How Many Children Did Cronus Have?
Cronus had six children with his wife Rhea (Zeus, Demeter, Poseidon, Hera, Hades and Hestia) and one child (Chiron) with Philyra. He was one of the Titans of Greek mythology. Cronus is known for swallowing his children and later being overthrown by his son, Zeus.
Cronus was the son of Uranus (the sky) and Gaia (the earth). He was the youngest and leader of the 12 Titans. Cronus was asked by his mother for help in overthrowing Uranus, because she could no longer handle the pain of having children. He castrated Uranus, from which was born the Furies, Meliae and Giants. Cronus then took over the throne with his wife and sister, Rhea.
The mythological world experienced the Golden Age, under their rule. However, Cronus feared he would also be overthrown by one of his children; to prevent this, he swallowed each of his newborn children. Rhea protected Zeus from the fate of his siblings, by wrapping a stone in his clothes, which Cronus then swallowed. Zeus was sent to Crete to be raised by Amaltheia. When Zeus had grown, he returned to his family and forced Cronus to regurgitate the children. Zeus lead his two brothers and three sisters in a 10 year war against the Titans known as the Titanmachy. The defeated Titans were imprisoned. Years later, Zeus released Cronus and crowned him king of the Elysian Fields.
