In Hesiod's Theogony, there is a timeline presented in which many generations occupy the position of "king of the universe ". Ouranos, his son Kronos, and his son Zeus all both hold the coveted position of ruling over all things. Both Ouranos and Kronos met an untimely end at the hands of their sons, so why didn't Zeus share the same fate? In The Theogony, there is a passage that shows why Zeus is the being of his lineage who remains the ruler. Lines 485 to 506 of the Theogony show how Zeus was favored by Gaia, he was both the first and last born, and how he had the wisdom and guidance to free the Cyclops from their slavery, and that these events were what made Zeus the logical character. conclusion to the myth of succession. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay In the passage, we can see that Gaia noticed and favored Zeus. She took him from his mother Rhea and guided him as he grew up to deceive his father. Quickly, the strength and noble limbs of the future lord grew; after a year, deceived by the wise advice of Earth, the great Cronus, with a twisted mind, vomits up his children. Zeus grew up for a year, then returned to save his siblings, the other Olympians, from remaining in their father's womb, and during that year he was cared for by Gaia, who served as a guiding figure throughout this period. his plan to deceive and overtake his father was suggested by Gaia, Earth, just as the plan Cronus had implemented in the past was also Gaia's. She helps those she favors and those she thinks worthy of ruling the universe, using her prophetic time to help her. The passage states that Kronos was "deceived by the clever counsels of Earth", and later states that Kronos is "defeated by the cunning and strength of his own son", meaning that a combination of the Necessary help from Gaia and the worthy strength of Zeus joined forces to defeat Kronos. The will of Gaia is the will of the Earth, just as she is the Earth. In later passages of the same text, it is noted that the gods wanted Zeus to rule them forever through the advice of Gaia, which further reinforces her actions in this passage, as it is shown that she always wanted Zeus to be the ruler of the universe and not to be surpassed by a son, just like his predecessors in the myth of succession. In the myth of succession, as well as in Greek culture and myth itself, the position of the first and last born son is important. These are very powerful positions to hold within the birth order in a family. Kronos was the last born and the only one of his Titan siblings willing to castrate his father and become the next ruler. Zeus is particularly important in this way because he is both the first and last born. Zeus is his mother's last born, and the one she hides and replaces with a rock for Kronos to eat instead, "Rhea wrapped a huge stone in a baby's dress, and gave it to the son of Sky, lord of the former gods. sisters be regurgitated. "He first vomited the stone that he had swallowed last." Zeus occupies a very important position among the Olympians because he was both born last to his mother and first to his father. He is capable of assuming the importance of these two roles himself..