| Hyperion | |
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Real Name |
Hyperion |
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First Appearance |
Greek Myth |
Origin[]
In Greek mythology, Hyperion was one of the twelve Titans born to Gaia (Earth) and Uranus (Sky). With his sister Theia, he fathered three luminous children—Helios, the Sun; Selene, the Moon; and Eos, the Dawn. Hyperion himself was sometimes distinguished from Helios as the father of the sun-god, but in other traditions the two were identified, with “Hyperion” serving as an epithet or alternate name for Helios.
The name “Hyperion” comes from the Greek word hypér, meaning “above,” reflecting his association with the heavens. In Homeric texts, it often appears alongside Helios, either as a title or as a patronymic. Despite his cosmic lineage, Hyperion has little mythology of his own and mainly exists to provide a divine ancestry for the celestial deities.
Later interpretations, such as those of Diodorus Siculus, reimagined Hyperion less as a divine figure and more as a mortal sage. He was said to be the first to study the movements of the sun, moon, and stars and to explain their role in the changing seasons, earning him the title of their “father.” Another version told by Diodorus describes Hyperion as the husband of his sister Basileia, with whom he had Helios and Selene. Their jealous brothers conspired against them, killing Hyperion and the children, who were then transformed into the Sun and Moon, leaving Basileia in mourning.
Public Domain Appearances[]
All published appearances of Hyperion from before January 1, 1930 are public domain in the US.
Some notable appearances are listed below:
Public Domain Literary Appearances[]
- Hesiod, Theogony
- The Homeric Hymns
- Aeschylus, Fragments
- The Library
- The Library of History
- Fabulae
Notes[]
- The Marvel character Hyperion, a member of the team Squadron Supreme, is named after the Greek Sun Titan.