In Greek mythology Zeus swallowed the pregnant Metis because she said her offspring would be more powerful than Zeus. Later, Athena sprang from his head fully grown, armed, and armoured. Now, the Greek religion died thanks to Christianity, it never developed beyond the Classical period. But based on this myth it looks like there was the idea afloat that someday Athena might do to her daddy what he did to his and take over the pantheon. This would likely result in another war like the Titanomachy, but between Olympians for and against Athena. Who would side with her? Who would get cast into Tarterus with the Titans? What would the new pantheon look like?
A Post-Zeus Greek Pantheon?
Sun, 2012-03-11 02:30
#1
A Post-Zeus Greek Pantheon?
Mon, 2012-03-12 05:23
#3
Re: A Post-Zeus Greek Pantheon?
I'm thinking eventually Athena will realise how despotic and corrupt Zeus is as he grows more tyrannical the older and weaker he gets. Eventually his philandering and lack of responsibility coupled with his narcissism and inability to control his urges will just become too outrageous for the other gods to ignore...
Mon, 2012-03-12 19:05
#4
Re: A Post-Zeus Greek Pantheon?
Since this has the earmarks of a 2-person thread, I suppose I'll throw out the next question:
Which (if any) of the existing gods would side with Athena?
I would imagine all the gods in the same generation as Zeus (i.e. his brothers and sisters) would side with him against the younger generation. But on the other hand, maybe Hades or others have resented Zeus long enough that that they side with the usurpers (I also think Hades' mostly emotionless nature might fit with the less passionate Athena)
Or would you base it off of myth with Hera and Aphrodite siding against Athena due to lingering resentment from the Judgment of Paris (although I could see Athena and Hera joining forces before either sided with Aphrodite); and with Posiedon against her after losing the naming right to Athens?
Or would you have a number of other "spontaneously generated" gods appear to fill out Athena's ranks? I can't recall any gods that fit that bill (a few uber-powerful mortals/monsters but not gods).
That could lead to an interesting prelude where the Greek gods all start falling "ill" only to have a variety of younger gods splinter off from them to join Athena
No matter how you break it down, I imagine that Ares would definitely be against her as they have the overlapping portfolio of war but with completely different approaches to it (and also parallelling Athena's more coldly logical attitude compared to the bellicose Ares)
Mon, 2012-03-12 20:23
#5
Re: A Post-Zeus Greek Pantheon?
Two-person thread? I don't think so.
I would love a post-Zeus pantheon. Toss his butt in Tartaros and let's go!
I've wanted Hera to divorce Zeus for the longest time. I see her much happier without her raping/cheating spouse in her life. She could focus on being a goddess of women and may find happiness.
I could see Hades leaving the underworld in a pantheon without Zeus. He could call himself Plouton (an ancient name for him) and be the God of wealth, caverns and Autumn. I think Persephone would be more important to him than ruling the dead. He only drew that role in a game of lots with his brothers.
Poseidon would be happiest ruling underwater worlds. I don't see him changing.
There are many godlings, children of an Olympians (and minor goddesses/nymphs), who could be included in several new pantheons. I'll post a list tomorrow.
Mon, 2012-03-12 21:02
#6
Re: A Post-Zeus Greek Pantheon?
There are lots of possibilities. Apollo could go for the status quo and side with Zeus or go the intellectual route and side with Athena since she represents Wisdom. Hades could try to leave the Underworld to become an earthier god or he could try to steal the throne of Olympus for himself. Hera would have no problem betraying Zeus, I don't think they were ever happy together, but would she resent Athena being the daughter of Zeus by Metis? She never struck me as very rational...
Mon, 2012-03-12 21:23
#7
Re: A Post-Zeus Greek Pantheon?
Not to be too negative since things are still in the brainstorming stage; but regarding Hera...as much as I agree that she SHOULD have dumped Zeus a long time ago, ultimately she always struck me as the goddess of co-dependency because no matter how much Zeus dumped on her, she always came running back to him.
