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Devouring His Children
Gruesome Greek mythology
Many Christians know of the Slaughter of the Innocents. This was described in Matthew 2:16–18. Herod, the King of Judea, orders the execution of all male infants because one was prophesied to become king. This imitates an earlier Biblical story from Exodus, in which Pharoah orders the death of Israelite children.
Both these stories, though, are predated by ancient Greek mythology in which not only are children killed, but they are devoured by their own father.
In ancient Greek mythology/religion, Cronus (Krónos) was the leader of the Titans. These were the progeny of Gaia (Mother Earth) and Uranus (Father Sky).
Cronus deposed his father and ruled during the mythical Golden Age. Some stories tell of his castration of his father, as well.
However, Cronus would go on to do even worse to his own children.
The head of the Greek pantheon that we most often think of these days is Zeus, who is often depicted with lightning bolts. He rules on Mt. Olympus. While usually the ruler of a dynasty is the eldest child, Zeus was the youngest among his siblings.
Prior to Zeus, his mother, Rhea, bore Cronus five children.
The father then devoured each of these babies right after his wife gave birth. He so…
