Learn about the mythology surrounding Phoebe, the Goddess of Prophecy. Discover her powers, origins, and his most popular legends.
Phoebe. Goddess Of Prophecy
Phoebe goddess of prophecy, also known as the goddess of Titan. She was one of the 12 descendants of Uranus and Gaea. Like all her sisters, she was never involved in the battle between the Olympian gods and the Titans. Therefore, she was not captured in Tartarus. Instead, she became a prophet at the Oracle of Delphi.
Origins of Phoebe
Phoebe was a Titan, the name given to individuals of the second generation of divine beings. Phoebe is part of the first generation of Titans, who ruled during the Golden Age. The word “Titan” means great size and power, which is an easily recognizable euphemism once the stories of the first generation of Titans are told.
The 12 Titans include Kronos, Iapetus, Hyperion, Oceanus, Coeus, Creus, Theia, Rhea, Mnemosyne, Phoebe, Tethys and Themis. Phoebe was beautiful, and perhaps one of the quietest Titans. Coeus was the god of intellect and presided over the axis of heaven. Kronos was the King of the Titans and the god of destructive weather. He is known for leading the fight with his brothers against Uranus. Although they won, his own son threw him into Tartarus, canceling the victory.
Phoebe’s sister Rhea was known as the Queen of the Titans and goddess of female fertility. She saved Zeus from Kronos, who would eventually turn against him. Mnemosyne was the goddess of memory, words and language. She resembled Phoebe in that she was a prophetic goddess, but in the Oracle of Trophonius.
Legends and Stories of Phoebe
Phoebe is not one of the most well-known titans today, but there are still some myths involving her.
Oracle of Delphi
The Oracle of Delphi is the most important sanctuary in all of Greece. It was built around a sacred spring and was considered the center of the world. Phoebe became the third prophet of the Oracle of Delphi. It is said that she heard her mother’s voice while occupying the Oracle. Before her, Gaea and Themis were the prophets. Gaea left the important duty to her daughter, Themis, who eventually transferred it to Phoebe, her sister.
The job was hard for Phoebe, however, and she thought it was a very difficult burden. Eventually she felt the need to pass on the responsibility and chose her grandson, Apollo, to succeed her. On his birthday, Apollo became the new prophet and earned the reputation of having prophetic power greater than the heavens.
Woman on the Moon
The mythological world is a bit divided on this part of the story. Some say Phoebe was the goddess of the moon, while others say they mistake her for her grandchildren. If Phoebe was the moon goddess, she would have enjoyed some beneficial powers, such as being able to fly, the ability to attract and repel objects, and the ability to conjure a silvery light on command.
Family of Phoebe goddess of prophecy
Phoebe had two children with her brother Coeus, both daughters. As Phoebe grew older, she began to be attracted to mortal men, but never had mortal children. Versions of events vary; she is also supposed to have had two other children, probably with her brother, but information about Perses and Pallas is limited. Rather than being siblings of Asteria and Leto, they may have been cousins.
Asteria
Phoebe’s first daughter, named Asteria, was the Titan goddess of prophecies and oracles. She was incredibly beautiful and Zeus tried to seduce her. She had to transform herself into an island to escape his pursuits. The land became known as Delos.
Leto
Leto became the goddess of motherhood and modesty. She was also incredibly beautiful and attracted the attention of Zeus. However, she did not reject his advances and eventually became pregnant by him. This made Zeus’ wife Hera incredibly jealous and she followed Leto, preventing her from giving birth on land. Leto eventually sought refuge on Delos and was able to give birth to her twins, Apollo and Artemis.
While Phoebe’s daughters were beautiful and powerful in their own way, her legacy is in her grandchildren. Greek mythology would not be as interesting without the stories of Apollo and Artemis.
Apollo
Apollo is one of the most easily recognizable names in Greek mythology. He was the son of Zeus and Leto and the god of music. He is often depicted playing a golden lyre. This goddess is also supposed to have been the first to introduce Orpheus to the lyre, which would set the tone for the rest of his life. Apollo was also an accomplished marksman, and became known as the god of healing when he gave the science of medicine to mortals. He was also an oracle god, being the prophet of the Delphic Oracle.
Artemis
Artemis was the twin sister of Apollo, born on the island of Delos. As soon as she was born, she helped her mother give birth to Apollo. She is known as the protector of childbirth and labor. She chose a life of abstinence and never yielded to the temptation of potential lovers. Instead, she devoted her time to hunting and nature. She was not interested in marriage or falling in love.