Hyperion, << hy PIHR ee uhn, >> a minor god in Greek mythology, fathered three major gods who represented features of the heavens. Hyperion was one of the 12 Titans, a race of early gods who were the children of Gaea—the Earth—and Uranus—the sky. Theia, another Titan, was Hyperion’s sister and his wife. Their son was Helios, the Sun. Hyperion and Theia had two daughters, Eos, the dawn, and Selene, the moon. Hyperion was not a main character in any Greek myths.
Hyperion was particularly associated with Helios. In the early Greek epic poems the Iliad and Odyssey, the sun was sometimes called Helios Hyperion. Scholars think this fact suggests Hyperion may once have been just another name for Helios. The term may also simply be a description. The Greek word hyperion means the one who travels above. In later Greek literature, Hyperion and Helios were always distinguished as father and son.
