Ananke (mythology) - Mythology

Mythology

In the Orphic cosmogony originally there was the unexpressed Thesis (goddess) ( tithimi, τίθημι: put or join together) . Chronos ( unaging time) was engendered by the first two principles ( water and mud) and he was represented as a dragon (serpent) with extra heads growing upon him. He was united with Ananke ( or Adrasteia, inescapable) who had the same serpentine nature, and they produced the cosmic egg which had the dyad of the two natures (male and female) inside it. The theology of the Orphic rhapsodies begins with the first-born (Protogonos) bisexual god Phanes (phainomai, φαίνομαι: " to appear") who is also called Zeus, the order of all, and of the whole world.

The one before the two Thesis, however, he leaves unexpressed, his very silence being an intimation of its ineffable nature. The third principle after the two was engendered by these -- Ge (mud) and Hydros (Water), that is -- and was a Serpent (Drakon) with extra heads growing upon it of a bull and a lion, and a god’s countenance in the middle; it had wings upon its shoulders, and its name was Khronos (Unaging Time) and also Herakles. United with it was Ananke (Inevitability, Compulsion), being of the same nature, or Adrasteia, incorporeal, her arms extended throughout the universe and touching its extremities. Orpheus says, Khronos (Time) generated an egg and it is from these that "Protogonos-Phanes" was produced. What is this triad, then? The egg; the dyad of the two natures inside it (male and female), and the plurality of the various seeds between; and thirdly an incorporeal god with golden wings on his shoulders. And the third god of the triad this theology too celebrates as Protogonos (First-Born) Phanes, and it calls him Zeus the order of all and of the whole world, wherefore he is also called Pan ( παν :all).

The altenative names of Ananke are Adrasteia and Tekmor.