In Hesiod's Theogony, a chronology is presented in which there are many generations who hold the position of “king of the universe”. Uranus, his son Cronus, and his son Zeus are all simultaneously holders of the coveted position of ruling over all things. Uranus and Cronus both met an untimely end at the hands of their children, so why didn't Zeus share the same fate? In the Theogony there is a passage that shows why Zeus is the being of his lineage who remains the ruler. Lines 485 to 506 within the Theogony show how Zeus was favored by Gaia, was both the first and last born, and how he had the wisdom and guidance to free the Cyclopes from their slavery, and that these events were which made Zeus the logical conclusion of the myth of succession. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay In the passage, it can be seen that Gaia noticed and favored Zeus. He took him from his mother Rhea and guided him as he grew up to deceive his father. The strength and noble limbs of the future lord then rapidly grew; at the end of the year, deceived by the cunning council of the Earth, the great dishonest-minded Cronus abandoned his children. Zeus grew over the course of a year, and then returned to save his brothers and sisters, the other Olympians, from remaining in their father's stomach, and during that year he was cared for by Gaia, who acted as a guiding figure through that time. His plan to deceive and surpass his father was suggested by Gaia, the Earth, just as the plan that Kronos had enacted in the past was also Gaia's. He helps those he chooses and deems worthy to rule the universe, using his prophetic time to assist. The passage states that Kronos was "deceived by the intelligent council of Earth", and later states that Kronos is "defeated by the skill and strength of his son", meaning that a combination of Gaia's necessary help and the worthy Zeus' force united to defeat Kronos. Gaia's will is the will of the Earth, for she is the Earth. In later passages of the same text, it is noted that the gods wanted Zeus to rule over them forever on the advice of Gaia, which further reinforces his actions in this passage, as it is shown that he always wanted Zeus to be the ruler of the universe and not be surpassed by a son, just like his predecessors in the myth of succession. Within the myth of succession, and in Greek culture and myth itself, the position of the first and last born son is important. These are very powerful positions to hold within the birth order in a family. Cronus was the last born and the only one of his Titan brothers willing to castrate his father and become the next ruler. Zeus is especially significant in this way because he is both the first and last born. Zeus is the last born of his mother, and the one she hides and replaces with a rock for Cronus to eat, "Rhea wrapped a huge stone in a child's robe, and fed it to the ruling son of Heaven, lord of the primitive gods.” He is also technically the firstborn, in the sense that the rock that his father ate in his place was vomited out of Kronos' "womb" before any of his brothers were regurgitated last”. Zeus occupies a very important position among the Olympians because he was born last from his mother and first from his father. He is able to grasp the importance of both roles between his brothers is unique in mythology, especially within the succession myth itself. While Cronus was the last born, and this is partly.