Family Tree of the Gods

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Acclaimed Theatrical Designer Maps Out the Olympian Family Tree
We all know Zeus, deity numero uno of the ancient Greek pantheon. But who were Zeus's mom and dad? (1)

How about Aphrodite—aka Venus—goddess of love? Who was the lucky resident of Olympus who took her for a bride? (2)

Third question. Medusa, the hideous snake-headed demi-goddess who turned men to stone, had the cutest offspring. Who? (3)

Vanessa James, Professor of Theater Arts and internationally heralded set and costume designer, knows the answers to these questions because she set out the complete—and often intricate—family trees of the gods, demi-gods, and heroes in her 2003 book, The Genealogy of Greek Mythology.

Interestingly, tracking down the birth records of the gods is sort of a sideline for James, the resident designer and producer for Mount Holyoke's Rooke Theatre. Her Emmy-and-other-award dotted résumé includes work with top leading filmmakers, theatres, opera companies, and writers, including such cultural luminaries as Andy Warhol, William Burroughs, Joseph Papp, and Mount Holyoke's own Pulitzer Prize-winning author and playwright Suzan-Lori Parks '85.

But, for those who might be overwhelmed by the tension in James's bifurcated interests—theatre and mythology—there is a dramatic resolution:

James is tackling a genealogy of Shakespeare's plays next.

Answers:
(1) The Titans Chronos and Rhea
(2) Hephaestus, aka Vulcan, god of fire
(3) Pegasus, the winged horse of poetry