olympians, The First Days of the Olympians, The Making of Mankind.
Related Articles: Themes of Myths- Creation

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The First Days of the Olympians
With the Titans defeated, the Olympians still did not have peace. During the war, the Cyclops had made weapons for three gods. They had forged the thunderbolt for Zeus, the trident for Poseidon, and a helm of darkness for Hades. The universe was wrecked from the war, and more fighting would not have helped anything.

Hades with his TridentThe three brothers thus decided to draw lots for the world. Zeus drew the lot for the sky, where he set up his throne upon Mount Olympus. Poseidon drew the lot that gave him the sea, where he built a palace under the sea. Hades drew the lot for the Underworld, and set up his court beneath the earth, and each god was happy.

Of the other Olympians, Demeter and Hestia were peace loving and content, and desired no power, which left only Hera unsatisfied. Hera left Mount Olympus to live in solitude, but finally, Zeus managed to get her to be his consort, and thus Zeus produced the first of his children with Hera, namely Ares, her twin sister Eris, Hephaistos, Eileithuia and Hebe. Other children of Zeus include Hermes, Apollo, Atremis, the Seasons, the Muses, whom he produced from his many love affairs which were trifling and not worth mention.

Perhaps the most interesting affair he had was with the Titan Metis. Gaia prophesised that if Metis were to bear a son, he would dethrone Zeus, as Zeus had done to his father, Cronus. In fear of that happening, once Metis was pregnant, she was swallowed by Zeus whole. However, a few days later,Athene, Greek goddess of war Zeus complained of a terrible headache, and got Hephaistos, the blacksmith of the gods, to wedge open his head to ease the pain. Gods wounds heal very quickly, and just after Hephaistos' blow to wedge open Zeus' head, and before the wound healed, out was born the goddess Athene, fully grown.

All this while, Hera grew unhappy with her husband's many affairs, and started plotting with the other gods to overthrow Zeus. They finally managed to do so by tying Zeus to his bed so he may not get up to get his thunderbolt. The gods were happy, and sat down to discuss who should succeed Zeus. However the discussion soon grew fiery, and fearing civil war, an ocean nymph went to Tataros to fetch one of the hundred-handed giants. The giant quickly untied the knots that held Zeus down, and before everyone know, Zeus had his thunderbolt and overturned the rebellion.

Next: The Making of Mankind >>