Kronos

Also known as: Cronos / Saturn · Family: Titans · Role: former sovereign of the Gods · First appears: Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound — Scene 1

Kronos was a Titan and former sovereign of the Gods. In the old time, Zeus, whom he had begotten, rose against him, dividing the Gods: the Titans chiefly sided with their father, while others sided with his son. Zeus defeated Kronos and chained him with his allies in Tartaros.

Prometheus, though himself one of the Titans, supported Zeus and helped secure Kronos’s imprisonment, making them enemies. Later, Prometheus revealed that Zeus would be overthrown, fulfilling the curse Kronos had spoken when he left his throne. In another account, Time is named “the son of Saturn.”

Relationship record

Life events

• Zeus defeated Cronos, who was chained in Tartaros.(Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound — Scene 1 · 📍 Tartaros)
  • With: Zeus
  • “And Prometheus, the son of Earth or Themis, though one of the Titans, supported Zeus, as did also Okeanos, and by his counsels Zeus obtained the victory, and Cronos was chained in Tartaros”
• Zeus defeated Cronos and imprisoned him with his allies in Tartaros.(Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound — Scene 2 · 📍 Tartaros)
  • With: Zeus
  • “take my side with Zeus, And by my counsels, mine, the dark deep pit Of Tartaros the ancient Cronos holds, Himself and his allies.”
• Prometheus reveals that Zeus will be overthrown, fulfilling Cronos’s curse.(Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound — Scene 5)
  • With: Zeus
  • “And then the curse his father Cronos spake Shall have its dread completion, even that He uttered when he left his ancient throne;”

Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound — Scene 1

• child: Zeus “Zeus, whom he had begotten, rose up against him”
• enemies with Zeus “Zeus, whom he had begotten, rose up against him, and the Gods were divided in their counsels, some, the Titans chiefly, siding with the father, and some with the son.”

Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound — Scene 2

• enemies with Zeus “Some wishing to hurl Cronos from his throne, / That Zeus, forsooth, might reign; while others strove, / Eager that Zeus might never rule the Gods”
• child: Zeus “But piercing fear hath stirred My inmost soul to strife; For I fear greatly touching thy distress, As to what haven of these woes of thine Thou now must steer: the son of Cronos hath A stubborn mood and heart inexorable.”
• enemies with Prometheus “And then of all that offered, it seemed best To join my mother, and of mine own will, Not against his will, take my side with Zeus, And by my counsels, mine, the dark deep pit Of Tartaros the ancient Cronos holds, Himself and his allies.”

Aeschylus, Eumenides — Scene 4

• enemies with Zeus (The text describes Zeus binding Cronos in chains.) “Zeus then a father's death, as thou dost say, Of highest moment holds, yet He himself Bound fast in chains his aged father, Cronos;”

Sophocles, The Trachinian Maidens — Scene 1

• child: Zeus “Of the All-disposer, Cronos' son.”

Euripides, The Heraclidæ — Scene 6

• child: Time (Time is explicitly called Saturn's son.) “and Time, the son of Saturn.”

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Extracted from the original text of Greek Tragedy. Made with Rho MD.