Oranos was the solid dome of the sky and one of the ancient element gods from which all life proceeded. He was the first son of Gaia and became her husband. Together they produced the 12 Titans and other offspring that included the Cyclops. Shocked by some of his hideous offspring, he attempted to hide them deep in the bowels of Gaia (Earth), causing her increasingly intense pain. To relieve her suffering, she encouraged her son Kronos to castrate Oranos. Following this emasculation, Oranos (the sky) separated from Gaia (the Earth) and Kronos took over the kingdom of the gods.