Ouranos

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A primordial deity in Greek mythology representing the sky, often considered the father of the Titans
2. An embodiment of heaven in ancient beliefs, commonly associated with the vastness above the Earth
3. A figure symbolizing celestial realms in various myths, depicted as the overarching expanse that envelops the world

Etymology: In Greek myth, Ouranos was the primordial sky god, the personified heavens who covered the earth, Gaia, and was the father of the Titans. The name is the same word the Greeks used for the sky itself, so when they spoke of the god they were speaking of the vault overhead, given a person's name. The ancient Greek noun "ouranos" meant "sky" or "heaven," and the capitalised form simply turned that everyday word into a divinity. English took the name directly from Ancient Greek rather than through Latin or French, which is why it keeps its Greek spelling and the initial "ou" is pronounced as a long "oo." Most English words for sky-related ideas come from Latin, so this one stands apart in carrying the myth itself. It remains a proper name, used mainly in classical mythology and in discussions of Greek religion.

Synonyms: sky, heaven

Antonyms: earth, underworld