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