In Greek mythology, Theia, sometimes called Euryphaessa was the Titaness of clear sight. She was the wife of her brother Hyperion. She is mother of Helios, Selene and Eos. She is the daughter of Cronus and Rhea. Theia is also the goddess who gives silver, gold, and jewels their shine. She is rarely mentioned in Greek mythology, but is important for her children, like most Titans.
Etymology[]
Theia means "goddess" or "divine", as "divine light".
Family[]
Theia is one of the Twelve Titans, children of Uranus and Gaia. With her brother, Hyperion, she bore Helios, Selene, and Eos.
In Greek mythology[]
In earlier Greek mythology, Theia was a goddess of sight and wasn't mentioned much. She was the eldest of her siblings, The Titans. In some texts, she is referred to as "cow-eyed Euryphaessa", symbolizing her son Helios' love for cows.
In later mythology, Theia was more associated with the shine of gold, silver, and jewels. She was also associated with shine and glory. She was often pictured as one of the mother of the sun gods, along with Phoebe and Leto.
Selene and the Phases of the Moon[]
In one myth, Selene asked her mother, who is unnamed, to weave a garment for her. However, the mother who was supposedly Theia, could not because the goddess kept changing her shape and size, referencing the phases of the moon.
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| Titans | |
|---|---|
| Parents | Ouranós • Gaîa |
| Elder Titans | Coeus • Crius • Cronus • Hyperion • Iapetus • Oceanus |
| Elder Titanesses | Dione • Mnemosyne • Phoebe • Theia • Rhea • Themis • Tethys |
| Coeonides | Asteria • Leto |
| Crionides | Astraeus • Pallas • Perses |
| Hyperionides | Eos • Hḗlios • Selene |
| Iapetonides | Atlas • Epimetheus • Menoetius • Prometheus |
| Oceanides | Potamoi • Rhode • Styx |
| Others | Anemoi • Astra Planeta • Kratos • Eurynome • Hecate • Lelantos • Melisseus • Metis • Nike • Ophion |
| Topics | Overthrowing of Ouranós • Titanomachy |