In many myths the gods seem to be able to do anything and nothing can stop them. As figures who are personifications of things humans cannot understand, they are powerful beings, but they too can go through moments of struggle. As some stories go, the gods themselves had weaknesses and things they couldn't achieve. Gods have human traits or tendencies that often make them incapable of doing things. Sometimes it was the fact that they were gods that couldn't do certain things. Even gods can face their share of difficulties. One of the main advantages that some gods possess is the ability to reproduce on their own. The eldest of the gods, Gaia, Abyss, Night, Eris and even two of the male gods, Pontos and Ouranos. Each of these gods and goddesses had no partner for part of the production of their offspring. In Tegonia Gaia had Uranus, the mountains and the Sea (91), and the Abyss generated Erebus and the Night. The night then had in turn the guilt, the pain, the Hesperides, the tree across the ocean, the destinies, the fate, together with the nemisis, the deception, the friendship, the old age and the Eris . (93) Eris has given birth to too many children, all named for evil or wicked deeds that man has come to do or associate with. Those children are called fatigue, famine, forgetfulness, recklessness, pain, battles, fights, murders, massacres, quarrels, disputed words, lying words and lawlessness. Eris' last child is Oath, which could be a way of trying to balance evil with something good. From the ancient male gods, the severed genitals of Uranus gave shape to Aphrodite and Pontus, the sea, gave shape to Nereus. (93)While the older gods could father children on their own, only one of the later gods possessed this ability. Hera had Hephaestus (104) all... middle of paper... in many chains made of many indestructible bonds that he had placed all around his house. (205) Even Hermes admitted that the chains were unbreakable. (207) Even as their strength waned, they were also there at other times when they needed it. Works Cited Harris, Stephen L., and Gloria Platzner. "Homeric Hymn to Demeter." Classical mythology: images and insights. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2012. 156-67. Print.Harris, Stephen L. and Gloria Platzner. "Homeric Hymn to Hermes." Classical mythology: images and insights. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2012. 209-23. Print.Harris, Stephen L. and Gloria Platzner. "The Loves of Ares and Aphrodite." Classical mythology: images and insights. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2012. 205-08. Print.Harris, Stephen L. and Gloria Platzner. "Theogony". Classical mythology: images and insights. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2012. 88-105. Press.