Mon, 2012-03-12 21:55
#8
Re: A Post-Zeus Greek Pantheon?
Not to be too negative since things are still in the brainstorming stage; but regarding Hera...as much as I agree that she SHOULD have dumped Zeus a long time ago, ultimately she always struck me as the goddess of co-dependency because no matter how much Zeus dumped on her, she always came running back to him.
Hehe... Yeah, she may have to go down. Never really liked the old bag...
Mon, 2012-03-12 22:12
#9
Re: A Post-Zeus Greek Pantheon?
Not to be too negative since things are still in the brainstorming stage; but regarding Hera...as much as I agree that she SHOULD have dumped Zeus a long time ago, ultimately she always struck me as the goddess of co-dependency because no matter how much Zeus dumped on her, she always came running back to him.
Zeus raped Hera. He wanted her to marry him and used the shame of rape to force her to do so. This is actual ancient thinking; I heard a similar story involving an artist named Artemisia.
I don't think she ever recovered from the trauma.
Zeus imprisoned for his crimes may be the first healing step.
Mon, 2012-03-12 22:43
#10
Re: A Post-Zeus Greek Pantheon?
Not to be too negative since things are still in the brainstorming stage; but regarding Hera...as much as I agree that she SHOULD have dumped Zeus a long time ago, ultimately she always struck me as the goddess of co-dependency because no matter how much Zeus dumped on her, she always came running back to him.
Zeus raped Hera. He wanted her to marry him and used the shame of rape to force her to do so. This is actual ancient thinking; I heard a similar story involving an artist named Artemisia.
I don't think she ever recovered from the trauma.
Zeus imprisoned for his crimes may be the first healing step.
On the whole the Olympians were a pretty messed up, twisted bunch of berks... I like Athena and Hephaestus more than most of the others, but they could be cruel too. Zeus is far from the only one. Artemis ran around naked in the woods and killed any man who had the temerity to look at her. How fucked up is that? Hera tortured and persecuted every woman Zeus raped. Apollo and Artemis killed a woman's children because she bragged about having more kids than their mom. WTF? Like it was her kids' fault?
Mon, 2012-03-12 22:54
#11
Re: A Post-Zeus Greek Pantheon?
Guys- Please, let's lighten up or else no one will ever want to visit Arborea
Wed, 2012-03-14 07:03
#12
Re: A Post-Zeus Greek Pantheon?
I wonder if in such conflict she would release some of the Titans imprisoned in Tartarus or some of those that escaped imprisonment... Maybe some of the second generation Titans, like sons of Iapetus and Oceanid Clymene (Prometheus, Atlas, Epimetheus and Menoetius), sons of Crius and Eurybia (Astreus - the Dusk, husband of Eos - the Dawn; Perses - Titan god of Destruction and father of Hecate; Pallas - Titan God of War and father of Nike, Zelus, Kratos and Bia), Asteria (daughter of Coeus and Phoebe, mother of Hecate and goddess of astrology, oracles, prophetic dreams and necromancy).
As for the other gods that would side with her, I can see Hades on her side, probably Hephaestus and Hera most likely too - as she would like to overthrown her husband for his lechery. She probably wouldn't care about Athena being daughter of Metis, as Zeus was with Metis long before he set Hera free.
Also, some of the gods would most likely remain neutral, as they would prefer to remain on their positions: Hestia and Demeter most likely, probably Poseidon would also not help neither Zeus nor Athena. Children of Titans Hyperion and Theia (Helios, Selene and Eos) would most likely remain neutral in such war.
There are also Primodial God of the Sea - Pontus, which would most likely not interfere, along with his children (Nereus among them) and would remain neutral, just like he is not mentioned among those that battled in Titanomachy.
As there are not enough gods to fight in this war, both sides would try to lure heroes and demigods to their cause.
Wed, 2012-03-14 07:16
#13
Re: A Post-Zeus Greek Pantheon?
