Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome | Page 5

to a successful issue by her
son Cronus. He wounded his father, and from the blood of the wound
which fell upon the earth sprang a race of monstrous beings also called
Giants. Assisted by his brother-Titans, Cronus succeeded in dethroning
his father, who, enraged at his defeat, cursed his rebellious son, and
foretold to him a similar fate. Cronus now became invested with
supreme power, and assigned to his brothers offices of distinction,
subordinate only to himself. Subsequently, however, when, secure of
his position, he no longer needed their assistance, he basely repaid their
former services with treachery, made war upon his brothers and faithful
allies, and, assisted by the Giants, completely defeated them, sending
such as resisted his all-conquering arm down into the lowest depths of
Tartarus.
* * * * *
SECOND DYNASTY.
CRONUS (SATURN).
Cronus was the god of time in its sense of eternal duration. He married
Rhea, daughter of Uranus and Gæa, a very important divinity, to whom
a special chapter will be devoted hereafter. Their children were, three
sons: Aïdes (Pluto), Poseidon (Neptune), Zeus (Jupiter), and three
daughters: Hestia (Vesta), Demeter (Ceres), and Hera (Juno). Cronus,
having an uneasy conscience, was afraid that his children might one
day rise up against his authority, and thus verify the prediction of his
father {15} Uranus. In order, therefore, to render the prophecy
impossible of fulfilment, Cronus swallowed each child as soon as it
was born,[3] greatly to the sorrow and indignation of his wife Rhea.
When it came to Zeus, the sixth and last, Rhea resolved to try and save
this one child at least, to love and cherish, and appealed to her parents,
Uranus and Gæa, for counsel and assistance. By their advice she
wrapped a stone in baby-clothes, and Cronus, in eager haste, swallowed

it, without noticing the deception. The child thus saved, eventually, as
we shall see, dethroned his father Cronus, became supreme god in his
stead, and was universally venerated as the great national god of the
Greeks.
[Illustration]
Anxious to preserve the secret of his existence from Cronus, Rhea sent
the infant Zeus secretly to Crete, where he was nourished, protected,
and educated. A sacred goat, called Amalthea, supplied the place of his
mother, by providing him with milk; nymphs, called Melissae, fed him
with honey, and eagles and doves brought him nectar and ambrosia.[4]
He was kept concealed in a cave in the heart of Mount Ida, and the
Curetes, or priests of Rhea, by beating their shields together, kept up a
constant noise at the entrance, which drowned the cries of the child and
frightened away all intruders. Under the watchful care of the Nymphs
the infant Zeus throve rapidly, developing great physical powers,
combined with {16} extraordinary wisdom and intelligence. Grown to
manhood, he determined to compel his father to restore his brothers and
sisters to the light of day, and is said to have been assisted in this
difficult task by the goddess Metis, who artfully persuaded Cronus to
drink a potion, which caused him to give back the children he had
swallowed. The stone which had counterfeited Zeus was placed at
Delphi, where it was long exhibited as a sacred relic.
Cronus was so enraged at being circumvented that war between the
father and son became inevitable. The rival forces ranged themselves
on two separate high mountains in Thessaly; Zeus, with his brothers
and sisters, took his stand on Mount Olympus, where he was joined by
Oceanus, and others of the Titans, who had forsaken Cronus on account
of his oppressions. Cronus and his brother-Titans took possession of
Mount Othrys, and prepared for battle. The struggle was long and fierce,
and at length Zeus, finding that he was no nearer victory than before,
bethought himself of the existence of the imprisoned Giants, and
knowing that they would be able to render him most powerful
assistance, he hastened to liberate them. He also called to his aid the
Cyclops (sons of Poseidon and Amphitrite),[5] who had only one eye

each in the middle of their foreheads, and were called Brontes
(Thunder), Steropes (Lightning), and Pyracmon (Fire-anvil). They
promptly responded to his summons for help, and brought with them
tremendous thunderbolts which the Hecatoncheires, with their hundred
hands, hurled down upon the enemy, at the same time raising mighty
earthquakes, which swallowed up and destroyed all who opposed them.
Aided by these new and powerful allies, Zeus now made a furious
onslaught on his enemies, and so tremendous was the encounter that all
nature is said to have throbbed in accord with this mighty effort of the
celestial deities. The sea rose mountains high, and its angry billows {17}
hissed and foamed; the earth shook to its foundations, the heavens sent
forth rolling thunder, and flash after flash of