Uranus (mythology) facts for kids

In Greek mythology, Uranus (pronounced YOOR-ə-nəs or yoo-RAY-nəs) is the god of the sky. His name, sometimes written Ouranos, means "sky" in ancient Greek. He is one of the very first gods, known as the Primordial Gods.

According to the ancient Greek poet Hesiod, Uranus was both the son and husband of Gaia (Earth). Together, they had the first group of powerful gods called the Titans. People in ancient Greece did not worship Uranus directly. But sometimes, they would call upon Earth, Sky, and the river Styx in serious prayers. Uranus is similar to the Roman god Caelus, who also represents the sky.

What's in a Name?

The name Uranus, or Ouranos, comes from an old word meaning "to rain" or "to moisten." This makes Uranus the "rain-maker" or the "lord of rain."

Some people also thought the name meant "the one standing on high." This makes sense for a sky god.

Uranus's Family Tree

In Hesiod's famous poem, Theogony, Uranus was born from Gaia (Earth). Gaia was the first being to appear after Chaos (the empty space). Besides Uranus, Gaia also gave birth to the Ourea (Mountains) and Pontus (Sea).

Uranus and Gaia then had many children. Their first children were the twelve powerful Titans. These included Oceanus (the ocean), Coeus, Crius, Hyperion, Iapetus, Theia, Rhea, Themis, Mnemosyne, Phoebe, Tethys, and Cronus.

They also had the three Cyclopes, who were giant beings with one eye. Their names were Brontes, Steropes, and Arges.

Finally, Uranus and Gaia had the three Hecatoncheires, known as the "Hundred-Handed Ones." These were Cottus, Briareus, and Gyges. They were huge and had fifty heads and a hundred arms each.

Later, Cronus, one of the Titans, attacked Uranus. From Uranus's blood, which fell onto the earth, came the Erinyes (Furies), the Giants, and the Meliae (tree nymphs).

Also, according to Hesiod, Cronus threw parts of Uranus into the sea. Around these parts, a white foam appeared and grew. From this foam, the beautiful goddess Aphrodite was born. However, another famous poet, Homer, said that Aphrodite was the daughter of Zeus and Dione.

Other Family Stories

Some other ancient stories tell different family histories for Uranus. For example, in a lost poem called the Titanomachy, Uranus was said to be the son of Aether (Light).

The Roman god Caelus is the Roman version of Uranus. The Roman writer Cicero said that Caelus was the child of Aether (Light) and Dies (Day). Caelus and Dies were also said to be the parents of Mercury.

The Planet Uranus

For a long time, ancient Greeks and Romans only knew about five "wandering stars" or planets. These were Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.

In 1781, a new planet was discovered using a telescope. Its discoverer, William Herschel, wanted to name it Georgium Sidus (The Georgian Star) after King George III. But other astronomers had different ideas.

Finally, in the mid-1800s, the name Uranus became accepted. This was suggested by astronomer Johann Bode. He thought it made sense because the other planets were named after gods who were related. Mars, Venus, and Mercury were children of Jupiter. Jupiter was the son of Saturn. And Saturn (who was Cronus in Greek myth) was the son of Uranus.

It's interesting that while most planets have Roman names, Uranus is a Greek name. Its Roman equivalent is Caelus.

Images for kids

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  A friendly robot.

See also

In Spanish: Urano (mitología) para niños