Personally, I think freeing/recruiting titans would be a step backwards (given the set-up that this issupposed to be a Second Titanomachy)
I was toying with the idea of Athena trying to recruit lesser/forgotten gods from other pantheons like the Seldarine enticing them with the promise of more prominent positions in her New "Arborean" Order
Thu, 2012-03-15 19:08
#14
Re: A Post-Zeus Greek Pantheon?
I was toying with the idea of Athena trying to recruit lesser/forgotten gods from other pantheons like the Seldarine enticing them with the promise of more prominent positions in her New "Arborean" Order
You want lesser/forgotten gods? Okay.
-
HARMONIA The goddess of harmony (marital and civic) is a daughter of Ares and Aphrodite, born of their adulterous union.
HEROPHILOS (aka HEROPHILE) One of the sibyls (prophetesses) who is said to be a daughter of Poseidon and Aphrodite
DESPOINE The Goddess of certain Arkadian Mysteries. She is a daughter of Poseidon and Demeter
TELETE The goddess of initiation into the Bacchic Mysteries. She is a daughter of Dionysos and the nymphe Nikaia
EUKLEIA The Goddess of Good Repute and Glory, a daughter of Hephaistos and Aglaia.
EUPHEME The Goddess of Being Well-Spoken, a daughter of Hephaistos and Aglaia.
EUTHENIA The Goddess of Prosperity and Plenty, a daughter of Hephaistos and Aglaia.
PHILOPHROSYNE The Goddess of Friendliness and Welcome, a daughter of Hephaistos and Aglaia.
AITHOUSA A nymphe or Princess of Boiotia (in ventral Greece). She is a daughter of Poseidon by the Pleaid Alkyone.
BENTHESIKYME A Sea-nymphe and Queen of Aithopia (Ethiopia in Africa). She is a daughter of Poseidon and Amphitrite.
EIRENE A woman of the Island of Kalaureia in the Argolis (southern Greece). She is a daughter of Poseidon and the nymphe Melantheia.
BRITOMARTIS The Goddess of Hunting and Fishing Nets is a daughter of Zeus and the nymphe Karme (an avatar of Demeter).
EILEITHYIA The Goddess (or Goddesses) of Childbirth is(are) a(the)daughter(s) of Zeus and Hera.
HEBE The Goddess of Youth is a daughter of Zeus and Hera.
MELINOE A Demon Goddess of the Underworld, whose body is half black and half white. She is a daughter of Zeus/Hades and Persephone.
KEROESSA A nymphe or Princess of Byzantion (on the Bosporos Strait separating Europe and Asia). She is a daughter of Zeus and Io, and mother of Byzas (founder of the famed city). Io is a Naias Nymphe.
Heraclea This Goddess is a daughter of Zeus and Hera. Her name means “the glory of Hera”.
More later.
Thu, 2012-03-15 18:52
#15
Re: A Post-Zeus Greek Pantheon?
- ANTEROS The god of reciprocal (or some say, unrequited) love is a son of Ares and Aphrodite.
DEIMOS The god of fear is a son of Ares and Aphrodite.
HERMAPHRODITOS The Hermaphroditic godling is a son of Hermes and Aphrodite. His form is merged with that of the naiad Salmakis to form a creature that is half male and half female.
IAKKHOS A god of the Eleusinian Mysteries, often called the Eleusinian Dionysos or Hermes is, according to the Orphic Hymns, a son of Dionysos and Aphrodite.
PHOBOS The god of panic is a son of Ares and Aphrodite.
ASTYNOOS A Prince of Syria (in Asia). He is a son of Aphrodite and Phaethon.
ARISTAIOS The Patron God of Beekeeping, Olive Oil Manufacture, and the Etesian Winds. He is a son of Apollon and the nymphe Kyrene.
ISMENOS An oracular priest of the shrine of Ismenios near Thebes, Boiotia (Central Greece). He is a son of Apollon and the okeanis Melia.
TENEROS An oracular priest of the shrine of Apollon on Mt Ptous in Boiotia (in Central Greece). He is a son of Apollon and the okeanis Melia.
ENYALIOS A War-God, son of Ares and Eris.
