Cronus, the son of Uranus and Gaia and the youngest of the Titans. His wife was also one a Titan, since he married his sister Rhea. Their children were Demeter, Hestia, Hera, Hades, Poseidon and Zeus. It is written that Uranus, who in one version, hid his children away in Tarturus as he was aghast at the sight of them, in reality he was fearful of their strength and power. Gaia found her offsprings uncomfortable and also painful and when she found the discomfort too much to bear she had a plan, which was to end the passions of Uranus, so no more offsprings could be produced and that would be the ending of her hurt. But to achieve this she required the help from one of her children. She asked them all, but only her youngest child Cronus would heed her call. To help Cronus accomplish his task Gaia gave him a scythe to serve as his weapon. Cronus lay in wait hidden from view, and when Uranus came to lay with Gaia, Cronus struck. With one mighty blow from the scythe Cronus severed the genitals from Uranus' body. From the blood which fell to the earth where born the Furies, the Giants and also the Nymphs of the manna ash trees. In other versions Aphrodite was born from the foam created from the organs of Uranus, after they had been thrown into the sea by Cronus. Once Cronus had killed Uranus, he and his wife Rhea took the throne. Under their power a time of harmony and prosperity began, which became known as the "Golden Age"; a time when it was said that people lived without greed or violence, and without the need for laws. But not all was well for Cronus, as it was fated that he would be overthrown by one of his own children. To prevent this from happening he began to swallow his newborn, taking them at birth then swallowing them whole, retaining them inside his own body where they could do no harm. Rhea did not like the thoughts of losing all her children, and with the help of Gaia she saved Zeus. Rhea wrapped a stone in Zeus' clothes which Cronus took and immediately swallowed thinking it was the child. Gaia and Rhea's plan worked well and the baby Zeus was taken to Crete. When Zeus had grown into a young man he returned to his fathers' domain, and with the help of Gaia, made Cronus throw up the five children he had previously swallowed. Zeus led the revolt against his father and the Titans, defeated and then banished them.
The Romans compared Cronus with their god Saturn, who was to the Romans a corn god. In art, Cronus was depicted carrying a sickle used to gather the harvest, but this was also the weapon he used to castrate his father. http://www.pantheon.org/articles/c/cronus.html
The Romans compared Cronus with their god Saturn, who was to the Romans a corn god. In art, Cronus was depicted carrying a sickle used to gather the harvest, but this was also the weapon he used to castrate his father. http://www.pantheon.org/articles/c/cronus.html