Editing Typhon (section)

===Succession myth===
The Typhonomachy—Zeus' battle with, and defeat of Typhon—is just one part of a larger "Succession Myth" given in Hesiod's ''Theogony''.<ref>West 1966, pp. 18–19; West 1997, pp. 276–278.</ref> The Hesiodic succession myth describes how [[Uranus (mythology)|Uranus]], the original ruler of the cosmos, hid his offspring away inside [[Gaia (mythology)|Gaia]], but was overthrown by his [[Titans (mythology)|Titan]] son [[Cronus]], who castrated Uranus, and how in turn, Cronus, who swallowed his children as they were born, was himself overthrown by his son Zeus, whose mother had given Cronus a stone wrapped in swaddling clothes to swallow, in place of Zeus. However Zeus is then confronted with one final adversary, Typhon, which he quickly defeats. Now clearly the supreme power in the cosmos, Zeus is elected king of gods. Zeus then establishes and secures his realm through the apportionment of various functions and responsibilities to the other gods, and by means of marriage. Finally, by swallowing his first wife [[Metis (mythology)|Metis]], who was destined to produce a son stronger than himself, Zeus is able to put an end to the cycle of succession.