Today we tell you all the facts about Chronos, the primordial being of time in Greek culture. Discover its origin and how it was related.
Who is Chronos?
The figure of Chronos personifies the flow of time, the cycle of life and the inevitability of the passage of time. He is often depicted as a white-bearded figure carrying a scythe or sickle, symbolizing the way time and the cycle of harvests and the passage of life.
It is important to note that Chronos is the primordial being of time, not to be confused with Cronus the Titan, the father of the gods of Olympus, two completely different figures. Both share the same name, but represent different concepts and figures in Greek mythology.
Differences between Chronos and Cronus
In summary, although both “Chronos” and “Chronoss” are associated with time in their respective mythologies, they represent different figures and have different etymological origins and cultural contexts.
Chronos (χρόνος)
- Etymology: Chronos, Chrono or Chronos in ancient Greek is χρρόνος [Khrónos] and literally means “Time.”
- He is often depicted with a scythe symbolizing the harvest and the passage of time.
- Chronos, is an alternative spelling of the name of the Roman deity Saturn, which corresponds to Greek Chronos.
- Saturn/Chronos is associated in Roman mythology with agriculture, abundance and time in its most general sense.
Cronus (Κρόνος)
- Etymology: Cronus in ancient and modern Greek is Κρόνος [Kronos] and in Latin is Cronus
- He was overthrown by his son Zeus in the Titanomachy and imprisoned in Tartarus.
- He is known for overthrowing his father Uranus and ruling during the golden age.
- He is also known to fear being overthrown by his own children, leading him to devour them.
Origin and legends of Chronos
The figure of Cronus as the personification of time in Greek mythology is less prominent compared to Cronus, the titan. However, in some traditions and texts, Kronos has also been associated with the cycle of life and harvests, representing the ephemerality of existence and its cycle of rebirth.
Genealogy
It is said that Chronoss was the son of Gaea or Hydros (Ocean) and Thesis (Thetis). He was the father of Ether and Erebus or Phanes in his relationship with Ananké. It is also said that he was the father of the Hours, with the relationship he had with Nix, Hemera was born. There are references in the mythology of this character to Kairos (god of the opportune time) as son of Chronoss (Chronos) although it is also said that he could be his brother.
The cyclical destruction of the universe
In some philosophical and mystical interpretations, Chronos was associated with the eternal cycle of creation and destruction in the universe. Chronos was thought to preside over these cycles, marking the passage of time as the universe unfolded and collapsed in an eternal succession of creation and destruction.
Iconography
In art and iconography, Chronos is often depicted with a scythe or an hourglass, symbols that evoke the idea of time and its inexorable passage. These representations reinforce his association with time and the inevitability of its flow.
Astronomy
The planet Saturn is named after the Roman god Saturn, whose Greek equivalent is Chronos. This choice of name was made by ancient astronomers because of Saturn’s apparent slowness in the night sky. Saturn is the sixth planet in our solar system and is known for its spectacular rings. It is also related to all the signs of the zodiac and its mythology.
The Oracle of Delphi
According to some interpretations, Cronus was identified as the god of time at the Oracle of Delphi, where prophecies about the past, present, and future were pronounced. Cronus was believed to have the power to determine the course of time and the fate of people. He was an important figure at Delphi for predictions.
Interestingly, other sources see the name confusion differently: Chronos was the premordial god who got replaced by Kronus, or Chronus, or Kronos…