Uranus

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= Uranus: //The God of the Sky // = = = = = = =

Created by Nick Ingram
=Main Facts about Uranus:=
 * Pronounced: "YOOR-uh-nus"
 * Greek Spelling: Ouranos
 * Roman Spelling: Uranus
 * Uranus was the "god of the sky"
 * Uranus' powers were not mentioned, however, he is said to be the god of time in Roman mythology. (He turned the Zodiac wheel.)
 * Uranus was born from his mother Gaia - later, his wife - without a father needed.
 * Major story: The Castration of Uranus
 * Uranus and Gaia gave birth to the 12 original titans.
 * Uranus could be named the "Father of the Universe."

__Who is Uranus? __
Uranus, or Ouranos, was "the embodiment of the sky or heavens", and known as "the god of the sky". He was the first-born son of Gaia, Mother Earth. Gaia and Uranus became husband and wife. Together, they had twelve children: six sons and six daughters. They also had other offspring, which included the Cyclopes, or one-eyed monsters; monsters called the Hecatonchires, who had fifty heads and one hundred hands; and the Erinyes, or "spirits of punishment and goddesses of vengeance."


 * Fun Fact:** Ouranos means "sky" in Greek.

Ouranos was not depicted in early Greek art. However, in Roman-era art, he was often depicted as Aion, the god of eternal time. In the picture at the right, Aion (Uranus) is turning the wheel of heaven, inscribed with the signs of the zodiac. (Aion was also identified with Khronos/Cronus). The four children with Gaia represent the four seasons.

* = not born from Gaia
 * ~ ===Uranus' Offspring=== ||
 * = ====**Titans**==== ||= //Sons// ||= //Daughters// ||=  ||=   ||=   ||=   ||
 * =  ||= Oceanus ||= Theia ||=   ||=   ||=   ||=   ||
 * =  ||= Coeus ||= Rhea ||=   ||=   ||=   ||=   ||
 * =  ||= Crius ||= Themis ||=   ||=   ||=   ||=   ||
 * =  ||= Hyperion ||= Mnemosyne ||=   ||=   ||=   ||=   ||
 * =  ||= Iapetus ||= Phoebe ||=   ||=   ||=   ||=   ||
 * =  ||= Cronus ||= Tethys ||=   ||=   ||=   ||=   ||
 * = ====**Other Creatures**==== ||= Cyclopes ||= **Hecatonchires** ||= *** Erinyes** ||= ***Giants ** ||= ***Nymphs ** ||= ***Aphrodite ** ||
 * =  ||= Brontes ||= Briareus ||=   ||=   ||=   ||=   ||
 * =  ||= Steropes ||= Cottus ||=   ||=   ||=   ||=   ||
 * =  ||= Arges ||= Gyes ||=   ||=   ||=   ||=   ||
 * =  ||= Arges ||= Gyes ||=   ||=   ||=   ||=   ||

Version 1:
The Cyclopes and Hecatonchires disgusted Uranus, so he had them hid in Tartarus, the bowels of the earth, which of course was inside Gaia. (Another version says that Uranus was frightened by their might). The monsters in Gaia's bowels caused her much pain. To prevent any more offspring from entering her bowels, she asked her youngest son Cronus to castrate his father; Uranus would no longer be fertile and, therefore, could not produce more monstrous offspring. In order to castrate Uranus, Gaia made Cronus an adamantine sickle. That night, as the sky (Uranus) drew close to lay with Gaia, Cronus struck Uranus with the sickle, cutting off his genitals. Nymphs and giants were born from the blood that fell to the earth (Gaia) from Uranus's wound. Cronus threw the genitals into the sea, causing a white foam to form. It is said that from the foam came Aphrodite, the goddess of love and desire.

Version 2:
In another version, Gaia was tired of her "exuberant fertility." Uranus was so vast he could cover the entire earth and, therefore, take advantage of the fruitfulness of Gaia. So, Gaia begged her sons to release her of the "excessive embrace" of Uranus. Each son refused except Cronus. With a sickle, he castrated Uranus. The blood that fell to the earth gave birth to the Erinyes, the Giants, and the Nymphs of the manna ash trees. Cronus threw the sickle into the sea, causing the island of Corfu to form.

After Uranus was castrated, the sky (Uranus) separated from the earth (Gaia), and Cronus became king of the gods.

__Separation of Earth from Sky (Allusions) __
In some creation stories, there is reference to the earth "separating from the sky." In a section titled "The Creation" from the great poetic masterpiece __Metamorphoses__, Ovid writes, "God, or kindlier Nature, Settled all argument, and separated Heaven from earth..." Ovid could have possibly been alluding to the separation of Uranus from Gaia.

It is also said that once Uranus was castrated, Cronus and his wife, Rhea, took over as superior to the other gods. Cronus's rule began what was called the "Golden Age", an age when man lived in harmony. This "Golden Age" can be found in __Metamorphoses__ in the section titled "The Four Ages".

(For more references to literature, see the "Links!" section at the bottom of the page.)

The Planet Uranus
Uranus is the seventh planet from the sun, and is one of the four gaseous planets. It was first discovered by William Herschel in 1781, but the planet was not referred to as "Uranus" until the German astronomer Bode later proposed the name Uranus to go with the other planets' names. Isn't it ironic that the planet Uranus is a "sky blue" color? Perhaps that was an intentional choice by Bode. Another thing to note is that Uranus was the father of Cronus (Saturn), and the grandfather of Zeus (Jupiter). Like Uranus, both Saturn and Jupiter are gaseous planets. It would seem as if these gaseous planets were intentionally named in relation to each other.



[|Video about the planet Uranus]

To find out more about Uranus, check out these links:

[|Encyclopedia Mythica™]

[|The Planet Uranus]

[|The Gods (video)]

[|Literature References]



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About the Music:
You are probably wondering, "Why is this song being played in the background?" As the author, I would answer that question by saying that this song makes me think of the world we live in - how people and cultures have evolved, and how we are rapidly changing. It also makes me think of famous historical events and people flashing before my eyes. The ancient Greeks and Romans were two very great cultures that loved mythology, and are a very impotant part of our world's history. I think "Life in Technicolor", along with the picture of the "Castration of Uranus" go well together. You probably think I'm crazy, but that is exactly why I chose this song for my wikipage. (I also chose it because Coldplay is my favorite band!) I hope you enjoy this selection as much as I do!