Phoebe | Greek Titan

Phoebe or Foibe (Greek: Φοίβη, transl.: Phoíbē), in Greek mythology, was a titanid, daughter of Uranus and Gaia.

She was known as "the most beautiful among the titanids". Her name is linked to the Greek words phoibos ("bright" or "radiant""), phoibaô ("purify") and phoibazô ("prophesy").

Mythology

She was one of the six titanids, daughters of Uranus and Gaia, in addition to the titans: Oceanus, Ceos, Creus, Hyperion, Jepetus, Theia, Reia, Themis, Mnemosyne, the crowned golden Phoebe and the beloved Thetis, and Kronos.

Perhaps the first moon goddess the Greeks knew, Phoebe is confused with her niece Selene (daughter of Hyperion and Theia), and also with her granddaughters Artemis and Hecate.

Phoebe is the goddess of the moon, related to the nights of the full moon. Her name means "bright", a name that was borrowed from her grandson Apollo, called Phoebe.

Phoebe united with Céos and they had the goddesses Leto (mother of Artemis and Apollo) and Asteria (mother of Hecate), who symbolize the oracles of light and darkness respectively. Hyginus further adds among his daughters the name of Aphiraphes.

Phoebe was an ancient goddess of prophecy and the third to preside over the oracle of Delphi, after Gaia (her mother) and Themis (her sister). She later gave the oracle to her grandson Apollo as a birthday present.