Thoth, along with his consort Maat (goddess of Truth), produced eight children. The Ancient Greeks did play a part in developing astrology, and Aion was part of that. Besides representing time, magic, and wisdom, he also represents writing and is credited with creating the first hieroglyphs. Instead, Chronos is meant to be the personification of time. Even when his appearance and the people who worshiped him changed, his symbolism remained the same. It was a joyous festival and everything from businesses to schools closed for a week. Most importantly, he was always present at the judgment of the dead. Get kids back-to-school ready with Expedition: Learn! The most common image of Zurvān depicts a winged, lion-headed deity encircled by a serpent, representing the motion of the Sun. These were all things that time could not kill. Because of a prophecy about being killed by one of his children, Chronos feared being deposed as he had done his own father. Aion was especially popular during the Hellenistic Period in Ancient Greece. Here’s more information: Aion was especially popular during the Hellenistic Period in Ancient Greece. He was the god of all time and the universe. Chronos became ruler of the cosmos after he killed his father Ouranos. However, Chronus came about much earlier in Greece’s history. He shared the role of being the god of time with Chronos, who was also the god of time. This combination makes sense as the phoenix is also associated with eternity in that it is cyclically reborn. In Osirian myths, Thoth served as the chief advisor of Osiris and even served as the messenger of the gods. He ruled the cosmos during the Golden Age after castrating and deposing his father Ouranos (Uranus, Sky). However, Chronus came about much earlier in Greece’s history. Comments Off on Aion – Greek Mythological God of Time.

The Greek god of time was the Titan Chronos, the Roman god of time was Saturn, and the Egyptian god of time was Thoth. Saturn was even known as Old Father Time. Regardless of culture, this is a concept that always seems to hold sway over people. The name Thoth is actually a Greek corruption fo the name Tahuti. His weapon that he is commonly depicted holding is a scythe, which is where we get the scythe image for the grim reaper. The Egyptian’s had numerous gods and some of them represented certain aspects of time. At times he was depicted as having the head of a lion. He was later worshiped in Thebes as Lord of the Universe. Zurvanite thinking influenced Mithraism as well as Manichaeism and other schools of gnostic belief. There have been so many pantheons of gods and goddesses throughout the world, each with varying personalities and characteristics. He was the son of Uranus and the father of Jupiter, Neptune, and Pluto. The most popular gods of time came from the Greek, Roman, and Egyptian cultures.

Yet the gods in each culture usually represented similar themes. Throughout the time that Aion was known as a god, he was linked to the idea of eternity. The earliest mentions of Zurvān appear in tablets dated to about the 13th and 12th centuries bce, found at the site of the ancient Mesopotamian city of Nuzi.

The earliest mentions of Zurvān appear in tablets dated to about the 13th and 12th centuries bce, found at the site of the ancient Mesopotamian city of Nuzi. Aion is also often standing at the center of the image with a hoop or spherical object encircling him.

This is a testament to the power of the idea of everlasting time. Written by GreekBoston.com in Greek Mythology Zurvanism died out a few hundred years after the advent of Islam in Iran in the 7th century. Time was simply created by God as a limited part of His creation for accommodating the workings of His purpose in His disposable universe (see 2 Peter 3:10-12). He was created during the beginning of time by Ra. She hid him on the island of Krete and fed Chronos a stone that was wrapped in the blanket of a baby. He then fled to Rome where he established the Golden Age.

Also, Chronos is not a god like Aion. The Greek god of time was the Titan Chronos, the Roman god of time was Saturn, and the Egyptian god of time was Thoth. At times he also has wings, but he is frequently depicted without them. KRONOS (Cronus) was the King of the Titanes and the god of time, in particular time when viewed as a destructive, all-devouring force.

He shared the role of being the god of time with Chronos, who was also the god of time.


