Cronus

God

In ancient Greek religion and mythology, Cronus, Cronos, or Kronos ( or ; Ancient Greek: Κρόνος) was the leader and youngest of the Titans, the children of Gaia (Earth) and Uranus (Sky). Cronus castrated and overthrew his father and then ruled during the mythological Golden Age until he himself was overthrown by his son, Zeus, and imprisoned in Tartarus.

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Mentions
14
Connected characters
12
Books
9
Cronus. Leipzig - Schlosspark Lützschena - Kronos 01 ies
Leipzig - Schlosspark Lützschena - Kronos 01 ies · Frank VincentzImage source CC BY-SA 3.0

Mentions in the Iliad

A. T. Murray, Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press, 1924 · Homer, Iliad with an English Translation · CC BY-SA 3.0 US

“and the mother fluttered around them, wailing for her dear little ones; howbeit he coiled himself and caught her by the wing as she screamed about him. But when he had devoured the sparrow's little ones and the mother with them, the god, who had brought him to the light, made him to be unseen; for the son of crooked-counselling Cronos turned him to stone;”
Il. 2.315–319
“For even though I grudge thee, and am fain to thwart their overthrow, I avail naught by my grudging, for truly thou art far the mightier. Still it beseemeth that my labour too be not made of none effect; for I also am a god, and my birth is from the stock whence is thine own, and crooked-counselling Cronos begat me as the most honoured of his daughters”
Il. 4.55–59
“Even in such wise as the son of crooked-counselling Cronos sendeth a star to be a portent for seamen or for a wide host of warriors, a gleaming star, and therefrom the sparks fly thick; even so darted Pallas Athene to earth, and down she leapt into the midst; and amazement came upon all that beheld,”
Il. 4.75–79
“Then Hera, the queenly goddess, daughter of great Cronos, went to and fro harnessing the horses of golden frontlets. and Hebe quickly put to the car on either side the curved wheels of bronze, eight-spoked, about the iron axle-tree. Of these the felloe verily is of gold imperishable,”
Il. 5.720–724
“with his fat and flesh, when he is fallen at the ships of the Achaeans. So spake she, and the goddess, white-armed Hera, failed not to hearken. She then went to and fro harnessing the horses of golden frontlets, even Hera, the queenly goddess, daughter of great Cronos; but Athene, daughter of Zeus that beareth the aegis,”
Il. 8.380–384
“and have joy neither in the rays of Helios Hyperion nor in any breeze, but deep Tartarus is round about them. Though thou shouldst fare even thither in thy wanderings, yet reck I not of thy wrath, seeing there is naught more shameless than thou. So said he; howbeit white-armed Hera spake no word in answer.”
Il. 8.480–484
“and saidst that I was no man of war but a weakling; and all this know the Achaeans both young and old. But as for thee, the son of crooked-counselling Cronos hath endowed thee in divided wise: with the sceptre hath he granted thee to be honoured above all, but valour he gave thee not, wherein is the greatest might.”
Il. 9.35–39
See all 14

Connections

Beloved · Sources
Beloved · Sources

Hesiod says Rhea was subject in love to Cronos and bore their children; no explicit marriage label is added.

Hesiod, Theogony · Hesiod, Theogony 453–467

Sister · Sources
Sister · Sources

Братство или сестринство выведено из общего родителя: Гея, Уран. Матери и отцы, не указанные в источнике, не предполагаются. Квалификация братства/сестринства: Отдельный внешний источник: Общие отец и мать подтверждены. Общие родители: Гея, Уран.

Hesiod, Theogony (H. G. Evelyn-White) · Hesiod, Theogony 134–138; 463–467

Brother · Sources
Brother · Sources

Братство или сестринство выведено из общего родителя: Гея, Уран. Матери и отцы, не указанные в источнике, не предполагаются. Квалификация братства/сестринства: Отдельный внешний источник: Общие отец и мать подтверждены. Общие родители: Гея, Уран.

Hesiod, Theogony (H. G. Evelyn-White) · Hesiod, Theogony 134–138 Hesiod, Theogony (H. G. Evelyn-White) · Hesiod, Theogony 134–138; 463–467

Sister · Sources
Sister · Sources

Братство или сестринство выведено из общего родителя: Гея, Уран. Матери и отцы, не указанные в источнике, не предполагаются. Квалификация братства/сестринства: Отдельный внешний источник: Общие отец и мать подтверждены. Общие родители: Гея, Уран.

Hesiod, Theogony (H. G. Evelyn-White) · Hesiod, Theogony 134–138 Hesiod, Theogony (H. G. Evelyn-White) · Hesiod, Theogony 134–138; 463–467

Brother · Sources
Brother · Sources

Братство или сестринство выведено из общего родителя: Гея, Уран. Матери и отцы, не указанные в источнике, не предполагаются. Квалификация братства/сестринства: Отдельный внешний источник: Общие отец и мать подтверждены. Общие родители: Гея, Уран.

Hesiod, Theogony (H. G. Evelyn-White) · Hesiod, Theogony 134–138 Hesiod, Theogony (H. G. Evelyn-White) · Hesiod, Theogony 134–138; 463–467

Sister · Sources
Sister · Sources

Братство или сестринство выведено из общего родителя: Гея, Уран. Матери и отцы, не указанные в источнике, не предполагаются. Квалификация братства/сестринства: Отдельный внешний источник: Общие отец и мать подтверждены. Общие родители: Гея, Уран.

