titan

The Titans were a race of gods who lived before Zeus and the other Olympians. They were very big and very strong. Some of the most famous Titans were Kronos, Rhea, Ocean, Hyperion, Atlas, Epimetheus, and Prometheus, who gave fire to humans.

Kronos and Rhea were the parents of Zeus and other Olympian gods and goddesses. Cronus knew that one of his children was destined to overthrow him. As each child was born, he swallowed it. When Zeus was born, though, Rhea wrapped a stone in a baby blanket and gave that to Kronos instead. She hid Zeus on an island. When he became an adult, he forced Kronos to disgorge the stone AND his five brothers and sisters: Hera, Poseidon, Hades, Hestia, and Demeter. Together they waged a terrible war against Kronos and the Titans. After Zeus won, he sentenced them to cruel punishments.

The original Titans were huge, powerful, and cruel. When we call someone a "titan" today, what do we mean?

• warlike
• powerful
• physically large