The Status Of Typhoons In Homer's Odyssey

Typhoons, an aquatic storm ferocious wet winds, would have been extremely devastating to the ancient Greeks, who were very dependent on their sea barring life style. This deadly event can be linked to the Greek monster, Typhoon (Typhoeus), who’s savage physical appearances throughout multiple ancient works rivals the ferocity of actual typhoons. While the reasoning for Typhoon’s creation differs throughout each ancient story, there is one clear parallel behind each version of his birth: the strong feelings of spite and jealously towards Zeus. In Hesiod’s Theogony, Gaia and Tartaros conceive Typhoon to seek revenge on Zeus for seizing the throne from the Titans. In a similar fashion, the version within Apollodorus’ Library depicts Gaia as

the mother of Typhoon, however Gaia now seeks revenge on Zeus after he defeats the giants. The third work, Homeric Hymn to Apollo, diverges heavily from the other two stories. An insulted and jealous Hera is credited as the mother of the monstrous Typhoon, yet Hera’s motives remains linked to the two previous myths by containing the same negative feelings towards Zeus.

Gaia, one of the primordial deities, was the mother to all walks of divine life.

This included Ouranos, Pontus, the Titans, and later the Giants. It was clear that mother Earth, Gaia, cared deeply for the Titans, her children, as seen when she gave Kronos the adamant sickle needed to free themselves from Ouranos’ imprisonment. (Hes., Th: 161-163). When Zeus ultimately usurps her prized children from mount Olympus, it only makes sense that Gaia would be not only jealous but also smitten with rage. Gaia would thus want to seek revenge for her defeated children, “When Zeus drove the Titans from Olympus, monstrous Gaia bore her last child Typhoeus in philotês with Tartaros through golden Aphrodite.” (Hes., Th: 820-822). Hesiod describes how Gaia gives birth Typhoon after her Titans were defeated, and then continues to describe Typhoon’s beastly appearance and attempt to defeat the gods of mount Olympus: “A unmanageable deed would have been done that day, and Typhoeos would have become lord for mortals and immortals, had not the father of men and gods keenly attended” (Hes., Th: 836-838). From these two quotations it is evident that Gaia gave birth to Typhoon with the intention of him defeating Zeus. Typhoon was conceived by Gaia’s desire to exact revenge on Zeus and the other Olympic gods, as well as to quench her godly rage. These feelings of malcontent towards Zeus are a repeated motif that appears in almost every version of Typhoon’s creation, as also seen in Apollodorus’

Library.
Remaining similar to the Theogony, Apollodorus’ Library features Gaia and Tartarus as the parents of the massive Typhoon.

The major difference between the two accounts is that in the Library, Gaia conceives Typhoon after the Giants have been eliminated. “But Earth, vexed on account of the Titans, brought forth the giants, whom she had by Sky. These were matchless in the bulk of their bodies and invincible in their might; terrible of aspect did they appear, with long locks drooping from their head and chin, and with the scales of dragons for feet.” (Apollod. 1.6.1 85-86). In both versions, we see that Gaia is enraged at Zeus due to his defeat of her beloved Titans. In Apollodorus’ Library, the defeat of the Titans is not credited as the cause of Typhoon’s creation. As we see later, it is when Gaia is further enraged following the defeat of her Giants that she and Tartaros conceive the deadly Typhoon, a weapon that reflected her urge to exact revenge on the Olympians that she resented so much: “When the gods had overcome the giants, Earth, still more enraged, had intercourse with Tartarus and brought forth Typhon in Cilicia, a hybrid between man and beast.” (Apollod. 1.6.3 95-96) and “Such and so great was Typhon when, hurling kindled rocks, he made for the very heaven with hissings and shouts, spouting a great jet of fire from his mouth.” (Apollod. 1.6.3 97). Gaia’s rage was increased as a result of the Giants failed attempt to take down Zeus, and this fury was channeled

into birthing Typhoon. Typhoon’s actions and appearance reflect Gaia’s burning rage towards Zeus, and parallel how Gaia felt in the Theogony.

Unlike the previous two stories, the Homeric Hymn to Apollo depicts Typhoon’s birth in a fashion that is only similar thematically.
The Homeric Hymn to Apollo has information of great significance concerning Typhon, though nothing about his combat with Zeus. The poet, as variance with the Hesiodic tradition, surprises us with a narrative in which Hera is the mother of the monster, when in anger at Zeus’s androgenesis of Athena, she decided to counter his performance… Her prayer was granted and she bore Typhaon, mighty enough, yet hardly as admirable as Athena. He was unlike either gods or men, an evil creature who did great harm to mankind. (Fontenrose 72)
In his text, Frontenrose talks about the birth of Typhoon according to the Homeric Hymn to Apollo. A combination of Hera’s hatred, due to Zeus baring more children without her, and her jealously, due to her own child Hephaestus being weakly compared to Athena ([h.Ap] 317), resulted in Hera baring the monstrous Typhoon as a weapon to seek revenge on Zeus. This reasoning mimics that of Gaia in the two previous myths. In each case, a mother becomes filled with rage due to Zeus actions and conceives a child who can fulfill their desire to seek revenge.

As seen in the Theogony, Apollodorus’ Library and the Homeric Hymn to Apollo, Typhoon is always conceived by a mother who is consumed with a godly rage directed towards the Olympian Zeus. Despite both the reasoning for his creation and who gave birth to him, Typhoon is always born as a tool for exacting a rage fueled revenge upon Zeus. This motif of a spiteful revenge is the center piece that connects most, if not all, myths about Typhoon’s creation.