Zeus
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| Zeus | |
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![The Jupiter de Smyrne, discovered in Smyrna in 1680[1]](/wiki/File:Jupiter_Smyrna_Louvre_Ma13.jpg) The Jupiter de Smyrne, discovered in Smyrna in 1680[1] |
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| King of the gods God of the Sky and Thunder |
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| Abode | Mount Olympus |
| Symbol | Thunderbolt, Eagle, Bull and Oak |
| Consort | Hera |
| Parents | Cronus and Rhea |
| Siblings | Poseidon, Hades, Demeter, Hestia, Hera |
| Children | Ares, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Aphrodite, Dionysus, Hebe, Hermes, Heracles, Helen, Hephaestus, Perseus, Minos, the Muses |
Zeus (in Latin Jupiter or Jove) is the leader of the gods, ruler of Mount Olympus in Greek mythology, and one of the Twelve Olympians. He is the sixth child of his parents, Cronus, ruler of the Titans and Rhea. His father, Cronus swallowed every child he had with Rhea. He feared the prophecy that his son will overthrow him as ruler of Mount Olympus. When Zeus was born, Rhea gave a stone for Cronus to swallow. Rhea then hid Zeus in safety. When Zeus grew up, he overthrew Cronus with his allies, the Cyclopes. The battle was known as Titanomachy. Because they could not die, Zeus imprisoned Cronus in the Underworld, and became the ruler of the gods as predicted.
He was praised all throughout Ancient Greece. He was regarded with utmost respect. He was the most important god of all the twelve Olympians. Zeus controlled the weather and can order any god or mortal, except the Fates. Zeus throws lightning bolts when he is angry. This is how Ancient Greeks explain lightning and thunder.
He married his sister Hera, but had many affairs and children with many other women, both goddesses and mortals.
His brothers were Poseidon and Hades.[2][3] The Olympic Games were held in his honor.
His sisters were Hera and Demeter, both members of the Twelve Olympians.[3]
[change] References
- ↑ The sculpture was presented to Louis XIV as Aesculapius but restored as Zeus, ca. 1686, by Pierre Granier, who added the upraised right arm brandishing the thunderbolt. Marble, middle 2nd century CE. Formerly in the north allée of the Tapis vert, in the garden of Versailles, now conserved in the Louvre Museum (official on-line catalog)
- ↑ Kevin Osborn, Dana Burgess (1998). The Complete Idiot's Guide to Classical Mythology. Alpha Books, 72. ISBN 0028623851.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Hamilton, Edith (1942), Mythology, Boston: Back Bay Books, ISBN 978-0-316-34151-6, at 467
[change] Other pages
- Tinia - Etruscan mythology version of Zeus.
- Odin - Norse mythology version of Zeus.
- Jupiter - Roman mythology version of Zeus.
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