The Birth of The World

Preface

BOOK 1 - CAST OF CHARACTERS

Gaia - In ancient Greek history, she was one of the primordial deities, the personification of the earth. She was the ancestral mother of all life.

Uranus - One of the primordial deities of ancient Greece, he was the personification of the sky. He was both the son and husband of Gaia and fathered the first generation of Titans.

Kronos - One of the youngest and the leader of the Titans in Greek mythology. He overthrew Uranus and ruled during the mythological Golden Age of Mankind until he was overthrown by Zeus.

Rhea - A Titaness daughter of Uranus and Gaia and the mother of the five eldest Olympians Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Poseidon, Hades, and Zeus.

Aphrodite - Goddess of love, lust, beauty, passion, and procreation. She was the patron Goddess of prostitutes. Her main cult centers were Cythera, Cyprus, Corinth, and Athens. Her main festival, Aphrodisia was held in midsummer.

Hestia - Virgin Goddess of the Hearth, the Right Order of Domesticity, the Family, the Home, and the State. She was the first born child of Kronos and Rhea. The worship of Hestia was centered around the hearth. It was normal practice to offer the first and last libations of wine to this Goddess.

Demeter - Goddess of the Harvest and Agriculture. She was generally worshipped as a Goddess of the earth and often associated with the underworld. In Arkadia she was depicted as having snakes for hair and holding a dove or dolphin to symbolize her power over the underworld.

Hades - God of the Dead and King of the Underworld. He was the first born son of Kronos and Rhea. He along with his brothers Poseidon and Zeus defeated the Titans and claimed rulership over the cosmos. Despite being associated with death and the underworld he was never portrayed negatively. Instead, his role was to maintain balance. His house was described as always being full of guests. He rarely left the underworld. He also refused to let his subjects leave the underworld. He kidnapped his wife Persephone but wooed her rather than r***d her, and was never unfaithful to her.

Poseidon - God of the Seas, Storms, Earthquakes, and Horses. He was the protector of seafarers and many port cities. He was regarded as the father of horses. He was seen as creating new islands, and calming seas. He is still worshipped today in modern Hellenistic religion.

Zeus - King of the Gods, God of the Sky and Thunder. He was respected as an all-father and chief of the Gods. Zeus played a dominant role in the Olympic pantheon fathering many of the Gods, Goddesses, and Greek heroes. He is still worshipped today in modern Hellenistic religion.

Hera - Queen of the Gods, Goddess of Marriage, Women, and Family, Protector of Women During Childbirth. She may have been the first deity to whom the Greeks dedicated a closed temple sanctuary. During Alexander the Great's time, her chariot was depicted being pulled by peacocks. She was the stepmother and enemy of Herakles. She played a substantial role in the Iliad supporting the Greeks during the Trojan War.

Hephaestus - God of Blacksmiths, Metalworking, Carpenters, Craftsmen, Artisans, Sculptors, Metallurgy, and Fire. He made all the weapons of the Gods of Olympus. Eventually, he was cast off Mount Olympus by his mother, Hera, for being lame. Prior to that he had his own palace on Olympus with a great anvil and twenty bellows that worked on his bidding. He made Hermes winged helmut and sandals, Aphrodite's girdle, Agamemnon's staff of office, Achilles armor, and more.

Ares - God of War and Courage. The ancient Greeks were indifferent towards him. He personified the valor necessary for success in war but also the brutality and bloodlust. Known for his savagery he had a limited role in Greek mythological stories and when he does appear, he is most often humiliated.

Eris - Goddess of Strife and Discord. She had no temples and functioned as a personification. She is most known for instigating the Trojan War by causing the Judgment of Paris.

Hebe - Goddess of Youth. Cupbearer for the Gods and Goddesses of Olympus. She was worshipped as the Goddess of Mercy and Forgiveness. She was the divine wife of Herakles and had the power to restore eternal youth to mortals. She was often associated in worship with her mother Hera and regarded as the Patron of Brides.