In the beginning, Hesiod tells us,1there was only Space and Love and Earth and Hell. Space of herself bore male and female darkness, and these bore male and female light. Female darkness (Night) then of herself bore many children, a brood of dark and dangerous creatures; the youngest of her daughters, Strife, in her turn and of herself produced another such brood. Meanwhile Earth of herself bore Sky, Ocean, and the Mountains. Sky and Earth together then generated the Titans. Because Sky never ceased to press upon Earth these were unable to emerge. Therefore Earth gave Cronos, the bravest of these offspring, a sickle with which he castrated his father Sky. From the blood where it fell upon Earth grew another dark brood; the actual genitals fell into Ocean where they generated Aphrodite.