ZEUS

By Sharon Nam

WHO IS MY GOD?

Zeus the "Father of Gods and Men” ruled the

Olympians of Mount Olympus, according to the ancient

Greek religion. He is the god of sky and thunder in

Greek mythology. Zeus is particularly closely identified

with Roman Jupiter.

Zeus is the child of Cronus and Rhea, and the

youngest of his siblings. He is known for his erotic

escapades. These resulted in many godly and heroic

offspring, including Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Hermes,

Persephone (by Demeter), Dionysus, Perseus, Heracles,

Helen of Troy, Minos, and the Muses (by Mnemosyne;

by Hera, he is usually said to have fathered Ares, and

Hebe

HIS ROLE

Zeus, the presiding deity of the

universe, ruler of the skies and the

earth, was regarded by the Greeks as

the god of all natural phenomena on

the sky; the personification of the

laws of nature; the ruler of the state;

and finally, the father of gods and

men.

HIS ROLE

As the ruler of the state, he was the source of kingly power, the

upholder of all institutions connected to the state, and the friend

and patron of princes, whom he guarded and assisted with his

advice and counsel. He was also the protector of the people, and

watched over the welfare of the whole community.

As the father of the gods, Zeus ascertained that each deity

perform their individual duty, punished their misdeeds, settled

their disputes, and acted towards them on all occasions as their

all-knowing counsellor and mighty friend.

A FATHER

As the father of men, he took a paternal interest in

the actions and well-being of mortals. He watched

over them with tender solicitude, rewarding truth,

charity, and fairness, while severely punishing

perjury and cruelty. Even the poorest and most

forlorn wanderer could find a powerful advocate in

Zeus, for he, as a wise and merciful paternal figure,

demanded that the wealthy inhabitants of the earth

be attentive to the needs of their less fortunate

fellow citizens.

HIS STORY

Cronus sired several children by Rhea: Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, and

Poseidon, but swallowed them all as soon as they were born, since he had

learned from Gaia and Uranus that he was destined to be overthrown by his

son as he had previously overthrown Uranus, his own father, an oracle that

Rhea heard and wished to avert.

When Zeus was about to be born, Rhea sought Gaia to devise a plan to save

him, so that Cronus would get his retribution for his acts against Uranus and

his own children. Rhea gave birth to Zeus in Crete, handing Cronus a rock

wrapped in swaddling clothes, which he promptly swallowed.[

HIS SYMBOLS

His weapon was a thunderbolt which he hurled at

those who displeased or defied him, especially liars

and oathbreakers.

Though he is most well known as god of the sky

and thunder, Zeus was the supreme cultural

embodiment of Greek religious beliefs. He had many

epithets (titles) that emphasized different aspects of

complete and wide ranging authority.

ART AND LITERATURE

Jupiter astride an eagle, 1st

century B.C.–1st century A.D.,

Roman. Sardonyx

He is popular in Greek mythology

and his affairs with mortal women.

He was married to Hera but often

tested her patience, as he was

infamous for his many affairs.

MODERN DAY LITERATURE

He was also seen in a series of books known as the

Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan. He is

portrayed as himself, as the King of the Gods in

Mount Olympus.

He was also in a Disney adaptation of the Greek

mythology Hercules.

RELATED?

The only person related to me that would remind

me of Zeus would be my father, just on the basis that

he is father figure and is in a position of power.