Hyperion (mythology)
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| Titans |
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The Twelve Titans: |
Hyperion (Greek: Ὑπερίων, "The High-One") was one of the 12 Titans of Greek mythology, the sons and daughters of Gaia, personification of the Earth, and Uranus (literally meaning 'the Sky'), which were later supplanted by the Olympians.[1][2] He was the brother of Cronus. He was also the lord of light, and the Titan of the east.[citation needed]
He was referred to in early mythological writings as Helios Hyperion (Ἥλιος Ὑπερίων), 'Sun High-one'. In Homer's Odyssey, Hesiod's Theogony and the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, the Sun is once in each work called Hyperionides (Ὑπεριωνίδης) 'son of Hyperion', and Hesiod certainly imagines Hyperion as a separate being in other writings. In later Greek literature, Hyperion is always distinguished from Helios; the former was ascribed the characteristics of the 'God of Watchfulness, Wisdom and Light', while the latter became the physical incarnation of the Sun. Hyperion is an obscure figure in Greek culture and mythology, mainly appearing in lists of the twelve Titans:
Of Hyperion we are told that he was the first to understand, by diligent attention and observation, the movement of both the sun and the moon and the other stars, and the seasons as well, in that they are caused by these bodies, and to make these facts known to others; and that for this reason he was called the father of these bodies, since he had begotten, so to speak, the speculation about them and their nature.—Diodorus Siculus (5.67.1)
There is little to no reference to Hyperion during the Titanomachy, the epic in which the Olympians battle the ruling Titans, or the Gigantomachy, in which Gaia attempts to avenge the Titans by enlisting the aid of the giants (Γίγαντες) that were imprisoned in Tartarus to facilitate the overthrow of the Olympians.
As the father of Helios, Hyperion was regarded as the "first principle" by Emperor Julian,[3] though his relevance in his notions of Theurgy is unknown.
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Versions [edit]
In William Shakespeare's Hamlet, young prince Hamlet refers to the late King Hamlet as Hyperion; contrasted with King Claudius as a satyr.
- So excellent a king, that was to this
- Hyperion to a satyr, so loving to my mother,
- That he might not beteem the winds of heaven
- Visit her face too roughly; heaven and earth,
- Must I remember? (I.ii.141–45)
Friedrich Hölderlin's major published work during his lifetime was the epistolary novel Hyperion.[4]
The character of Hyperion is also one of the main figures in John Keats's literature. In fact, Keats's major works include the late 1818 poem "Hyperion" that was unfinished mainly due to the depression caused by the death of his brother Tom, and also the late 1819 poem "The Fall of Hyperion: A Dream" whose plot also revolves around the figures of Hyperion. It was also unfinished; however, it is considered by some the young poet's most sublime piece of writing.
In popular culture [edit]
"Hyperion" (poem), by John Keats
Hyperion (Hölderlin novel), a book by Friedrich Hölderlin
Hyperion (Longfellow novel), a book by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Hyperion (Simmons novel), the first in a series of novels by Dan Simmons
Hyperion (journal), a literary journal
Hyperion Books, a book publisher
The EAS Hyperion is the name of a heavy cruiser featured in the Babylon 5 episode, A Voice in the Wilderness. It was named for the domain name of The Lurker's Guide to Babylon 5, a website and FTP archive devoted to the series.
In the Harry Potter series, Draco Malfoy's son, Scorpius Malfoy's middle name is Hyperion, named for this deity.
"Hyperion" is the name of a battleship in the MMORPG Eve Online.
In the Starcraft series, Hyperion is the name of a Behemoth-Class Battlecruiser under the command of Former Marshal, Jim Raynor.
In the Halo series, the ship Forward Unto Dawn was armed with Hyperion nuclear missiles.
In the Borderlands series, Hyperion is the name of a weapon manufacturer, and the main antagonist faction in Borderlands 2.
In Kingdom Hearts, one of the obtainable gummi ship blueprints is named "Hyperion."
In 1974 movie version The Island at the Top of the World, Hyperion is the name of the French Zeppelin used to reach the Arctic. Though the film is based on Ian Cameron's novel The Lost Ones, Hyperion doesn't appear in the novel.
Georg Friedrich Haas: Hyperion, Konzert für Lichtstimme und Orchester (UA Donaueschingen Festival 2006)
In Immortals, King Hyperion is played by Mickey Rourke. In this version, Hyperion is a human who seeks to overthrow the Olympians by freeing the Titans imprisoned within Tartarus.
In The Last Olympian, the fifth book in the Percy Jackson series, during the battle against the Titans in NYC, Percy battles Hyperion, with the Titan eventually being sealed in a tree trunk by saytrs. Ironically, the book was published by Hyperion Books.
In the Yu-Gi-Oh TCG there is a monster card named, Master Hyperion.
A series of Marvel Comics characters bear the name Hyperion.
In the anime Ixion Saga DT, a human who is able to control an exclusive Alma Energy is called a Hyperion.
In the anime Legend of the Galactic Heroes, a flagship belonging to the Free Planets Alliance was named the Hyperion.
References [edit]
- ^ Morford, Mark P. O.; Lenardon, Robert J. (2000). Classical Mythology. Oxford University Press. p. 40. ISBN 978-0-19-514338-6.
- ^ Keightley, Thomas (1877). " The mythology of ancient Greece and Italy. p. 47.
- ^ A Summary of Pythagorean Theology
- ^ Complete text on Projekt Gutenberg
External links [edit]
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