Who is Zeus' father in Kaos? Character's family based on Greek Mythology explored

Netflix's Kaos has delivered a remarkable storyline with Jeff Goldblum’s Zeus. The story is an amalgamation of the modern world infused with Greek Mythology. Furthermore, it deals with the aftermath of Zeus in the cahoots of a mid-life crisis after he discovers a wrinkle on his forehead.

Zeus is depicted as a very complicated God and father whose children hardly visit him. The only one who does, Dionysus endures his dad’s ego, narcissism, and cynicism.

One would assume that there is some sort of childhood story or parental trauma related to that. Well, there is a bit of both - he lived through his tyrant of a father, Kronos (or Cronos), a titan with an extremely dark and disturbing past himself.

Is Zeus' father mentioned in Netflix's Kaos?

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While Zeus’ father doesn’t make an appearance in Netflix’s Kaos, he is indirectly referenced in the series. The show’s narrator (who turned out to be an alleged antagonist) Prometheus mentions the battle of the Titans which granted Zeus domain over the skies, while his brothers Poseidon and Hades got the sea and underworld respectively.

The series does make a very subtle mention of the Greek god’s dad. Zeus’ father Cronos was a titan as denoted by Greek Mythology scholars. Cronos was one of the OG gods descended directly from Khaos to rule the earth. However, the Titans including Cronos were overthrown by their children who are each featured in Kaos.

After a mighty battle moving heaven and earth, Zeus and his siblings were finally able to cast them into an eternal prison known as ‘Tartarus.’ Whether or not viewers will see Cronos is entirely dependent on Netflix renewing Kaos for Season 2.

Who is Zeus' father from Greek Mythology?

Zeus’ father was Cronos (or Kronos) in Greek Mythology - A powerful Titan who controlled time like his grandmother Gaia. After reportedly castrating his father, Cronos became the father of the Gods.

According to Greek Mythology scholars and experts, Cronos married Rhea -another titan who had the power to resurrect souls from the dead. Naturally, she was called the mother of the Gods.

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Cronos fathered Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, Demeter, Hades, and Hestia with Rhea. However, he had a twisted past. Like his son Zeus in Kaos, Cronos also had a prophecy of being ultimately dethroned. One of his children was destined to be his greatest undoing and strip him of his power.

Terrified about losing all he’d amassed on Mount Olympus, Cronos resorted to cannibalism and consumed each of his children shortly after they were born! Zeus survived thanks to his mother Rhea’s quick thinking.

Rhea secured her son out of Cronos’ reach on Crete islands in a cave and out of the jaws of death. When it was time for her to deliver Zeus, she replaced him with a stone with baby clothes and fed it to him.

Assuming she did the same with all of Zeus’ siblings, they all returned filled with power and overthrew the rest of the Titans including Cronos, banishing them to the hallows of Tartarus.

Could the chaos Prometheus hinted at be a subtle nod at the trapped Titans waiting to exact their revenge? Will we see Cronos return for vengeance against his sons and daughters in Kaos? Only time will tell if and when there's a Season 2.

Zeus has daddy issues in Netflix's Kaos

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After dealing with a cannibalistic father who was just as hell-bent on power, and showed him no love, Zeus had clear issues with fatherhood. In episode 1 of Kaos, Dionysus decides to gift his father a pristine solid gold watch as a birthday gift.

In the series, Zeus passionately wears a similar gold watch gifted by Hercules and calls it lucky. Upon receiving his son’s gift, instead of wearing it or thanking Dionysus, Zeus has him get rid of it instead.

Additionally, when his son asks to be entrusted with more responsibility, Zeus acts uninterested and again dismisses the thought by undermining him. Disheartened by his father’s apathetic response, Dionysus makes a subtle jab at Zeus’ daddy issues saying:

“This is why I’m the only one who ever visits you!”

Zeus ponders for a moment before admitting he’s the one to blame for all the severed relationships with his many children (who were not named on the show). Moreover, he also ended up killing his son's beloved cat just to prove a point.