According to Philo, Kronos was a Phoenician deity who was also called El

Names

• Kronos, Cronus or Kronos (Greek)
• Saturn (Roman)
• El
• Ea

Greek Mythology

Cronos (also spelled Cronus or Kronos) is a significant figure in Greek mythology. He is a Titan, the youngest son of Uranus (Sky) and Gaia (Earth). Cronos is most famously known for:

• Overthrowing his father, Uranus, to become the ruler of the universe.
• Being the god of time, particularly destructive and all-encompassing time.
• Swallowing his children—Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, and Poseidon—out of fear they would overthrow him, as prophesied.

Zeus’s Role

Cronos was eventually overthrown by his youngest son, Zeus, who had been hidden by Cronos’ wife, Rhea. Zeus forced Cronos to regurgitate his swallowed children and led the Olympians in a war (Titanomachy) against the Titans, which resulted in Cronos’ defeat and imprisonment in Tartarus.

Roman Equivalent
In Roman mythology, Cronos is often associated with Saturn, a god of wealth, abundance, and time. Saturn’s mythology diverges somewhat, emphasizing a golden age of prosperity during his rule.

Cultural Depictions
Cronos is frequently depicted in art holding a sickle or scythe, the weapon he used to castrate Uranus, symbolizing harvest and destruction.

The Chaldean account

In his time happened a great Deluge, the history of which is thus described: The Deity, Cronos, appeared to him in a vision, and warned him that upon the fifteenth day of the month Daesius, there would be a flood, by which mankind would be destroyed. Source

Phoenician and broader Canaanite Mythology

The deity Kronos, being referred to as “El” is a topic that stems from some interpretations of ancient Phoenician and broader Canaanite mythology, often derived from works by ancient historians like Philo of Byblos or Sanchuniathon, as well as interpretations of inscriptions and texts that have been uncovered in the Levant region.

Here, I’ll summarize some key sources where these associations can be found:

1. Philo of Byblos and Sanchuniathon

Philo of Byblos was a 1st-century CE Greek writer who translated texts attributed to Sanchuniathon, an ancient Phoenician historian. In his work, Philo tried to present the Phoenician myths in a way that was comprehensible to a Greek audience.

• According to Philo, Kronos was a Phoenician deity who was also called El. In the fragments of his work that survive through later authors, Kronos is equated with the Semitic El, a chief deity of the Canaanite and Phoenician pantheon. In some interpretations, he is also referred to as “Israel,” potentially because of his association with being a “father of many nations,” a title akin to the way the patriarch Israel (Jacob) is understood.

2. Eusebius of Caesarea

The works of Eusebius of Caesarea, specifically his “Praeparatio Evangelica”, preserve fragments from Philo of Byblos’ writings. In these texts, Kronos is described as a deity who performed sacrifices, founded cities, and had a connection to Phoenician myth and ritual practices that link him to the concept of “El.”

• Eusebius’ references to Philo of Byblos include mentions of El/Kronos sacrificing his own son, which has parallels to Phoenician religious rituals. This sacrificial theme is also reminiscent of Canaanite and Israelite traditions, although with significant variations.

3. Phoenician Inscriptions

While there are not many inscriptions that directly refer to Kronos by name in Phoenician texts, there are several that mention El, who is understood as the chief god and father of the gods in the Canaanite and Phoenician religious hierarchy.

• In particular, the Ugaritic texts (14th-12th centuries BCE), discovered at Ras Shamra in modern-day Syria, describe El as the head of the divine council. Though these are technically Ugaritic rather than Phoenician, the religious traditions were closely connected. The name El appears frequently in contexts that suggest his importance as the father deity.
• Carthaginian inscriptions also indicate the worship of Baal Hammon, who was syncretized with Kronos by later Greeks and Romans. In Carthage, Kronos was identified as the god who received child sacrifices, a practice that is confirmed by archaeological findings in the Tophet. This association helps explain how Kronos came to be identified with older Semitic deities such as El.

4. Rabbinic and Classical Sources

In later Classical and Rabbinic texts, there are allusions that equate Kronos with Canaanite gods. Rabbinic interpretations sometimes sought to make sense of Canaanite gods by linking them with known Classical deities. This has contributed to the idea that Kronos could be viewed through the lens of the Semitic El, who was sometimes also called “El Elyon” or “God Most High.”

Summary of Sources

• Philo of Byblos: Through the fragments preserved by Eusebius, Philo equates Kronos with El and details rituals and myths that align Kronos with Phoenician and Canaanite traditions.
• Eusebius of Caesarea: Preserves Philo’s texts and adds a layer of Hellenistic interpretation, equating Kronos with El.
• Ugaritic Texts: These texts, while not explicitly Phoenician, provide valuable context regarding El‘s role in the pantheon.
• Carthaginian Inscriptions: Suggest a syncretism between Kronos and Baal Hammon, emphasizing sacrificial rituals.

These sources collectively help scholars draw the connection between Kronos, El, and the name Israel in the context of ancient Levantine mythology and culture, though direct evidence specifically referring to Kronos as “Israel” is rare and more a matter of interpretive connection through mythological syncretism.