Saturn is the Roman name for the Greek god Cronus (also spelled Cronos or Kronos). He was the son of Uranus (Heaven) and Gaia (Earth), and the father of many of the Olympian gods and goddesses including Zeus (1).
Cronus is most famous for his role in the myth of the Titans. He led the rebellion against his father and eventually became the ruler of the cosmos. However, Cronus is also known for his fear of being overthrown by his children. So he ate each of them as they were born.
Saturn is the worst father in history, as cruel as time. A father who doesn’t even give a chance to have daddy issues. But eventually, his wife Rhea tricked him into swallowing a rock instead of their youngest child, Zeus, who later defeated Cronus and became the king of the gods.
Saturn in Astrology
In astrology, Saturn signifies discipline, structure, and responsibility. People consider it a “malefic” planet, as it introduces challenges and difficulties, but it also opens doors for growth and development. If Saturn heavily influences your astrological chart, you’re likely to be hardworking, reliable, and mature. However, you might grapple with feelings of loneliness and isolation. Saturn’s association with Capricorn and Aquarius links it to gemstones like blue sapphire, amethyst, and blue spinel. Career, authority, and long-term planning are areas that Saturn governs.
As Saturn travels through a specific sign or house in the birth chart, it initiates challenges and tests that aid personal growth and maturation. You might need to shoulder more responsibility. Confront hard lessons or tests, or cope with feelings of solitude or isolation during these periods.
Saturn’s movements can also indicate a time of increased structure and discipline in the individual’s life. This might manifest as a need to focus on long-term goals or take a more serious and responsible approach to life.
However, it is important to remember that Saturn’s movements are not always negative. While they may bring difficulties, they can also bring opportunities for growth and development. They can help the individual build a strong foundation for the future and learn important lessons that will serve them well in the long term.
A Father Eating His Children: God of Time
Cronus / Saturn was the son of Uranus and Gaia in Greek mythology. He is most famous for his role in the myth of the Titans, in which he led the rebellion against his father and eventually became the ruler of the cosmos.
Cronus was married to his sister Rhea, and together they had several children, including Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, Hestia, and Demeter. However, Cronus was afraid that one of his children would one day overthrow him, just as he had overthrown his father. To prevent this from happening, he swallowed each of his children as they were born.
Rhea, however, was determined to save her youngest child, Zeus, and tricked Cronus into swallowing a rock wrapped in a blanket instead. Zeus grew up in secret, and when he was old enough, he returned to confront his father. In a fierce battle, Zeus defeated Cronus and became the new ruler of the gods (2).
He is often depicted as a cruel and selfish character in mythology, but also seen as a symbol of the fear of losing power and control.
Cronus & His Irresistible Power
Cronus is often associated with time. He was the leader of the Titans, who were the personifications of the forces of nature. As the ruler of the cosmos, Cronus had control over the cycles of life, death, and rebirth, and he was often depicted holding a sickle or scythe, which were symbols of the passing of time.
In some versions of the myth, Cronus is also associated with the concept of fate. It was said that he had the power to see into the future and to determine the outcome of events. This power was sometimes depicted as a set of stones that he used to cast divinations.
Cronus was also believed to have the power to control the seasons and the weather. As the ruler of the cosmos, he was responsible for maintaining the balance of the natural world, and he was able to wield the power of the elements to achieve this end.
In addition to his powers over time, fate, and the natural world, Cronus was also known for his strength and his ability to wield a variety of weapons. He was a formidable battle opponent and feared by many of the other gods and mortals.
Saturn / Cronus As A Celebrity
Cronus has appeared in various media, including comic books, stage plays, and video games. In these depictions, he is often portrayed as a powerful and fearsome figure, with a strong emphasis on his role as the ruler of the cosmos and the personification of time. Here are a few examples:
- In the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series of books, Cronus is a major antagonist who seeks to destroy and rebuild the world in his image (3).
- In the animated TV show “The Titans,” Cronus is portrayed as a wise and noble ruler who is betrayed by his children and forced into exile (4).
- In the video game “God of War,” Cronus is depicted as a giant, monstrous creature who is encountered as a boss character (5).
Fear of Change: Lesson From The God of Time
Cronus, also known as Saturn, symbolizes the passage of time and life’s cyclical nature. In his myth where he devours his children to thwart their future rebellion, we see a metaphor for the past’s influence on the present and the present’s shaping of the future.
Cronus also represents a fear of change and a yearning for control. His myth stands as a warning, highlighting the perils of rigidly holding onto the past and emphasizing the necessity of embracing change for prosperity and growth.
Philosophical Aspect
Some philosophical interpretations view Cronus as a symbol of the individual ego’s inevitable surrender to the passage of time. Just as Cronus faced an overthrow by his son, the ego also eventually succumbs to the expansive forces of the universe.
For centuries, Cronus has sparked philosophical thought and his myth has undergone continuous interpretation and reinterpretation by scholars and thinkers across various disciplines. Consider the following works for deeper insight:
- Plato: In his “Laws,” Plato uses the myth of Cronus as a way of exploring the theme of the cyclical nature of history and the role of law in shaping society (6).
- Joseph Campbell: In his work on comparative mythology, Campbell analyzed the myth of Cronus as a symbol of the fear of change and the desire to maintain control.
Psychological Aspect
Cronus, in psychology, is a symbol of change-fear and control-desire. His myth warns against sticking to the past. It tells us to adapt and thrive.
Psychologists study Cronus as the personal ego. He shows us how time overpowers the ego. This mirrors individuation, a process in psychology. Here, the unconscious dominates the ego eventually.
Here are some psychologists who have written about Cronus:
- Erich Neumann: In his book “The Origins and History of Consciousness,” Neumann analyzed the myth of Cronus as a way of understanding the development of the ego and the relationship between the individual and the collective (7).
- Carl Jung: Jung was interested in the way in which the myth of Cronus represented the psychological process of individuation, in which the ego must eventually give way to the larger forces of the unconscious (8).
- Jean Shinoda Bolen: In her book “Goddesses in Everywoman,” Bolen used the myth of Cronus to explore the theme of the fear of losing power and the need to adapt to change (9).
Overall, Cronus continues to be a rich source of material for philosophers and psychologists due to the complex and nuanced themes that are present in his myth.
