Titan
An English word meaning something of enormous size, strength, or importance, derived from the Titans, the primordial gods who ruled before the Olympians
The Meaning of Titan
The word "Titan" derives from the Titans of Greek mythology, the twelve primordial deities who were the children of Ouranos (Sky) and Gaia (Earth) and ruled during the legendary Golden Age before the Olympians. The most important Titans included Kronos, who overthrew his father; Rhea, mother of the Olympians; Oceanus, who encircled the world; and Prometheus, who gave fire to humanity. The Titans were overthrown by Zeus and the Olympians in the Titanomachy, a ten-year cosmic war, and most were imprisoned in Tartarus. Their name entered English as a word for anything of colossal size or power. The Titanic was named for the Titans — its sinking in 1912 acquired mythological resonance as a story of human hubris punished. Saturn's largest moon is named Titan. The word appears in industrial contexts (titanium, derived from the same source), sports (the Tennessee Titans), and any description requiring a sense of overwhelming scale. "Titan of industry" is a standard English phrase for a dominant business leader.
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None recorded
Symbols
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Titanic
💭 conceptEnormous size, overwhelming power
Of enormous size or power, from the Titans, the primordial gods who ruled before the Olympians.
Jupiter
💭 conceptAstronomy and mythology
The largest planet in the solar system, named after Jupiter, the Roman king of the gods identified with the Greek Zeus, because of its commanding size and brightness
Ganymede
💭 conceptAstronomy and mythology
The largest moon in the solar system, named after Ganymede, the beautiful Trojan prince abducted by Zeus to serve as cupbearer of the gods on Olympus
Cyclopean
💭 conceptLanguage and architecture
An English adjective meaning immense or massive, particularly applied to ancient stonework of enormous blocks, named after the Cyclopes who were believed to have built the walls of Mycenae and Tiryns
Uranus
💭 conceptAstronomy and mythology
The seventh planet from the Sun, named after Ouranos, the primordial Greek god of the sky and the earliest supreme deity in the mythological genealogy
Herculean
💭 conceptLanguage and effort
An English adjective meaning requiring enormous strength or effort, derived from Hercules, the Roman name for the Greek hero Heracles who performed twelve seemingly impossible labours
Saturn
💭 conceptAstronomy and mythology
The sixth planet from the Sun, named after Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture and time identified with the Greek Titan Kronos, father of Zeus
Charon
💭 conceptAstronomy and mythology
The largest moon of Pluto, named after Charon, the ferryman who transported the souls of the dead across the River Styx to the underworld of Hades
Amazon
💭 conceptLanguage and culture
An English word meaning a tall, strong woman or a female warrior, derived from the Amazons, the legendary all-female warrior nation of Greek mythology
Promethean
💭 conceptLanguage and ambition
An English adjective meaning daringly creative, rebellious, or boldly innovative, derived from the Titan Prometheus who stole fire from the gods and gave it to humanity
Io
💭 conceptAstronomy and mythology
A moon of Jupiter named after Io, the priestess of Hera whom Zeus transformed into a white cow, now known as the most volcanically active body in the solar system
Triton
💭 conceptAstronomy and mythology
The largest moon of Neptune, named after Triton, the merman son of Poseidon, notable for being the only large moon in the solar system that orbits in the opposite direction to its planet