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| A collection of my drawings of the Protogenoi or the Primeval Gods. |
The ever complicated Greek mythology also had, in itself, a LOT of versions recounting the tales of the origin of life. In fact, to the Greeks, the very elements that make up the universe are actually living and sentient beings. Knowing them brings better understanding to the nature of the gods we already know and love (or not?).
And thus, I am now going to introduce to you the race of 'gods' known as the PROTOGENOI.
Proto...what?
Yes, mythology is full of weird names. But this one's a very important weird name.
According to Theoi Project, the Protogenoi ("first-born") were the primeval gods who formed the basic components of the universe which emerged at creation. They form the very fabric of the universe and as such are immortal. These deities are a group of gods from which all the other gods descend.
What's interesting about these gods is that they were both persons and places or realms. Just as they were the literal Earth, Sky, Sea, etc., they were also individuals who have different personalities and different life issues. Although they were, for the most part, purely elemental beings, they were also described or portrayed in anthropomorphic form. (I mean like how can places be considered male or female and have literal children had they stayed just as... places? It's the magic of mythology.)
Anyway, the Protogenoi were considered the first generation of gods to rule the cosmos. After them came the Titans, and then the Olympians. Their prime days already passed, we can only except them to be seen on the sides (perhaps a cameo here or a guesting there, you know... those stuffs).
Much like in the modern times, the ancients have their own views about the Greek story of creation. The result was a countless number of myths, often conflicting and divergent, telling different versions of the same story.
The most popular and widely accepted among all of those came from Hesiod's Theogony. From what I have retrieved from greece.org:
What's interesting about these gods is that they were both persons and places or realms. Just as they were the literal Earth, Sky, Sea, etc., they were also individuals who have different personalities and different life issues. Although they were, for the most part, purely elemental beings, they were also described or portrayed in anthropomorphic form. (I mean like how can places be considered male or female and have literal children had they stayed just as... places? It's the magic of mythology.)
Anyway, the Protogenoi were considered the first generation of gods to rule the cosmos. After them came the Titans, and then the Olympians. Their prime days already passed, we can only except them to be seen on the sides (perhaps a cameo here or a guesting there, you know... those stuffs).
Creation through the grapevine
(Oh no, I don't mean to say that the world was created through of gossips!)Much like in the modern times, the ancients have their own views about the Greek story of creation. The result was a countless number of myths, often conflicting and divergent, telling different versions of the same story.
The most popular and widely accepted among all of those came from Hesiod's Theogony. From what I have retrieved from greece.org:
According to him Chaos was out there first, then Earth, Tartarus - in the depth of Earth -, and last of all Eros (Love). Eros is the natural power which caused the union of the identical parts of matter resulting in the formation of several bodies, and by keeping them united it kept the whole Universe in order. These four elements are mentioned as self made elements and not as coming from each other. By "chaos" Hesiod means the dark which dominated everywhere (or water). From Chaos came forth Erebus and Night and then night bare Aether and Day. And Earth first gave birth to Uranos (Heaven), then Mountains and Pontus.
(And Gaea begot the Titans by Uranus and so on and so forth.)Also, there are other creation myths that are worth mentioning. According to Wikipedia:
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| Just felt right putting it here. (Source) |
- The Iliad, an epic poem attributed to Homer about the Trojan War (an oral tradition of 700 or 600 BC) states that Oceanus (and possibly Tethys, too) is the parent of all the deities.
- Alcman (c. 600 BC) made the water-nymph Thetis the first goddess, producing poros "path", tekmor "marker" and skotos "darkness" on the pathless, featureless void.
- Orphic poetry (c. 530 BC) made Nyx the first principle, Night, and her offspring were many. Also, in the Orphic tradition, Phanes (a mystic Orphic deity of light and procreation, sometimes identified with the Elder Eros) is the original ruler of the universe, who hatched from the cosmic egg.
- Aristophanes (c. 456–386 BC) wrote in his Birds, that Nyx is the first deity also, and that she produced Eros from an egg.
The 'Creative' Team
Recurring figures may be noticed in all the stories mentioned above. So now, I present to you the cast of characters who played a part in the Greek Creation myth.
| GREEK | ROMAN | GENDER | REALM |
| Aether | Ether | M | Light/Air |
| Ananke | Necessitas | F | Destiny |
| Chaos | Aer | ? | Void |
| Erebus | Avernus | M | Darkness |
| Gaea | Terra/Tellus | F | Earth |
| Hemera | Dies | F | Day |
| Hydros | Hydros | M | Fresh Water |
| Khronos | Aeon | M | Time |
| Nyx | Nox | F | Night |
| Phanes/Eros | Amor | ? | New Life |
| Physis | Natura | F | Nature |
| Pontus | Pontus | M | Sea |
| Tartarus | Tartarus | M | Underworld |
| Thalassa | Mare | F | Sea |
| Thesis | Thesis | F | Creation |
| Uranus | Coelus | M | Sky |
The Mountains (Ourea/Montes) and Islands (Nesoi/Insulae) were also considered primordial gods. However, they figured very little to the story that I decided not to include them there. Also, Oceanus and Tethys were listed, but I would rather have them as Titans. I also have my own views. Oh well.
As the primary components of the cosmos, they just cannot be digested out of the system. Instead, they become pure energies and stay in their elemental state. They won't be able to assume anthropomorphic forms and actively interact with the other immortals. (An example of this is Uranus' only becoming the dome of heaven after his castration).
During the reign of the Olympians, only a few of the Protogenoi still had their powers remain intact; most of them becoming the realms or items that the younger gods possess. It turns out; they enjoyed it more belonging to the gender called neuter.
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Now that I am finished with the principal Titanides, I'll discuss the individual Protogenoi next in my future articles. Stay tuned. =)
The lasting firsts...
Unlike the other races of gods who fade or perish after their powers are usurped or given, the Protogenoi are special because they don't just become goners.As the primary components of the cosmos, they just cannot be digested out of the system. Instead, they become pure energies and stay in their elemental state. They won't be able to assume anthropomorphic forms and actively interact with the other immortals. (An example of this is Uranus' only becoming the dome of heaven after his castration).
During the reign of the Olympians, only a few of the Protogenoi still had their powers remain intact; most of them becoming the realms or items that the younger gods possess. It turns out; they enjoyed it more belonging to the gender called neuter.
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Now that I am finished with the principal Titanides, I'll discuss the individual Protogenoi next in my future articles. Stay tuned. =)
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