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Cronus Facts & Worksheets

According to Greek mythology, Cronus sometimes spelled Kronos, was a Titan and the youngest son of Gaia (Earth) and Uranus (Heaven/Sky). As the world's first king, he overthrew Uranus and ruled over his siblings and fellow Titans.

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According to Greek mythology, Cronus sometimes spelled Kronos, was a Titan and the youngest son of Gaia (Earth) and Uranus (Heaven/Sky). As the world’s first king, he overthrew Uranus and ruled over his siblings and fellow Titans. Zeus, Cronus’ son, eventually deposed his father after Cronus wed his sister Rhea.

See the fact file below for more information about Cronus, or you can download our 31-page Cronus worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

BIRTH AND FAMILY

  • The Greek poet Hesiod tells us that Cronus was the youngest child of the primordial god of the sky and heavens, Uranus, and the primordial goddess of the earth, Gaia. On Uranus and Gaia, there were six male and six female Titans, also known as Titanides.
  • Although not often seen in mythology or art, the Titans were crucial to the creation myth of the Olympian gods. 
  • The giants with one eye, known as Cyclopes, and the giants with a hundred hands, known as Hecatonchires, were also created by Uranus and Gaia.

CRONUS AND URANUS

  • Even though Uranus and Gaia had a large family, Uranus became envious of them and buried them beneath the earth, meaning they were never exposed to daylight. 
  • Gaia created a scheme to save her children because she detested the way they were being treated. 
  • She made grey steel, creating a sharp sickle. When she explained her plan to her kids, they were afraid to challenge their strong father. 
  • Because he was jealous of his father’s authority, Cronus was the only one who offered to assist his mother.
  • Gaia instructed Cronus to hide in her bedroom since Uranus would visit her that evening. Hiding with the sickle in his hand, Cronus prepared to carry out his mother’s plan. 
  • When an arrogant Uranus tried to woo Gaia, Chronus struck, chopping off his father’s penis. 
  • Gaia received the blood and gave birth to the Erinyes (the Furies). Behind him, Cronus threw the genitals into the sea, where they finally found their way to Cyprus. It was from this genital foam that the goddess Aphrodite would later be born.

CRONUS AS THE KING OF THE WORLD

  • In the depths of Tartarus, the underworld, Cronus imprisoned his father in caves alongside the Cyclopes and Hecatonchires. 
  • Now that his father was out of the way, Cronus became the world’s first king. 
  • He seized the earth from Gaia and the sky from Uranus, threatening his siblings Oceanus and Tethys to gain dominion over the ocean. He ruled alone, having no faith in anyone.
  • The era under Cronus’ rule was revered as the Golden Age because it was free of hardship, hunger, and disease. 
  • The people, referred to as the Golden Race, were content and could watch over their loved ones after they passed away as spirits. 
  • A few heroes decided to live instead and were carried to the Isles of the Blessed at the end of the world, which Cronus also ruled.

CRONUS AND ZEUS

  • Six children were born to Cronus and his sister Rhea: Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus, the father of all gods and humans. 
  • But, because his parents had warned him that his children would turn against him as Cronus had turned against his father, Cronus was a troubled and paranoid father.
  • As soon as Rhea gave birth, Cronus swallowed every child, keeping this warning in mind. Rhea, who was pregnant and in distress, went to her parents for support because she did not want Cronus to eat another of her children. 
  • Gaia and Uranus counseled Rhea to travel to the island of Crete to give birth to Zeus, her youngest child. Rhea met the nymphs of the ash tree that bore manna, the Meliae, and the she-goat Amalthea in Crete. 
  • She also located a particular stone Gaia had told her to look for.
  • Frequently traversing Greece, Cronus visited his Titan siblings to ensure they weren’t scheming against him. 
  • Upon his return home, Rhea gave Cronus the “baby” after feigning childbirth. As it turned out, the baby was the unique stone she had wrapped in blankets. 
  • Without thinking that his wife would play a trick on him, Cronus swallowed this stone without hesitation. 
  • To carry on the legacy of son-father violence, Rhea eventually returned to Crete to give birth to Zeus. She also vowed that Zeus would destroy Cronus at some point.
  • Zeus was fed by Amalthea and the Meliae on Crete, where Rhea left him. He received frequent visits from Rhea, who also taught him how to exact revenge. 
  • According to some myths, Zeus was hidden from Cronus by a nymph named Adamanthea, who suspended him from a rope hanging from a tree. 
  • Zeus developed into a powerful and exceptional adult. To help Zeus get ready for his part in toppling Cronus, Rhea enlisted her friend Metis, the daughter of Oceanus and Tethys. 
  • Zeus received a concoction from Metis, including poppy juice, manna syrup, and copper sulfate.
  • Zeus brought this concoction to Cronus, who immediately began regurgitating his children after consuming it. 
  • The stone appeared first, followed by Poseidon, Hades, Hera, Demeter, and Hestia. After vomiting up his children, Cronus passed out. 
  • Zeus tried to decapitate Cronus with his sickle but lacked the strength. 
  • Zeus’ siblings pledged allegiance to him and thanked him for freeing them. They would defeat Cronus to usher in a new era known as the Age of the Olympian Gods.

