Chronus
...www.greekmythology.com/myths...) (encyclopedia). Cronus is the personification of time, which is what the name Cronus symbolizes. It is used in the word “chronology” and many other words. It was originally used only in a poetic sense. Cronus was related often to the Roman god, Saturn who was a sower, was also the god of agriculture. Saturn had also been identified with time. Harvest and time might be related in the first place, but some suspect this relationship might have happened because of the confusion between the words Cronus and Chronus. Cronus has many translations, in Latin it is Saturn, in Roman Saturanus, and English Time (Bullfinch 44). Cronus had many many family members in his immediate family alone there were eight gods, which today is extravagant. Cronus’ father, Uranus (Heaven), had a fear that his would overthrow him when they became older. So he kept them in Gaia’s large body. He was eventually castrated by his son Cronus and overthrown. Gaia, Cronus’ mother, (earth) was put through a tormenting time when Uranus decided to keep his children confined in her body, but soon got sick and allowed Cronus to slip away. Cronus also had eleven brothers and sisters that were grateful to him for all he had done. Oceanus, Tethys, Hyperion, Mnemosyne, Themis, Iapetus, Coes, Cirus, Pheobe, Thea, and Rhea were his siblings. When Conus was of age he married his sister Rhea. Who was forced to give up her children for Cronus to swallow. Rhea and Cronus had six children together. Hades was later to become lord of the underworld, ruling over the dead, in a bad draw for shares of the world with his brothers. Hestia, the first daughter, was a virgin goddess. She did not have a distinct personality. She also plays no part in the myths. Hera would soon become the wife of Zeus. She was raised by the Titans Ocean and Tethys. She is the supreme goddess, goddess of marriage and childbirth and she takes special care of married women. Poseidon is the god of the sea and protector of all waters. He was widely worshiped by seamen. Demeter is the goddess of corn, grain, and harvest. It is Demeter that makes the crops plentiful each year. Finally, Zeus he was the god of the sky and ruler of the Olympian gods (Bullfinch 44 45) (encyclopedia). Soon a strong fear of overthrow began to take over Cronus. Before he and Rhea had their first child he decided that he would swallow each one of their children as soon as Rhea gave birth. This fear was caused from his childhood. His father had the same fear of overthrow by his own children, that he hid them inside of Gaia. He used this similar idea by swallowing his own children. Rhea agreed with this for a long time. Cronus had grown to have an appetite for ruling as much as his father had had. Rhea became powerless against Cronus and began to shy away from him. She finally got fed-up with these actions. When their next son Zeus was born Rhea wrapped a rock in swaddling clothing and Zeus swallowed that instead. Rhea sent Zeus to Crete to be raised. When he was old enough he would come and overthrow his father. It would not be long until Zeus would retu...