Meaning and history
Latinized form of Greek Κρόνος (Kronos), possibly from the Indo-European root *(s)ker- meaning “to cut.” In Greek mythology, Cronus was the chief Titan who gained power by overthrowing his father Uranus; fearing a prophecy that he would be overthrown by one of his own children, he swallowed each child as soon as Rhea gave birth, but she hid Zeus, her last child, who later forced Cronus to disgorge his siblings. Cronus and the other Titans were then defeated by the gods and imprisoned in Tartarus.