PANES, THE Two of the goat-footed Panes were sons of Hermes - Agreus whose mother is the nymphe Sose and Nomios whose mother is the nymphe Penelopeia.
SATYROI, THE The three Satyroi messengers of the god Dionysos were sons of Hermes and the nymphe Iphthime. They were named Pherespondos, Lykos and Pronomos.
EUANDROS A man of Arkadia (in Southern Greece) who emigrated to Latium (in Italia) and founded the city of Pallantium. He is a son of Hermes and the naiad Karmentis.
TRITON A fish-tailed Sea-God. He is a son of Poseidon and Amphitrite.
ZAGREOS The God Zagreos is a son of Hades and Persephone. [Zagreos and his parents were originally Gods of Thrake, later identified with Greek counterparts.]
KRONIOS A Lord of the island of Rhodes (in the Greek Aegean), one of three sons borne to Zeus and the nymphe Himalia.
KYTOS A Lord of the island of Rhodes (in the Greek Aegean), one of three sons borne to Zeus and the nymphe Himalia.
SPARTAIOS A Lord of the island of Rhodes (in the Greek Aegean), one of three sons borne to Zeus and the nymphe Himalia.
LAKEDAIMON The first King of Lakedaimonia (aka Sparta) (in Southern Greece). He is a son of Zeus and the pleiad Taygete.
IAMOS A Seer of Arkadia and Elis (in Southern Greece). He is a son of Apollon and the nymphe Euadne.
ILEUS A Trojan Lord (Asia Minor), son of Apollon by the nymphe Ourea.
PHILANDEROS A Lord of Elyros in Krete (in the Greek Aegean). He is a son of Apollon and the nymphe Akakallis.
PHYLAKIDES A Lord of Elyros in Krete (in the Greek Aegean). He is a son of Apollon and the nymphe Akakallis.
ZEUXIPPOS A King of Sikyon (in Southern Greece), son of Apollon and the nymphe Syllis.
SABAZIOS A Thraco-Phrygian god of wine and vegetation who is closely identified with Dionysos. One classical author described him as a son of Dionysos.
EUMOLPOS A King of one of the lands of Thrake (in northern Greece). He is carried off at birth by Poseidon to be raised in the land of Aithiopia (in Africa) and ended his life fighting on the side of the Eleusinians in Attika (Central Greece). Eumolpos is a son of Poseidon and the nymphe Khione.
MYGDON A King of the Bebrykes tribe of Bithynia (in Asia Minor). He is a son of Poseidon and the nymphe Melia.
AMYKOS A brutal King of the Bebrykes tribe of Bithynia (in Asia Minor). He is a son of Poseidon and the nymphe Melia.
EPAPHOS A King of Aigyptos (Egypt, in North Africa), son of Zeus and the much-suffering Io. Io is a Naias Nymphe.
Eryx He is the son of Poseidon and Aphrodite.
DRAKON ISMENIAN A monstrous Drakon which guarded the Ismenian Spring of Thebes (in Boiotia, Central Greece) and is slain by the hero Kadmos. It is a son of Ares and the Erinys Telphousia.
AREION An immortal horse owned by the hero Herakles and later Adrastos. He is the offspring of Demeter who is raped by Poseidon in the guise of a horse.
KHRYSAOR A Giant King of the island of Erytheia (in the Atlantic Ocean) and / or Iberia (Spain). He is a son of Poseidon and Medousa. He may be a golden, winged boar.
EUSIROS A Lord of Malis (in northern Greece), son of Poseidon and the nymphe Eidothea.
AIAKOS A King of the island of Aigina (in Southern Greece). He as the son of Zeus and the nymphe Aigina.
KOLAXES A Lord of the Tauric Khersonese (in North-Eastern Europe), son of Zeus and the nymphe Hora.
POLYPHEMOS A Kyklops or one-eyed Giant of Sikelia (Sicily in Southern Italia). He is a son of Poseidon and the sea-nymphe Thoosa.
TANTALOS A criminally minded King of Lydia (in Asia Minor), son of Zeus and the okeanis Plouto.