Hesiod, Theogony (H. G. Evelyn-White) · Hesiod, Theogony 134–138 Hesiod, Theogony (H. G. Evelyn-White) · Hesiod, Theogony 134–138; 463–467

See all 12
Son · Sources
Son · Sources
one king, to whom the son of crooked-counselling Cronos hath vouchsafed the sceptre and judgments, that he may take counsel for his people. Thus masterfully did he range through the host, and they hasted back to the place of gathering from their ships and huts with noise, as when a wave of the loud-resounding sea
Il. 2.205–206
and the mother fluttered around them, wailing for her dear little ones; howbeit he coiled himself and caught her by the wing as she screamed about him. But when he had devoured the sparrow's little ones and the mother with them, the god, who had brought him to the light, made him to be unseen; for the son of crooked-counselling Cronos turned him to stone;
Il. 2.319
Even in such wise as the son of crooked-counselling Cronos sendeth a star to be a portent for seamen or for a wide host of warriors, a gleaming star, and therefrom the sparks fly thick; even so darted Pallas Athene to earth, and down she leapt into the midst; and amazement came upon all that beheld,
Il. 4.75

Il. 2.205–206 · Il. 2.319 · Il. 4.75 · Il. 9.37 · Il. 9.171 · Il. 9.236 · Il. 9.419 · Il. 9.502 · Il. 9.686 · Il. 10.71 · Il. 15.187 · Il. 16.431 · Il. 18.293

Daughter · Sources
Daughter · Sources
For even though I grudge thee, and am fain to thwart their overthrow, I avail naught by my grudging, for truly thou art far the mightier. Still it beseemeth that my labour too be not made of none effect; for I also am a god, and my birth is from the stock whence is thine own, and crooked-counselling Cronos begat me as the most honoured of his daughters
Il. 4.59
Then Hera, the queenly goddess, daughter of great Cronos, went to and fro harnessing the horses of golden frontlets. and Hebe quickly put to the car on either side the curved wheels of bronze, eight-spoked, about the iron axle-tree. Of these the felloe verily is of gold imperishable,
Il. 5.721
with his fat and flesh, when he is fallen at the ships of the Achaeans. So spake she, and the goddess, white-armed Hera, failed not to hearken. She then went to and fro harnessing the horses of golden frontlets, even Hera, the queenly goddess, daughter of great Cronos; but Athene, daughter of Zeus that beareth the aegis,
Il. 8.383

Il. 4.59 · Il. 5.721 · Il. 8.383 · Il. 14.194 · Il. 14.243

Son · Sources
Son · Sources

Говорит Посейдон: «Трое нас братьев»; в следующем стихе — «Зевс и я, а третий — Аид».

Out upon it, verily strong though he be he hath spoken overweeningly, if in sooth by force and in mine own despite he will restrain me that am of like honour with himself. For three brethren are we, begotten of Cronos, and born of Rhea,—Zeus, and myself, and the third is Hades, that is lord of the dead below. And in three-fold wise are all things divided, and unto each hath been apportioned his own domain.I verily, when the lots were shaken, won for my portion the grey sea to be my habitation for ever, and Hades won the murky darkness, while Zeus won the broad heaven amid the air and the clouds; but the earth and high Olympus remain yet common to us all. Wherefore will I not in any wise walk after the will of Zeus; nay in quiet
Il. 15.185–192

Il. 15.185–192

Son · Sources
Son · Sources
Out upon it, verily strong though he be he hath spoken overweeningly, if in sooth by force and in mine own despite he will restrain me that am of like honour with himself. For three brethren are we, begotten of Cronos, and born of Rhea,—Zeus, and myself, and the third is Hades, that is lord of the dead below. And in three-fold wise are all things divided, and unto each hath been apportioned his own domain.
Il. 15.187

Il. 15.187

In art

Александр Сигачёв. Museum of the Middle Urals - The victory of Zeus over Chronos. собрание не указано. CC0. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AMuseum_of_the_Middle_Urals_-_The_victory_of_Zeus_over_Chronos.jpg

Photograph / reproduction: Александр Сигачёв

Photograph / reproduction date: 2025-07-17 13:36:41

Giorgio Vasari. The Mutilation of Uranus by Saturn. Palazzo Vecchio. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5489695

Francisco Goya. Сатурн, пожирающий своего сына. Museo del Prado. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1150997

Jacob Jordaens. Allegory on Science. Minerva and Cronus protect Science against Envy and Ignorance. Statens Museum for Kunst. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q20401085

Unknown author Unknown author. Saturnus fig274. собрание не указано. Public domain. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ASaturnus_fig274.png

Photograph / reproduction: Unknown authorUnknown author

Photograph / reproduction date: 1874, upload: 12:56, 11 May 2011 (UTC)

attribuito al it:Pittore di Nausicaa. Kronos e Rhea. собрание не указано. Public domain. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AKronos_e_Rhea.jpg

Photograph / reproduction: attribuito al it:Pittore di Nausicaa

Photograph / reproduction date: ca. 460–450 a.C.

Dosseman. Tlos Kronos Temple 4247. собрание не указано. CC BY-SA 4.0. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ATlos_Kronos_Temple_4247.jpg

Photograph / reproduction: Dosseman

Photograph / reproduction date: 2013-12-16 13:53:38

See all 34

Sources and verification

The character is matched to the catalogue.

Wikidata Q44204

Reference material remains distinct from the poem’s assertions. Characters who share a name retain separate pages.