theogony
thee-OG-uh-nee
/θiˈɒɡəni/
The genealogy of a group or system of gods; an account of the origin and descent of the gods.
Specifically refers to the 'family tree' and birth stories of divine beings, rather than the universe as a whole.
The story behind the word. From the Greek 'theos' (god) and 'gonia' (birth). It literally translates to 'god-birth.' The most famous work with this title is by the poet Hesiod, written around 700 BCE.
Word relationships
- genealogy: Genealogy is for any family line; theogony is specifically for gods.
Commonly confused with
- cosmogony: Cosmogony is the birth of the universe; theogony is the birth of the gods.
Collocations
- Hesiod's Theogony
- divine theogony
- ancient theogony
Example sentences
- "Hesiod's Theogony is the primary source for understanding how the Greek gods overthrew the Titans." Classical Literature
- "Scholars compare the Hindu theogony with that of the Greeks to find common Indo-European roots." Comparative Mythology
Memory hook
Think of 'Theo' (God) and 'Gony' (Birth). The birth of the gods. God-Birth.
When not to use
Do not use it to describe the creation of humans; it is strictly for the gods.
Fun facts
- In many theogonies, the gods are born from the personification of natural elements like Earth (Gaia) and Sky (Ouranos).
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