HALLIRHOTHIOS A Lord of Attika (in southern Greece). He is a son of Poseidon and the nymphe Euryte.
Thu, 2012-03-15 19:06
#16
Re: A Post-Zeus Greek Pantheon?
As you can see, this is a long list of Greek godlings. I created this list as research for villains in a superhero campaign.
I called them the New Atlanteans or The Pantheon of Mount Atlantis. Essentially, they were the children of the Olympians who wanted rule the world.
For our purposes, they could wish to overthrow their parents as is tradition in the Greek Pantheons.
Just for fun, this is the "original" pantheon of Atlantis:
The Gods of Atlantis
Because of their close affiliation with the Pantheon of Orthrys, the Olympians also imprisoned Atlantean pantheon within Tartaros and moved the great island nation of Atlantis to Arborea. This was a sad case of the friend of my enemy is my enemy also.
Thalassa & Pontos
Eurynome & Orphion
Kreois & Eurybia
Phorkys & Keto
Thaumus & Electra
Nereus & Doris
Wed, 2012-04-11 14:14
#17
Re: A Post-Zeus Greek Pantheon?
My current thoughts on the godwar:
Athena came to realise that Zeus was senile and corrupt, losing his grip on reality, so she conspired with Hephaistos to make a weapon that could fell the old god then had Hermes steal the thunderbolts so Zeus would be unarmed. She castrated the old god then beheaded him for good measure.
Hades, upon hearing that Zeus was dead, tried to usurp his position, but Persephone, after millenia of being married to someone she hated found a way to poison Hades then appealed to Athena to help kill him. Since her takeover of the underworld she has fallen in love with and wed Hermes, who has taken Psychopompous as an added title.
Hera, having always hated that Athena was born from Zeus without her help, conspired with Ares to kill the upstart goddess but was strangled by Herakles, who in turn was murdered by a backstabbing Ares.
Ares later tried to backstab Athena but she forced him into a head on fight and defeated him.
I'm thinking Poseidon is done for, too, but I'm not sure how...
Thu, 2012-04-12 20:44
#18
Re: A Post-Zeus Greek Pantheon?
A very violent ending to the Olympians. It keeps in the tradition of previous successions. I would prefer to break this tradition.
I would prefer Zeus and Kronos bound to great clouds with golden chains in Arborea; they may not be free but the view is better than Tartaros. Briareos, a.k.a. the Hecatoncheire, is bound with them; sadly, he would free Zeus if able. At least, this way he can somewhat protect his King and watch his hated brother. Other gods who had committed offenses could be bound along with them.
Hera divorces the usurped king and claims the sky domain as hers; she becomes almost reclusive and stays with her mother, or grandmother or aunts. Hades, no longer bound the decrees of his youngest brother, leaves the gloom of the underworld and becomes a chthonic god of caverns, wealth, and autumn.
The Pantheon of Othrys is freed as per an agreement between Athena and Gaea; they are pleased to be free of Tartaros and of Kronos and have no interest in renewing conflict. Portfolios in both pantheons are more tightly defined.
Ares assumes the death domain (but not the underworld) abandoned by Hades and (foolishly) sees this as a promotion; his great rival is now Iapetos (but Iapetos is unimpressed with Ares).
Athena's ascension to the throne will not be unchallenged. She knows this and has prepared for millennia. All that has occurred is because of her deliberate, methodical plans. Her freed mother, Metis, is her right hand advisor (and once her coconspirator from inside the mind of Zeus).
These are just some ideas off the top of my head. Lots of potential for conflict between and within pantheons. I like your idea for Persephone.
Fri, 2012-04-13 20:55
#19
Re: A Post-Zeus Greek Pantheon?
I prefer to go with the Planescape idea of dead gods, mere husks floating in the Astral, and some of the powerful ones being reduced to vestiges. My campaign has two cities that worship the Greek gods, Valora and Irium. Valora is all about Athena and the younger Olympians who sided with her. Irium was founded by self-exiled worshipers for Zeus and his allies who left Valora. The dirty secret of the priests of the dead gods is that the clerics have become Binders, tapping the vestiges of Zeus and other old gods to maintain their power and position.
