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Ophion, a MythSource painting
Greek

Ophion

The First King · The Ancient Ruler · The Old Serpent

01Identity

Ophion in Greek tradition

Ophion helped Eurynome create the cosmos from the primordial waters, taking the form of a serpent shaped from the wind. With her, he conceived the Universal Egg, whose opening brought forth the ordered cosmos. He and Eurynome ruled from Olympus until Ophion claimed sole responsibility for creation, prompting her to cast him down.

Top questions

The quick answers

  • Who is Ophion?

    Ophion is a Greek deity associated with primordial creation, cosmic kingship, heavenly rule, and divine succession.
    Source

    Source

    • The Greek Myths
    • Hesiod's Theogony
    • Dictionary of Mythology

  • What is Ophion the god of?

    Ophion is associated with primordial creation, cosmic kingship, heavenly rule, and divine succession.
    Source

    Source

    • The Greek Myths
    • Hesiod's Theogony

  • What family links are recorded for Ophion?

    Spouse: Eurynome, 1 child.
02Family

Ophion’s family, at a glance

Ophion

with Eurynome

Uranus
03The names

The names Ophion answers to

Ophioneus

An alternate Greek form of Ophion’s name

SourceDictionary of Mythology

The First King of the Gods

The primordial ruler who preceded Cronus

SourceThe Greek Myths

The Ancient Ruler

The old primordial sovereign of Olympus

SourceThe Greek Myths

The Old Serpent

The primordial serpent associated with creation

SourceThe Greek Myths

04The myths

The myths of Ophion

2 myths, with sources recorded for each.

Ophion and Eurynome Create the Cosmos

Eurynome danced naked across the waters, moving faster with each step. She separated the waters from the sky as she moved. She caught the wind in her hands and rubbed it between them until it took the shape of a serpent called Ophion.

Ophion watched her dance and became attracted to her. He coiled around her body seven times. During their embrace, they conceived the Universal Egg. Eurynome told Ophion to wind himself around the egg seven times. He obeyed and helped to hold it in place while it hatched.

When the egg opened, the Earth and all its creation emerged. The ordered universe came forth from it. Eurynome rose to the summit of Mount Olympus and watched creation mature. She remained there as the new order developed. Ophion followed her, but he began to boast that he alone was responsible for creation.

Eurynome treated his claim as an affront. She threw Ophion down from Olympus. She then created the moon and the planets, placing Titan gods and goddesses in dominion over them. Cronus and Rhea were given the planet Saturn and the power of peace.

Ophion and Eurynome Create the Cosmos, a MythSource painting of the scene

3 sources· checked 2026-08-19

  1. 1The Greek MythsT1
  2. 2Hesiod, TheogonyT1

    Quote

    “Hesiod’s Theogony does not relate Eurynome and Ophion creating the cosmos from a Universal Egg.”

    Hesiod, Theogony

  3. 3Greek Mythology: August 2018T1

Ophion’s Overthrow by Cronus

Eurynome rose naked from Chaos and found no solid ground beneath her. She divided the sea from the sky and danced alone upon the waves. As she moved towards the south, the North Wind stirred behind her. She caught it, rubbed it between her hands, and formed the serpent Ophion. He coiled around her and coupled with her, and Eurynome conceived. She then took the form of a dove and brooded upon the waves until she laid the Universal Egg.

At Eurynome’s command, Ophion coiled seven times around the egg. When it opened, the Earth and all its creation emerged. Eurynome went to the summit of Mount Olympus to watch creation mature, and Ophion joined her there. They ruled Olympus together. Ophion then boasted that he alone had brought creation into being.

Eurynome punished him for this claim and cast him from Olympus. She created the Moon and the planets and placed Titan gods and goddesses in dominion over them. Cronus and Rhea received the planet Cronus and the power of peace. They then took the throne after Ophion’s defeat. Ophion was cast into the cosmic waters or into Tartarus.

Ophion’s Overthrow by Cronus, a MythSource painting of the scene

3 sources· checked 2026-08-19

  1. 1The Greek MythsT1
  2. 2Apollodorus, The LibraryT1

    Quote

    “Apollodorus’s Library contains no account of Ophion, Eurynome, or their overthrow by Cronus after the creation of the cosmos.”

    Apollodorus, The Library

  3. 3Greek Mythology: August 2018T1

Also mentioned in

Stories elsewhere on MythSource that mention Ophion, each on that figure’s page.