Theomachy

Lore & Background

An early example of a theomachy is the Titanomachy, in which the elder Olympian Gods fought against the preceding generation, the Titans. The war lasted ten years and resulted in the victory of the Olympians and their dominion over the world. Another case is the Gigantomachy, the battle fought between the Giants—the children of Gaia—and all the Olympian gods for supremacy of the cosmos.

Reader's Guide

In the Iliad, multiple theomachies occur. One is fought between Diomedes with the direct aid of Athena against Ares and Aphrodite; the divine couple is wounded by the spear guided by Athena, making this the first theomachy chronologically in the Iliad. Book 20 begins with Zeus' grant of permission to the gods to participate in the battle and is traditionally known under the title Theomachia. In Book 21, there is fighting between Hera and Artemis, shown by Homer to be almost playful as Hera smiles while boxing the ears of Artemis, causing Artemis to fly away in tears. Seeing this, Hermes refuses to fight Leto and encourages to tell everyone she beat him. Poseidon challenges Apollo to fight, but Apollo rejects his offer, commenting on the triviality of gods fighting over the whims of mortals while their own pain would be transitory and quickly healed. The Theomachy is purposely added to show the unbridgeable gap between mortal men and the immortals who rule them; by showing the triviality of divine pain, human suffering is highlighted.

Did You Know?

• The Titanomachy lasted ten years and resulted in the victory of the Olympians.
• In the Iliad, the first theomachy chronologically involves Diomedes with Athena against Ares and Aphrodite.
• In Book 21 of the Iliad, Hera boxes the ears of Artemis, causing Artemis to fly away in tears.
• The English word theomachist refers to an individual who resists God or his will.