Genealogy of the Titans and Gods in Greek Mythology

Genealogy of the Titans and Gods in Greek Mythology The genealogy of the Greek gods is complicated. There was not one uniform story all the ancient Greeks and Romans believed. One poet could directly contradict another. Parts of stories dont make sense, seemingly happening in reverse order or contradicting something else that was just said. You shouldnt throw up your hands in despair, though. Familiarity with the genealogy doesnt mean your branches always go in one direction or that your tree looks like the one your neighbor prunes. However, since the ancient Greeks traced their ancestry and that of their heroes to the deities, you should have at least a passing acquaintance with the lineages. Further back in mythological time than even the gods and goddesses are their ancestors, the primordial powers. Other pages in this series look at some of the genealogical relationships among the primordial powers and their other descendants (Chaos and Its Descendants, Titans Descendants, and Descendants of the Sea). This page shows the generations referred to in the mythological genealogies. Generation 0 - Chaos, Gaia, Eros, and Tartaros In the beginning were primordial forces. Accounts differ as to how many there were, but Chaos was probably the first. The Ginnungagap of Norse mythology is similar to Chaos, a sort of nothingness, black hole, or chaotic, swirling disordered state of conflict. Gaia, the Earth, came next. Eros and Tartaros may also have sprung into existence at about the same time. This is not a numbered generation because these forces were not generated, born, created, or otherwise produced. Either they were always there or they materialized, but the idea of generation involves some sort of creation, so the forces of Chaos, the earth (Gaia), love (Eros), and Tartaros come  before the first generation. Generation 1 The earth (Gaia/Gaea) was the great mother, a creator. Gaia created and then mated with the heavens (Ouranos) and the sea (Pontos). She also produced  but did not mate with the mountains. Generation 2 From Gaias union with the heavens (Ouranos/Uranus [Caelus]) came the Hecatonchires (hundred-handers; by name, Kottos, Briareos, and Gyes), the three cyclops/cyclopes (Brontes, Sterope, and Arges), and the Titans who numbered as follows: Kronos (Cronus)Rheia (Rhea)Kreios (Crius)Koios (Coeus)Phoibe (Phoebe],Okeanos (Oceanus],TethysHyperionTheia (Thea)Iapetos (Iapetus)MnemosyneThemis Generation 3 From the Titan pair Kronos and his sister, Rhea, came the first Olympian gods (Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Hades, Demeter, and Hestia). Other Titans like Prometheus are also of this generation  and cousins of these early Olympians. Generation 4 From the mating of Zeus and Hera came: AresHebe the cup-bearerHephaestusEileithuia the goddess of childbirth There are other, conflicting genealogies. For instance, Eros is also called the son of Iris, instead of the more conventional Aphrodite, or the primeval and uncreated force Eros; Hephaestus may have been born to Hera without aid of a male. In case it is not completely clear where brothers marry sisters, Kronos (Cronos), Rheia (Rhea), Kreios, Koios, Phoibe (Phoebe), Okeanos (Oceanos), Tethys, Hyperion, Theia, Iapetos, Mnemosyne, and Themis are all offspring of Ouranos and Gaia. Likewise, Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Hades, Demeter, and Hestia are all offspring of Kronos and Rheia. Sources Timothy Gantz: Early Greek MythHesiod Theogony, translated by Norman O. Brown

McCulloch v. Maryland, 1819

McCulloch v. Maryland, 1819 The court case known as McCulloch v. Maryland of March 6, 1819, was a seminal Supreme Court Case that affirmed the right of implied powers, that there were powers that the federal government had that were not specifically mentioned in the Constitution, but were implied by it. In addition, the Supreme Court found that states are not allowed to make laws that would interfere with congressional laws that are allowed by the Constitution.   Fast Facts: McCulloch v. Maryland Case Argued: February 23- March 3, 1819Decision Issued:  March 6, 1819Petitioner: James W. McCulloch,Respondent: State of MarylandKey Questions: Did Congress have the authority to charter the bank, and by imposing taxes on the bank, was the State of Maryland acting outside of the Constitution?Unanimous Decision: Justices Marshall, Washington, Johnson, Livingston, Duvall, and StoryRuling: The Court held that Congress had the power to incorporate a bank and that the State of Maryland could not tax instruments of the national government employed in the execution of constitutional powers. Background In April 1816, Congress created a law that allowed for the creation of the Second Bank of the United States. In 1817, a branch of this national bank was opened in Baltimore, Maryland. The state along with many others questioned whether the national government had the authority to create such a bank within the states boundaries.  The state of Maryland had a desire to limit the  powers of the federal government. The General Assembly of Maryland passed a law on February 11, 1818, which placed a  tax on all notes the originated with banks chartered outside of the state. According to the act, ...it shall not be lawful for the said branch, office of discount and deposit, or office of pay and receipt to issue notes, in any manner, of any other denomination than five, ten, twenty, fifty, one hundred, five hundred, and one thousand dollars, and no note shall be issued except upon stamped paper. This stamped paper included the tax for each denomination. In addition, the Act said that the President, cashier, each of the directors and officers .... offending against the provisions aforesaid shall forfeit a sum of $500 for each and every offense....   The Second Bank of the United States, a federal entity, was really the intended target of this attack. James McCulloch, the head cashier of the Baltimore branch of the bank, refused to pay the tax. A lawsuit was filed against the State of Maryland by John James, and Daniel Webster signed on to lead the defense. The state lost the original case and it was sent to the Maryland Court of Appeals. Supreme Court The Maryland Court of Appeals held that since the US Constitution did not specifically allow the federal government to create banks, then it was not unconstitutional. The court case then went before the  Supreme Court. In 1819, the Supreme Court was headed by Chief Justice John Marshall. The court decided that the Second Bank of the United States was necessary and proper for the federal government to exercise its duties.   Therefore, the US National Bank was a constitutional entity, and the state of Maryland could not tax its activities. In addition, Marshall also looked at whether states retained sovereignty. The argument was made that since it was the people and not the states who ratified the Constitution, state sovereignty was not damaged by the finding of this case.   Significance This landmark case declared that the United States government had implied powers as well as those specifically listed in the Constitution. As long as what is passed is not forbidden by the Constitution, it is allowed if it helps the federal government fulfill its powers as stated in the Constitution. The decision provided the avenue for the federal government to expand or evolve its powers to meet an ever-changing world.