Introducing: Eos and Astraios

I was asked to recount the story of Eos and Astraios so it's brought to the attention of a wider audience. Of course, I can do that. No problem. Let's tart with a few basics, though: Eos and Astraios. Eos (Ηως) is the Titanes Goddess of the Dawn, and along with her brother Helios and her sister Selene, She is mainly responsible for the cycles of day and night. For all things geneological, I will always turn to Hesiod first. In his 'Theogony', he speaks of the birth of the Dawn, Sun and Moon:

"And Theia was subject in love to Hyperion and bare great Helios, and clear Selene, and Eos." [177]

 

Hyperion (Ὑπερίων), meaning 'The High-One', was a Titanes God born from Gaea and Ouranos. Theia and Euryphaessa (as mentioned in, for example, the Homeric Hymns) are generally regarded as the same Deathless woman: 'Theia' is the Hellenic word for 'Goddess', so it was likely 'Theia Euryphaessa' translated to 'Goddess Euryphaessa'. This means that the family tree is as follows:

     Khaos ------------ Gaea

         |         |

Ouranos --- |

                       Hyperion --- Euryphaessa

                   |

                  Eos - Helios - Selene

Astraios (Αστραιος) is the Titanes God of the stars and planets, and the art of astrology. He was the son of son of Krios and Eurybia, making His family tree as follows:

                                                 Khaos ---------- Gaea

    |         |       |

   Ouranos --- | --- Pontus
                     |             | 

                       Krios --- Eurybia

                   |

                  Astraios

Together, Eos and Astraios are the parents of the seasonal Winds and the Stars. Hesiod, in his 'Theogony' reveals this birth. There is one cardinal direction missing: East, represented by Euros (Ευρος). This is because the ancient Hellenes at the time of Hesiod were aware of only three seasons: Spring, Summer and Winter, and only these had deities presiding over them--in this case Zephyros, Notos and Boreas, respectively.

"And Eos bare to Astraeus [Astraios] the strong-hearted winds, brightening Zephyrus, and Boreas,

headlong in his course, and Notus, -- a goddess mating in love with a god. And after these Erigenia bare the star Heosphorus (Dawn-bringer), and the gleaming Astra (Stars) with which Heaven (Ouranos) is crowned." [ll. 378-382]

 

As with many of the Titans, their love story is simply assumed as truth; connections made to form the universe. They made up important parts of it, however, and had strong children, who--in turn--fathered and birthed strong children as well.