Story Summary
Explore the dark myth of Cronus Swallowing His Children to prevent a prophecy. Discover how Rhea saved Zeus and changed the course of Greek mythology forever.
After overthrowing his father Uranus, Cronus ruled as King of the Titans. However, a prophecy from his parents warned that he, too, would be unseated by one of his own offspring. To defy fate, Cronus took a radical and horrific path. As his wife Rhea gave birth to each child—Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, and Poseidon—Cronus snatched the newborns and swallowed them whole, imprisoning them within his own stomach. Distraught and desperate to save her sixth child, Rhea fled to Mount Ida on Crete to give birth to Zeus in secret. She returned to Cronus not with a baby, but with a large stone wrapped in swaddling clothes. Blinded by his own paranoia, Cronus swallowed the rock immediately. Zeus grew to manhood in hiding and eventually returned, disguised as a cupbearer, to feed his father a magical potion. Cronus fell ill and vomited up the stone and his fully grown children. Led by Zeus, the siblings waged a Great War against the Titans, fulfilling the prophecy and ushering in the age of the Olympian gods.
The Moral
Tyranny and paranoia cannot avert destiny; the more one tries to suppress the future through cruelty, the more inevitable their downfall becomes.
“Fate is a feast that even a Titan cannot digest.”
Fun Fact
The famous painting 'Saturn Devouring His Son' by Francisco Goya depicts this myth, though it was actually painted directly onto the walls of his house during a period of mental distress.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Cronus swallow his children?
Cronus swallowed his children because of a prophecy from his parents, Gaia and Uranus, which stated that he was destined to be overthrown by one of his sons just as he had overthrown his father.
How many children did Cronus swallow?
Cronus swallowed five of his children: Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, and Poseidon. The sixth child, Zeus, was replaced with a stone and hidden away by his mother, Rhea.
How did Zeus save his siblings from Cronus?
Zeus saved his siblings by tricking Cronus into drinking a magical emetic or poisoned wine. This caused Cronus to vomit up the five older gods, who emerged fully grown and ready for battle.
What did Rhea give Cronus instead of Zeus?
Rhea gave Cronus a large stone, often called the Omphalos stone, wrapped in baby clothes. Cronus was so confident in his power that he swallowed the rock without even looking at it.
What happened to the stone after Cronus vomited it up?
According to legend, the stone was placed at Delphi by Zeus. It became known as the Omphalos, marking what the ancient Greeks believed was the center of the world.
Who helped Rhea hide Zeus from Cronus?
Rhea was assisted by Gaia and Uranus in planning Zeus's birth. On Crete, Zeus was protected by the Curetes, who clashed their shields to drown out the infant's cries so Cronus wouldn't hear him.
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