They fought, for example, at Thebes and in the Trojan War. This was the race of the heroes, also called demigods, who were involved in the legendary events of Greek saga. Zeus made still another race, also valiant in war but more just and more civilized. They destroyed themselves by their own hands and went down to the realm of Hades without leaving a name. Their implements and weapons were of bronze, and they relentlessly pursued the painful and violent deeds of war. Zeus made a third race of mortals, a terrible and mighty one of bronze. Zeus in his anger at their senselessness hid them under the earth where they still dwell. For they were arrogant against one another and refused to worship the gods or offer them sacrifice. Their childhood lasted a hundred years and when they grew up their lives were short and distressful. The Olympian gods made a second race of silver, far less favored than the one of gold. The earth covered over this race, but they still exist as holy spirits who wander over the earth. They lived in peace and harmony, never grew old, and died as though overcome by sleep. All good things were theirs in abundance, and the fertile earth brought forth fruit of its own accord. In the time when Cronus (Saturn) was king in heaven, the Olympian gods made a golden race of mortals, who lived as though in a paradise, without toil, trouble or cares. This tale of human degeneration mingles fact and fancy in an astonishing manner, for ages of bronze and of iron are historically very real indeed. Ovid describes only four ages, omitting the Age of Heroes. The following is a summary of Hesiod’s account. According to the myth of the ages of humankind, men and women are the creation of the gods or Zeus himself. There are several conflicting versions about the creation of mortals. The Titanomachy and the Gigantomachy are often confused in literature and art, and details vary considerably.The giants, OTUS or OTOS and EPHIALTES, in a separate attack, failed in their attempt to storm heaven by piling Olympus, Ossa, and Pelion, one upon the other.Zeus' triumph singles him out as an archetypal dragon-slayer. TYPHOEUS, also called TYPHAON or TYPHON was a ferocious dragon-god, whom earth produced to do battle with Zeus, either separately, or alongside the giants in the great Gigantomachy. Volcanoes, when they erupt, reveal the presence of the giants below. They were defeated in a fierce battle and were imprisoned under the earth. Giants, called GEGENEIS, since they were “born from the Earth,” challenged Zeus and the new order of the gods. THE GIGANTOMACHY: ZEUS DEFEATS THE GIANTS AND TYPHOEUS
Zeus was victorious and the Titans were imprisoned in Tartarus, guarded by the Hecatonchires and Atlas was punished with the task of holding up the sky. Also on his side were the Hecatonchires and the Cyclopes. Olympus and his allies, in addition to Themis and Prometheus, were his brothers and sisters, who had been swallowed by Cronus but later regurgitated, namely: Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, and Poseidon. Prometheus’ brother ATLAS sided with Cronus. Othrys his allies were the Titans except for Themis and her son PROMETHEUS. This epic battle was waged for ten years between Zeus and the Olympians and Cronus and the Titans.
THE TITANOMACHY: ZEUS DEFEATS HIS FATHER CRONUS Chapter 4: Zeus’ Rise to Power: The Creation Of Mortals