Kronos (Chronos)
In Hesiod's "Theogony", the world emerged from chaos, followed by the birth of the 12 Titans, whose parents were Ouranos, the sky, and Gaia, the earth. The Titans were honoured in Greece as the ancestors of men, and to them was attributed the invention of arts and magick.
Unprepared for the responsibilities of fatherhood, Ouranos hid his offspring inside Gaia's body. Gaia disapproved of the rejection of her offspring and planned a terrible vengeance against Ouranos. From adamantine she fashioned a sharp sickle and told her children of her plan. All were horrified except Kronos, the youngest, who agreed to castrate Ouranos by night and tossed his genitals into the Mediterranean Sea.
When Ouranos was reduced to impotence, Kronos liberated his brothers, the Titans (with some exceptions) and became chief of the new dynasty.
Under the reign of Kronos, the work of creation continued and the Golden Age ensued. Of this Golden Age, Hesiod wrote of the men "they lived like gods, free from worry and fatigue; old age did not afflict them; they rejoiced in continual festivity." All the blessings of the world were theirs. When death came to them, it was like being overcome by slumber after which they became benevolent guardian spirits and protectors of the living.
There was however, a prophecy that Kronos would be supplanted by one of his children, and so Kronos swallowed each of his children as it was born.
Kronos' wife, Rhea, was overwhelmed with boundless grief at the loss of her progeny. When the time approached for her to give birth to Zeus, she beseached her own parents, Ouranos and Gaia, for help. Gaia took the new born baby and undertook to bring it up. Meanwhile Rhea wrapped an enormous stone in swaddling clothes and presented it to the unsuspecting Kronos, who swallowed it up at once.
When Zeus reached adulthood he planned to punish his father. He summoned to his aid Metis, daughter of Oceanus (another Titan). Metis gave Kronos a draught that made him vomit up the stone and the gods, his own children, whom he had swallowed. Kronos was thus driven from the sky by the might of Zeus and cast to the very depths of the universe and there enchained in the region which stretches beneath the earth and the fruitless sea.
It is interesting to note that in a parallel myth, the Orphics saw the cosmic egg of creation encircled by a serpent identified with Kronos.
Saturn represents some of the most misunderstood energies in the universe. In traditional astrology, Saturn is known as a malefic planet. Saturn is not merely representative of pain, restriction, discipline, destruction and even death; he is also a symbol of the psychic process by which these experiences can be used as a means for greater consciousness and fulfilment. Magickally, Saturn can be used to bring to an end impediments to progress, such as bad habits, addictions and afflications. Saturn can also teach the magickian many hidden truths beyond those learnt from Mercury.
Black is the colour associated with Kronos.
