THE GODDESS THEIA IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Theia was a goddess of the Ancient Greek pantheon, and was one of the Titanides, female Titans; Theia was therefore born a generation preceding Zeus. In Ancient Greece, Theia was considered to be the Goddess of Sight.
THE TITAN THEIA
As a Titan deity, Theia was the daughter of Gaia (Earth) and Ouranos (Sky), and therefore sibling to eleven other Titans, including the likes of Cronus and Rhea.
The name Theia can simply be translated as goddess, but in Greek mythology, Theia was known as the Greek goddess of Sight. Indeed, an alternative spelling of her name, Thea, means Sight, whilst Theiazo, means Prophecy. Occasionally, in ancient sources, Theia is referred to as Euryphaessa, meaning “wide-shining”.
Though Theia is occasionally referred to as an Ocular goddess, particular with reference to Phtiotis, just as Phoebe was associated with Delphi, and Dione Dodona, but Theia is more famous for being a mother of other Greek deities.
HYPERION AND THEIA
Theia would be partnered with the Titan Hyperion in ancient texts, thus Sight and Light were working hand in hand.
The partnership of Theia and Hyperion would give rise to three second generation Titans connected with light; the children of Theia being Helios (Sun), Selene (Moon) and Eos (Dawn).
THEIA AFTER THE TITANOMACHY
During the Titanomachy, Theia was probably neutral, just as were the other female Titans, and so after the end of the ten-year war, Theia would have gone unpunished.
Subsequently though, Theia disappears from the ancient tales, and is only praised for her role as mother, in particular as mother of Helios. In passing, Theia is perhaps envisioned as living in the realm of Oceanus, the land where Helios disappears to at the end of each day.
