Aidonian's blog

Eternal father, mighty Titan,

hear, great sire of gods and men,

whom all revere; endued with various counsel, pure and strong, to whom increase and decrement belong.

Hence matter’s flowing forms through thee that die, by thee restored,

their former place supply [reincarnation]. The world immense in everlasting chains, strong and ineffable thy power contains; father of vast eternity, divine,

O mighty Kronos, various speech is thine; blossom of earth and of starry skies, husband of Rhea, and Prometheus wise. Obstetric power and venerable root,

from which the various forms of being shoot; no parts peculiar can thy power enclose, diffused through all, from which the world arose.

O best of beings, of a subtle mind, propitious hear, to suppliant prayers inclined; the sacred rites benevolent attend, and grant a blameless life, a blessed end [passage after death to Elysion.

This is the Orphic Hymn to Kronos. It speaks about Kronos being the father of Gods and men, husband to Rhea, mother of the Gods. Interesting enough Prometheus is also mentioned as if He was also a creator. Indeed Kronos helped shape the universe as it is and that torch was passed along to Zeus, his son. Kronos was imprisoned in Tartaros and than later freed to rule the isle of the blessed but as Time, he kind of “imprisons” the universe because everything is bound by time. Only when gravity is strong enough, it can slow it down but not stop it.

How to worship Kronos

Kronos (the Titan King and father of the first generation of Olympians) focuses on his role as a god of the harvest, abundance, and the Golden Age. While anciently feared, modern practitioners often view him as a patron of time and cycles. 

1. epithets: Ankylometes (Crooked-Counseling): His most common epithet in Hesiod’s Theogony, referring to his wily, crafty, and often cruel nature. Genarka (Founding Ancestor): A significant Orphic title designating him as the original ancestor of a family or lineage. Titan (The Striver/Vengeful One): Often called the “Dread Titan” or “Mighty Titan,” a name anciently linked to the Greek words for “to strain” (titainō) and “vengeance” (tisis). Palaios (Ancient One): Used to signify his status as a deity from the era before the Olympian gods.  ithalēs (Smoky/Ashy): Likely referring to his Titan nature or the appearance of the planet Saturn. All-Sowing Seeder of Aions: Highlighting his role in the creation and continuous flow of long periods of time (ages). Father of Vast Eternity: Addressing his dominion over the eternal and infinite. Venerable Root: A metaphor for him as the source from which all forms of being “shoot” or originate. Subtle Mind: Referring to his “pure” and “unblemished” intellect. 
   • The Crooked One: A literal translation of Ankylometes, sometimes used to describe his “dirty” tactics in combat or his deceitful nature. Lord of the Golden Age: Referring to the era of his reign, viewed by later Greeks and Romans as a lost time of innocence and abundance. All-Devouring: A title earned for swallowing his children to prevent them from overthrowing him Saviour (Deceitful Saviour): Occasionally used in myths where he is seen as a liberator from his father Ouranos, despite his later tyranny

Offerings to Kronos

Kronos is traditionally associated with agrarian bounty and the “Golden Age”. 

• Foods: Grains, bread, honey, olives, and first fruits of the harvest. Modern devotees sometimes include animal crackers as symbolic substitutes for ancient animal sacrifices.
• Libations: Pour wine (often unmixed with water if treating him as Chthonic), milk, or honeyed water.
• Incense: Frankincense, myrrh, or storax are commonly used to carry prayers upward.
• Symbols: Use objects like a sickle (his instrument of power), an hourglass (modern association with time), or bees/beehives (Orphic association) on your altar. 

Key Festivals

• The Kronia: This was the primary Athenian festival for Kronos, held on the 12th day of Hekatombaion (typically mid-to-late July).
  • Practice: It was a day of social reversal where social classes were ignored, slaves and masters dined together, and people celebrated with public feasts and games like dice.
• Saturnalia: Many modern practitioners also honor Kronos during the Roman Saturnaliain December, focusing on his Roman counterpart, Saturn, as a god of peace and plenty. 

Devotional Acts

• Community Meals: Hosting a meal where everyone is treated as an equal mirrors the egalitarian spirit of the Golden Age.
• Time Management: Dedicating acts of patience, healing, or organized planning to him, as he is often equated with Chronos (Time) in later traditions.
• Harvest Work: Helping with gardening or local food drives to honor his role as a patron of agriculture. 

These guides outline the components of Kronos worship, covering ritual structure, symbolic offerings, and significant festivals.