Uranus, who represented the sky, was one of the original deities of Greek mythology. He was the son of Gaia, the earth, who also became his wife. Together they had many children, including the Titans and the Cyclopes*.
deity god or goddess
Titan one of a family of giants who ruled the earth until overthrown by the Greek gods of Olympus
Uranus, however, detested his children. As soon as they were born, he forced them into Tartarus, a dark place deep beneath the surface of the earth. Gaia asked her children to stop Uranus, but only her son Cronus came to her aid. Cronus cut off his father's sex organs and threw them into the sea. According to myth, Aphrodite* was born from the foam where they landed.
Uranus became the sky that surrounds the earth, and Cronus replaced his father as king of the universe. But Cronus was later defeated by his son Zeus* who, together with Hera* and other Olympian gods, overthrew the Titans and took their place ruling the universe.
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