Of all of these, the most important was Amen, The Hidden One. Most cultures have had gods that represented love, wisdom, war, strength, beauty, and even time. However, the one who represented time as well as magic and wisdom was Thoth. Over time, Aion became conflated with Chronos as well as the Titan Cronus. He is shown in all the major scenes with all the gods and he recorded all that he saw. The two of them were depicted on Roman coins along with the phoenix. There are several spellings to his name. Aion is more heavily associated with eternity and everlasting time, while Chronos is connected to linear time. The mythology of Saturn was heavily influenced by the Greek mythology.

Said to be the Greek god of time, Aion does have some lore associated with him. He is shown to have the body of a human. The most popular gods of time came from the Greek, Roman, and Egyptian cultures. Chronos was a Titan god, the beings that were in existence before the Greek gods.

Known also as the god of growth, maturity, and decay, Zurvān appeared under two aspects: Limitless Time and Time of Long Dominion. His form changed with these consolidations. Zurvanite theories equated the two Zoroastrian deities Ahura Mazdā (Avestan: “Wise Lord”) and Angra Mainyu, or Ahriman (“Evil Spirit”), a belief strongly disputed by orthodox Zoroastrians.

There are multiple depictions of Aion that still survive today. Most cultures have had gods that represented love, wisdom, war, strength, beauty, and even time. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Zurvān was originally associated with three other deities: Vayu (wind), Thvarshtar (space), and Ātar (fire). Saturn ruled the Roman gods before Jupiter. Aion is one of these gods but unlike the Olympian gods and goddesses, he is not very well known. Zurvān was the chief Persian deity before the advent of Zoroastrianism and was associated with the axis mundi, or the centre of the world. There are several spellings to his name. Different cultures have different myths and gods that they believed in. In fear of a prophecy that he would in turn be overthrown by his own son, Kronos swallowed each of his children as they were born. Due to his link with eternal time, he was quickly taken up as a symbol for the Roman Empire’s everlasting rule. He was given a female equivalent who was known as Aeternitas. Known also as the god of growth, maturity, and decay, Zurvān appeared under two aspects: Limitless Time and Time of Long Dominion. He is often shone to be nude or wearing a small amount of clothing. Who Was Chronos. There are many similarities between Saturn and Zeus. Aion’s importance did not end with the rise of the Roman Empire.

“God is spirit” (John 4:24), and, correspondingly, God is timeless rather than being eternally in time or being beyond time. But in Roman mythology, Saturn was overthrown by his own children. This article was most recently revised and updated by, The Circle of Ancient Iranian Studies - Zurvanism. Saturn was the Roman god of time. However the two of them did have differencs. There is Chronos, Kronos, and Cronus, all of which mean the same god. Thoth was depicted as a man with the head of an ibis bird and carried a pen and scrolls.
Saturn was honored at a roman festival called Saturnalia which was held during the midwinter months. He has a youthful and proud appearance. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The hoop is sometimes depicted as being held up by a man standing underneath Aion. Aion was also associated with the zodiac and the constellations. The latter emerges from Infinite Time, lasts for 12,000 years, and returns to it. As a modified form of Zoroastrianism, Zurvanism reappeared in Persia during the Sāsānian period (3rd–7th century ce). It is believed that the circular shape characterizes either the zodiac or the cyclical nature of time.

So to prevent the prophecy from coming true, he ate each of his children as soon as they were born. Years later, Zeus released the Titans from the pit and made Chronos king of the Elysian Islands which was the home of the dead. His youngest son was Zues whom Rhea, wife of Chronos, managed to save from being devoured. There are many gods and goddesses in Greek mythology and they are all usually associated with various things, such as a personality trait or virtue, or even specific places and geographical features. Zurvān, in ancient Iranian religion and Zoroastrianism, the god of time. Phanariots – Influential Greek Families of the Ottoman Empire, Sphinx – Greek Mytholigical Creature that is Half Lion and Half Woman. Of his three children, Jupiter represented Air, Neptune represented water, and Pluto represented death.

However the two of them did have differencs.