Uranus
Uranus was known as the god of the sky or heavens, and was also sometimes known as Ouranos. It is said that he was the first son of Gaea and also her first husband. Gaea was the earth and also known as the Mother Earth. Uranus was the first sky god and the first ruler. Gaea gave birth to Uranus, Pontus (the sea), and Ourea (the mountains), without male intervention. Between Uranus and Gaea, their siblings were, Cronus, Rhea, Oceanus, Tethys, Hyperion, Mnemosyne, Themis, Iapetus, Coeus, Crius, Phoebe, Thea, Cyclopes, Hecatoncheires, Erinyes, Aphordite (this is questionable), Giants, and the Ash Tree Nymphs. Many of their offspring were monsters. Uranus and Gaea also produced the first 12 Titans, which included six sons and six daughters. The sons were, Oceanus, Coeus, Crius, Hyperion, Iapetus, and Cronus. The daughters were, Theia, Rhea, Themis, Mnemosyn, Phoebe, and Tethys.
Uranus was struck by terror at the sight of his offspring. The Cyclopes and the Hecatoncheires were monsters. Another version states that Uranus was afraid of the strength of the monsters and was afraid they might dispose of him. Some say he hid them inside the bowels of Mother Earth (Gaea), which was also called Tartarus. Other stories say that Gaea hid them within herself to protect them from their father.
Uranus lost his rule over the earth when Gaea convinced her son, Cronus, to castrate Uranus so they would not bring forth any more monsters. Gaea made an adamantine sickle to use as a weapon. Cronus hid until Uranus came to lay with Gaea and when he got near enough, he struck and cut off his genitals and came in contact with the earth. When the blood made contact with the earth, Erinyes, the Giants and the Meliae (Nymphs of the manna ash trees), were born. It is said that he either died from the wound, or he withdrew from the earth.When Cronus threw the genitals into the sea, a white foam appeared and Aphrodite, the goddess of love and desire, was born, from the foam.
Another version of the story was that Uranus was so large that he could cover Gaea and take advantage of her fruitfulness. She got tired of the fertility and begged her sons to free her from Uranus. It is said that only Cronus would help her. When Cronus threw the sickle into the sea, the island of Corfu sprang up. This island was the home of the Phaecians. After Uranus was castrated, the sky separated from Gaea and Cronus became the king of the gods. Years later, Zeus (the son of Cronus), locked his father and the other Titans in Tartarus (below hades), and became the ruler of the gods.
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