THE TITANS OF CRETE & THE GOLDEN AGE

THE TITANS OF CRETE & THE GOLDEN AGE 

Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 5. 66. 1 (trans. Oldfather) (Greek historian C1st B.C.) : "The Titanes had their dwelling in the land about Knosos, at the place where even to this day men point out foundations of a house of Rhea and a cypress grove which has been consecrated to her from ancient times. The Titanes numbered six men and five women, being born, as certain writers of myths relate, of Ouranos (Heaven) and Ge (Earth), but according to others, of one of the Kouretes and Titaia, from whom as their mother they derive the name they have. The males were Kronos, Hyperion, Koios, Iapetos, Krios and Okeanos, and their sisters were Rhea, Themis, Mnemosyne, Phoibe and Tethys [he omits Theia]. Each one of them was the discover of things of benefit to mankind, and because of the benefaction they conferred upon all men they were accorded honours and everlasting fame."  Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 5. 67. 3 : "And so these gods [the Titanes], by reason of the many benefactions which they conferred upon the life of man, were not only accorded immortal honours, but it was also believed that they were the first to make their home on Mount Olympos after they had been translated from among men."  The story of the Titanes of Drepane (below) probably belonged to the same tradition. For MORE information on the Golden Age see KRONOS THE TITANS OF DREPANE & AGRIGULTURE  The island of Drepane, home of Titanes and Phaiakians was identified with both Korkyra and Sikelia (Sicily).  Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 4. 982 ff (trans. Rieu) (Greek epic C3rd B.C.) : "In the Keraunian Sea, fronting the Ionian Straits, there is a rich and spacious island [Drepane], under the soil of which is said to lie (bear with me, Mousai; it gives me little pleasure to recall the old tale) the sickle used by Kronos to castrate his father Ouranos (Sky). Others call it the reaping-hook of Demeter Khthonia (of the Underworld), who lived there once and taught the Titanes to reap corn for food, in her affection for Makris. From this reaping-hook the island takes its name of Drepane, the sacred Nurse of the Phaiakians, who by the same token trace their ancestry to Ouranos (Heaven)."