In Greek mythology, the father of Zeus was Cronus, the youngest of the Titans. Cronus overthrew his own father, Uranus, and became the ruler of the Titans, only to be challenged by his own children, including Zeus. According to some myths, Cronus swallowed his children as soon as they were born because he was afraid that they would overthrow him as he had done to his own father. However, Zeus was saved by his mother, Rhea, who hid him on the island of Crete until he was old enough to challenge his father and free his siblings from his belly.