Sun, 2012-04-22 19:41
#20
Re: A Post-Zeus Greek Pantheon?
A very violent ending to the Olympians. It keeps in the tradition of previous successions. I would prefer to break this tradition.
I would prefer Zeus and Kronos bound to great clouds with golden chains in Arborea; they may not be free but the view is better than Tartaros. Briareos, a.k.a. the Hecatoncheire, is bound with them; sadly, he would free Zeus if able. At least, this way he can somewhat protect his King and watch his hated brother. Other gods who had committed offenses could be bound along with them.
Hera divorces the usurped king and claims the sky domain as hers; she becomes almost reclusive and stays with her mother, or grandmother or aunts. Hades, no longer bound the decrees of his youngest brother, leaves the gloom of the underworld and becomes a chthonic god of caverns, wealth, and autumn.
The Pantheon of Othrys is freed as per an agreement between Athena and Gaea; they are pleased to be free of Tartaros and of Kronos and have no interest in renewing conflict. Portfolios in both pantheons are more tightly defined.
Ares assumes the death domain (but not the underworld) abandoned by Hades and (foolishly) sees this as a promotion; his great rival is now Iapetos (but Iapetos is unimpressed with Ares).
Athena's ascension to the throne will not be unchallenged. She knows this and has prepared for millennia. All that has occurred is because of her deliberate, methodical plans. Her freed mother, Metis, is her right hand advisor (and once her coconspirator from inside the mind of Zeus).
These are just some ideas off the top of my head. Lots of potential for conflict between and within pantheons. I like your idea for Persephone.
The idea of Atena (relatively) peacefully overthrowing Zeus and releasing Titans is fitting what Gaea would want - such way of taking the throne would be just perfect - there would be no new prophecy that hers successor would overthrow her, cause everyone would be satisfied (maybe except Zeus, but who cares about him).
Wed, 2012-04-25 02:20
#21
Re: A Post-Zeus Greek Pantheon?
Well, part of the planned upshot of this war in the mortal realms is that the clerics of certain gods must take up arcane magic and the binding of vestiges to fake their miracles because the gods they follow are dead. So I can see Athena trying to make it a bloodless coup, that is not what I am going for. It is also her fate in part that has lead her to overthrowing Zeus...
Wed, 2012-04-25 19:34
#22
Re: A Post-Zeus Greek Pantheon?
What about Ur-priests? Or Adepts? or a Charlatan?
Thu, 2012-04-26 09:08
#23
Re: A Post-Zeus Greek Pantheon?
Don't forget about adventures of Kratos (from the God of War series). 
Thu, 2012-04-26 15:12
#24
Re: A Post-Zeus Greek Pantheon?
What about Ur-priests? Or Adepts? or a Charlatan?
All good ideas. A lot of priests of dead gods will have to really on arcane spells, magic items, and chicanery to fake clerical powers. Their temples will have to purchase spells and items from other temples that worship gods who survived the war, too...
Thu, 2012-04-26 15:14
#25
Re: A Post-Zeus Greek Pantheon?
Don't forget about adventures of Kratos (from the God of War series).
I have not played any of those games, but if they have an applicable idea I can steal please share...
Tue, 2012-05-01 02:37
#26
Re: A Post-Zeus Greek Pantheon?
The Theomachy
I
I
Zeus was old, the centuries weighing him down, and the faith of mortals no longer fueled his might. Losing his strength made him hunger all the more for power, he was becoming a tyrant. His mind wandered back to simpler times, thousands of years ago, when mortals were still scared of thunder and darkness and needed only a simple faith in the power of the gods. Olympus groaned under the Zeus, not anymore a place of joy and light. Zeus lashed out at the other gods for every perceived slight, launching his thunderbolts recklessly, and raged constantly at the constraints of his own weakness.
