A question about Gods, Children, and Devouring

[andrewducker]

Kronos devoured his children. Zeus devoured Athena (kind of). So there's a definite history of gods devouring their children.

But there doesn't seem to be any mythological cases of children devouring their parents (to gain their power, or whatever).

Which seems weird to me, because I can't let any of my fingers near Gideon without him attempting to chew them off!

What am I missing?

Comments

[anna_wing]

Kronos also castrated his own father Uranus. And Zeus overthrew Kronos (and in at least one version I think castrated him as well).

There's the case of the goddess Ishtar/Innanna stealing the me - the divine decrees that make up the arts and sciences of civilisation - from her father, the god Enki, and thus establishing herself as Queen of Heaven.

https://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/sumer_anunnaki/esp_sumer_annunaki16.htm

[claudeb]

Time and again, we see old people clinging to power long past their time, leaving their children without a future. And sure, sometimes children rebel (successfully even), simply so they're not dragged down by the weight of a dead world. But sadly that's the exception. And that's why we're never quite ready for how things change.

[problemsdog]

Sahadeva in the Mahabharata eats part of his father Pandu (at the father's request) in some versions: https://www.quora.com/Who-cursed-Sahadev-in-Mahabharata-for-not-mentioning-anything-about-the-future-to-anyone

I guess one could make an argument that the Eucharist fits this category too...

[andrewducker]

Thank you!

[jack]

Indeed AIUI Kronos devoured his children a BECAUSE he overthrew his father and wanted to prevent the same thing happening to him.

I think there's a theme of "cutting a bit off the senior god and turning it into the world". But not eating specifically, maybe that wouldn't lead to a mythologically interesting status quo?

[fub]

Indeed, in Norse myths, Odin and his brothers killed their father and basically made the universe out of his parts. I don't think there was direct consumption of parts, but I guess when you make the rivers out of their blood, sooner or later you will consume things that were previously part of your father.

[jack]

I always get a feeling that there's certain concepts floating around different religions that must be kinda related, but I don't know how directly the one idea is descended from another. I think "the world is made out of a god" goes all the way back to Babylonian Tiamat, and I think I remember hearing earlier to a mother-godess who voluntarily made the world out of herself, rather than having her consort/son kill her for it. And that's apparently related to the Leviathan in the torah/old testament. And presumably to the Zeus/Jupiter parent slaying idea. And other places.

I *think* the idea is less prominent in Chinese, North American, and South American religions, although similar-but-different ideas show up. But I'm really not sure.

[mme_n_b]

There's a Native American goddess who made the world and humans from her skin flakes. Much more humane, but somewhat similar.

[jack]

(I *think* Odin made the world out of Ymir, father of giants, not his own father, but I'm not sure -- between them MCU and neo-nazis have made it difficult to google for norse myths)

[birguslatro]

You're not a god, so safe to chew on!