L02 Cronus and his Children: Ancient and
Modern Depictions
The story of Cronus devouring his children is one that has often been depicted through
artistic media, both in ancient and modern times. Below are two depictions of this myth.
First is a large relief from the 2
nd
century CE (a Roman copy of a Greek original from the
4
th
century BCE). In it, Rhea hands to Cronus the swaddled stone, which she tricks Cronus
into thinking is their youngest son, Zeus. Second is a painting by Spanish artist Francisco
Goya known as “Saturn Devouring his Son” (Saturn was the Roman name for Cronus). This
painting dates from 1820-1822, a time of revolution and upheaval for the Spanish people.
Questions for Reflection
1.
How is Cronus depicted in the ancient image on the top? How is he depicted in
Goya’s painting?
2.
Think back to Lesson 1 and our discussion of Carl Jung’s archetypes. What
archetype might Cronus embody in each of these images? Is there one that
Rhea, in the top image, might embody?
3.
Having listened to and read about the myth, what are some ways in which each
of the images differs from Hesiod’s version?
4.
What do you think might have influenced Goya’s interpretation of the Cronus
myth in his painting
