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Back to Subjects - Mythology

zeus

zeus Zeus, in Greek mythology, is the god of the sky and ruler of the Olympian gods. Zeus corresponds to the Roman god Jupiter. Zeus was considered, according to Homer, the father of the gods and of mortals. He did not create either gods or mortals; he was their father in the sense of being the protector and ruler both of the Olympian family and of the human race. Zeus was lord of the sky, the rain god, and the cloud gatherer, who welded the thunderbolt - given to him by Cyclops (Tseligka 3). His breastplate was aegis, his bird was the eagle, and his tree was the oak. Zeus was the youngest of 6 born to Cronus and Rhea. His father, Cronus, was warned that one of his offspring would dethrone him. To prevent that, Cronus swallowed each of his children immediately following their births. Rhea saved Zeus, though, by replacing him with a stone wrapped in swaddling clothes, which Cronus swallowed unknowingly. Zeus was raised on Crete and card for by the ash nymph, Adrasta, and her sister Lo (Characters of Greek…). As soon as Zeus was grown he returned, and with the help of Rhea, he was able to lace Cronus' cup with an emetic that caused Cronus to disgorge the stone and the other children, who were eager to take vengeance on their father. In the war that followed, the Titans fought on the side of Cronus, but Zeus and the other gods were successful, and the Titans were consigned to the abyss of Tartarus. After the war Zeus ruled the sky, and his brothers Poseidon and Hedes were given power over the sea and the underworld, respectively. The earth was to be ruled in common by all According to legend, Metis, the goddess of prudence, was Zeus' first love. Zeus was warned that Metis would bear a daughter whose son would overthrow him. After hearing this, Zeus swallowed Metis to carry the child through to the birth himself. When the time came for the child, Athena, to be born, Zeus ordered Hephaestus to split open his head, so his daughter, Athena, may be born (Leadbetter 2). Zeus is described to have fallen in love with women after women and is notorious for affairs. Zeus was known for using trickery to hide his infidelity from his wife and for being a master of disguise. There are a number of stories in which Zeus changes his form to get something, usually a lover. Zeus became a shower of gold that fell in to the little room and impregnated Danae at one point. Another instance was to get in bed with Alcmene, Hercules mother, Zeus took the form of her husband, Amphitryon, and lay with her for three dayless nights. Zeus had around 32 mortal children, most of them were leaders of the Greek nations, and about 38 immortal children - only 5 of them from his Since being born, Zeus had to fight for his life and for respect. After waging war with his father, he fought against Typhoon and managed to win with the help of Hermes and Egypana. His fight went on against his own wife Ira, his brother Poseidon, and his daughter Athena who made a conspiracy to get his throne. And at the end, when he established his domain over the world, he made it again from the beginning, and so is the world as we know it now (Tseligka 9). Zeus presided over the gods on Mount Olympus in Thessaly. His principal shrines were at Dodona in Epirus, the land of the oak trees, and the most ancient shrine famous for it's oracle, and the Olympia, where the Olympian Games were celebrated in his honor every fourth year. The Nemean games, held at Nemea, northwest of Argos, were also dedicated to Zeus (King 1). In art, Zeus was usually portrayed as bearded, middle aged but with a youthful figure. He would look very regal and imposing. Artists always tried to reproduce the power of Zeus in their work, usually by giving him a pose as he is about to throw his bolt of lightening. There are many statues of Zeus, but without doubt the Artemisium Zeus is the most magnificent. It was previously thought to be Poseidon, and can be seen in the Athens National Archaeological Museum. Bibliography:

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