Have you ever wondered where saying like, "He has the Midas touch", or, "You have to find their Achilles heel", come from? Ancient Greek is the root of many English words and phrases, and their culture has famous portrayals of themes and stories that are still relevant today.
While different peoples have varying tales, some elements stay the same. Trying to understand the unfathomable is a common goal of all people. We create stories as an explanation to fill in the unknown. Over time, a set narrative is established to explain the times before history: mythologies.
In the beginning, there was only Chaos. Out of Chaos, Erebus, Nyx, and Eros were born, bringing the start of order. From Eros came Aether, and Hemera. Then Gaea appeared. Gaea alone gave birth to Uranus, who became Gaea's husband. Together they produced the three Cyclopes, the three Hecatoncheires, and twelve Titans.
CLIMAX
Uranus was not a good father, or husband. He hated the Hecatoncheires and imprisoned them in Gaea's womb. This angered Gaea, and she plotted against Uranus by getting the youngest Titan, Cronus, to overthrow him.
FALLING ACTION
Cronus became the next ruler, but became paranoid that one of his children would overthrow him, like his father before him, so he ate them. His wife, Rhea, concealed a baby (Zeus) by switching him with a stone in a swaddling cloth. She passed off the rock as the baby. Cronus was fooled and swallowed it.
RESOLUTION
Zeus overthrew Cronus with the help of all his imprisoned brothers and sisters. After defeating Cronus and his siblings, they became rulers of the gods.
Zeus exiled the Titans who had fought against him, except for Atlas, who was forced to hold the world on his shoulders for eternity.
Zeus now rules as king of the gods, who reside on Mt. Olympus.