THE TITANOMACHY

  • Because Cronus would not stand by and let his children overthrow him, a ten-year battle known as the Titanomachy broke out between the Titans and the Olympian gods. 
  • While the gods fought from Mount Olympus, the Titans fought from Mount Othrys. 
  • Cronus and the Titans initially outnumbered the weaker Olympian gods. Zeus was given the order by Metis to descend to Tartarus and free Hecatonchires and Cyclopes so they could fight for the gods. 
  • The Cyclopes fashioned the renowned weapons of the gods—the thunderbolts for Zeus, the trident for Poseidon, and the helmet of darkness for Hades.
  • The battle quickly changed direction thanks to these weapons and the hundred-handed Hecatonchires. 
  • As their leader, Atlas inspired the overpowered Titans to mount a valiant defense.
  • Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon devised a strategy to guarantee their ultimate defeat of the Titans. Zeus hurled his thunderbolts at Cronus, Poseidon threatened him with his trident, and Hades took his weapons. 
  • The Hecatonchires showered the remaining Titans with rocks while Cronus was preoccupied. The Olympian gods were ultimately victorious thanks to this attack. 
  • Atlas received the more severe penalty of forever resting the heavens on his shoulders while the Titans were sent to Tartarus.
  • Cronus was cursed to tour the globe and calculate eternity by himself. As a result, he earned the nickname “Old Father Time.” 
  • As he grew older, he constantly reminded everyone how time would eventually run out and claim the lives of all mortals. 
  • According to some myths, Cronus and his siblings were sent to Tartarus. According to other myths, he was permitted to spend the remainder of his days on the Isles of the Blessed.

CRONUS AND PHILYRA

  • The daughter of Oceanus and Tethys, Philyra, was an Oceanid, and Cronus had an affair with her on Mount Pelion. 
  • When Rhea interrupts Cronus one day while lying with Philyra, he becomes frightened and transforms into a stallion before running away. 
  • Philyra conceived and gave birth to Cheiron, the centaur. She prayed to Zeus to change into something else because she was distraught at having to nurse and raise a half-horse, half-man creature. 
  • Zeus, understanding her situation, changed her into a Linden tree.

CRONUS AND CHRONOS

  • The Stoics associated Chronos (time) with Cronus. His place in the gods’ creation narrative was taken to imply that time was the source of all things. 
  • Because Cronus ate his children, it signified that “time consumes the ages.” The children of Cronus are symbolic of the ages.
  • The meaning of a myth was also the definition of a word, according to the Stoics, despite the lack of an etymological connection between Cronus and Chronos. 
  • The similarity between the words conjured up an image of Cronus closely associated with Father Time as the Grim Reaper, an aging man carrying a sickle, since Cronus had used the sickle to overthrow his father, Uranus.

WORSHIP AND LEGACY

  • Overlooking Olympia’s Zeus sanctuary was the Hill of Cronus. Cronus received offerings there because it was holy. 
  • On the Phoenicians’ island of Gadir (modern-day Cádiz, Spain), a temple is dedicated to Cronus. 
  • Peisistratos constructed a different Athens temple devoted to Cronus and Rhea.
  • It was also thought that Cronus was honored with a festival known as the Kronia. 
  • Regrettably, not much information exists about the Kronia. Nonetheless, according to some accounts, it was akin to the Roman Saturnalia. Athens, Samos, and Kolophon celebrated an agricultural festival at the end of the year, during which enslaved people were temporarily set free.
  • According to other accounts, the Kronia was a sinister celebration during which people offered human sacrifices to Cronus. 
  • The darker celebration was said to have been sparked by Cronus’s association with the Phoenician god Ēl.
  • After it was seen in 2017 consuming the planets around it, a star known as HD 240430 was nicknamed Kronus. 
  • The words “chronicle,” “synchronize,” and “chronic” are derived from Chronos.

Cronus Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Cronus across 31 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Cronus. According to Greek mythology, Cronus sometimes spelled Kronos, was a Titan and the youngest son of Gaia (Earth) and Uranus (Heaven/Sky).

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Cronus Facts
  2. Myth and Match
  3. Mixed Mayhem
  4. Family Lineage
  5. The Titanomachy
  6. Cronus and Chronos
  7. Chain of Actions
  8. Observing Clues
  9. Is it Justified?
  10. On the Throne
  11. Mythical Strip

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Cronus in Greek mythology?

Cronus is a Titan in Greek mythology and the youngest son of Uranus (Sky) and Gaia (Earth). He is known as the god of time and the ages. Cronus is often associated with the concept of time and is a significant figure in the creation myths.

What is Cronus best known for in Greek mythology?

Cronus is best known for overthrowing his father Uranus, castrating him, and then becoming the ruler of the Titans. However, Cronus feared a prophecy that one of his own children would overthrow him, so he swallowed his offspring as soon as they were born.

Who were Cronus’ famous children?

Cronus and his sister-wife Rhea were the parents of several notable Olympian gods, including Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hera, Demeter, and Hestia. Despite Cronus’ attempts to prevent a child from overthrowing him, Zeus eventually succeeded in defeating his father and became the king of the gods.

How was Cronus eventually overthrown?

Rhea, unhappy with her children being swallowed by Cronus, managed to save Zeus by tricking Cronus into swallowing a stone instead. Zeus was then raised in secret and eventually led a rebellion against Cronus and the Titans. With the help of his siblings and the Cyclopes, Zeus defeated Cronus and the Titans in the Titanomachy, a great war between the Titans and the Olympian gods.

What happened to Cronus after his defeat?

After the defeat of the Titans, Cronus and the other Titans were banished to Tartarus, the deepest part of the Underworld. Some myths suggest that Cronus was later released and ruled the Elysian Fields, a section of the Underworld reserved for the virtuous and heroic souls.

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