Typhon
Kronos was mightier than Uranus. Zeus was mightier than Kronos. Why does that analogy stop right there? Why doesn’t Zeus have a son who is more powerful than him? That’s what Hera wanted to know, too. Hera descended from Mount Olympus down to Earth. She slapped Earth with her open palms and invoked Gaia and the Titans to give her a child who would be greater than Zeus. She felt an Earth tremor and interpreted this to mean that her petition had been heard and would be successful.
Hera separated from Zeus for one year. She had sex with no one. She moved into her temple, where she gave birth to Typhon. She brought him to Delphi so that Gaia and the Python could care for him. An alternative myth suggests that Typhon is Gaia’s youngest son.
The goddesses waited until Typhon had come into his power. Gaia then sent Typhon to attack Zeus. As Typhon ripped up Mount Etna to hurl at Zeus, Zeus zapped him with a lightning bolt. The mountain fell back, pinning Typhon beneath. Trapped, he now lives within Sicily’s Mount Etna.
ALSO KNOWN AS:
Typhaon, Typhos
ORIGIN:
Greece
MANIFESTATION:
Typhon, a man above the waist, is so tall he bumps his head against the stars. One arm extends to the sunset, the other to the sunrise. Two snakes emerge below his waist, similar to a double-tailed mermaid. One hundred snakes’ heads emerge from his shoulders. Typhon can talk like a person, hiss like asnake, and bay like a hound. He breathes fire when he feels like it.
SACRED SITE:
Typhon remains trapped beneath Mount Etna. He is responsible for earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
SEE ALSO:
SOURCE:
Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses– Written by :Judika Illes Copyright © 2009 by Judika Illes.