The other gods could no longer endure his madness, but all feared to oppose the once omnipotent lord of the Heavens. Only Athena, the goddess of wisdom, dared to say aloud what all the Olympians knew, that it was time for Zeus to be overthrown. "It is time. Fate must be made Manifest. Zeus must be overthrown and cast into Tarterus." The gods, young and old, greatest and least, trembled at her words but knew she spoke the truth. Hermes was the first to pledge to help her. Then Apollo and Artemis. More gods soon committed themselves.
Word soon reached the doddering tyrant. He charged Hephaestus with making more thunderbolts for the coming battle and summoned his brothers to his side, Poseidon and Hades. They summoned monsters and giants and horrors from the land of the dead. They assembled on the summit of Mount Olympus and waited...
II
Athena assembled her allies at the base of Mount Olympus, the celestial peak. Hermes and Prometheus, Apollo and Artemis, and many other gods and titans sided with her. They were vastly outnumbered and quelled at the thought of facing the terrible thunderbolts of Zeus. Even the mightiest among them could be maimed or killed by this dreadful weapon. The gods knew none of them was invincible as they had been at the dawn of time, caution and strategy would be needed, but facing this all-destroying force seemed hopeless to many of them.
Aphrodite came forward, "War is not inevitable, Love can conquer all! I will get Zeus to step down and give the throne of Olympus to our wise sister Athena...", she said and began ascending the Sacred Mountain. Athena knew it was futile and warned her, but Aphrodite refused to give up her plan. She went to Zeus and knelt before him, pleading with him to make peace and love his daughter Athena. But Zeus took it as a betrayal, his madness making any disagreement into an attack against him. He beat her mercilessly and threw her bodily off the summit of Olympus. Her body broke on the rocks below, crippling the fairest of all goddesses. "I warned you," said Athena, "he is mad. He will not listen to reason." Aphrodite curled into a ball and cried.
Hephaestus looked down from Olympus and saw the beautiful Aphrodite's crushed body limping away, her face scarred and her eyes red from weeping. He looked at his lord Zeus and could not endure it. He quietly went to his smithy and gathered up all the thunderbolts he had made for Zeus and destroyed all of his tools, his forge, his anvils. Followed by his cyclopean minions and mechanical assistants, he silently walked down the mountain to Athena's camp. "I am here. I am with you. Zeus has his thunderbolts no longer..." he said to the assembled rebel gods. The other gods were shocked by his presence, but gladdened by his change of heart.
Athena looked at the club-footed, crippled smith of the gods, "We are still few in number, and while the thunderbolt is the most terrible of all weapons, we will be hard put to stop the hordes that follow Zeus. We need your craft and your cunning, Lord of Smiths, what say you?" Hephaestus thought about this and came upon a solution, building an army of soldier out of stone and iron in a new smithy, his cyclopse workers toiling away next to him. Great and terrible these were, giants as great as any spawned by Gaia.
Athena came and inspected the work of her smiths, gazing at the rows upon rows of titanic warriors. "What are you?" she said to the assembled horde. "Ia!" they replied in unison, a sound that made the base of Olympus shake. Athena looked at Hephaestus, "I approve..." she said, then turned to the assembled gods, "We march at dawn!" The Theomachy had begun...
Wed, 2012-05-09 17:56
#27
Re: A Post-Zeus Greek Pantheon?
Very informative chart...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_tree_of_the_Greek_gods
Which just made me wonder, if Zeus was real, how many people would now be descended from him? Hmm...
To play around with this idea:
The Titanomachy was a battle between the primal forces (the titans) and the more civilized gods
Since Athena is the goddess of wisdom, would the Second Titanomachy be a battle between colder logic and tempered emotion (Athena's camp) vs. the more passionate and impulsive (Zeus)?
Alternatively, since Athena is also the goddess of military warfare; perhaps a Second Titanomachy will signal a shift from a carefree lifestyle to an organized militarocracy (i.e. a shift from a Greek lifestyle to a Roman Empire)
[I know that the Romans also worshipped Zeus/Jupiter et al. but hopefully the idea is clear]