titans

Titans are a group of twelve elder deities in Greek mythology, offspring of Gaia (Earth) and Uranus (Sky). They preceded the Olympian gods and ruled during the mythic Golden Age. The twelve Titans are Cronus, Rhea, Oceanus, Tethys, Hyperion, Theia, Coeus, Phoebe, Crius, Mnemosyne, Themis, and Atlas.

The Titans feature prominently in myth as the generation that governed the cosmos before the Olympian revolt. They were defeated by the Olympians in the Titanomachy, a war that solidified Zeus’s rule. After their defeat, many Titans were banished to Tartarus, while some myths assign them other roles or places in the cosmos. Atlas is famously punished to hold up the heavens.

In Roman mythology, the Titans are identified with Saturn. The term titan has also entered modern usage to denote great size, power, or significance.

In contemporary culture, Titans are used as names and symbols in various media and institutions. Examples include the Tennessee Titans, a National Football League team, and the DC Comics superhero team known as the Titans.