In the Beginning Were Four Elements

CHAOS GAIA TARTAROS EROS

“a gaping, gnawing” mother principle The Underworld “desire”:

“Earth” principle of

generation

Expression of division Feeling of separation Longing for that

from mother, when child which is becomes aware of missing

itself as separate from

her

Descent from Gaia

GAIA (produces and mates with) OURANOSGAIA and OURANOS produce what will be the next generation: the

TITANS OURANOS keeps offspring within GAIAGAIA conspires with her youngest son, KRONOS, to neutralize the

fatherKRONOS castrates his father, OURANOS

Kronos defeats his father Ouranos

Kronos about to castrate his father Ouranos. Vasari.

Ouranos’ castrated genitals fall into the sea, and out of the sea foam arises the goddess of erotic love, Aphrodite.

(Ludovisi Throne, ca. 460 BCE)

Side Panels of Ludovisi Throne

Side View of Ludovisi Throne

Wall painting from Pompeii

Sandro Botticelli. The Birth of Venus.

Peter Paul Rubens. The Birth of Venus.

William Bouguereau.

The Birth of Venus

Kronos finds himself in a situation similar to that of his father Ouranos

KRONOS marries RHEA (an equivalent of GAIA)

KRONOS and RHEA produce what will be the next generation: the OLYMPIANS

KRONOS swallows his children

RHEA (with GAIA) conspires with youngest son, ZEUS, to neutralize the father

ZEUS defeats KRONOS

Rubens. “Cronus eats his children.”

Francisco de Goya. “Cronus devouring

his children.”

Rhea tricks Kronos into acceptinga stone wrapped in baby Zeus’swaddling clothes.Red figure vase painting.

Same scene as previously.Sculpted metopeFrom Selinus(Roman period)

Zeus learns from the mistakes of his father and grandfather

ZEUS marries neither his mother, nor a mother substitute

Zeus marries 7 wives, each of whom embody principles essential for the stability of his reign