He was the God of lightning, symbolized by the thunderbolt, which he loved to hurl. Hera, daughter of Cronus and Rhea, is Zeuss full sister. Rain started to pour continuously onto the world and rivers flooded the crops nearby which made a whole year's worth of work . Cyllene was reputed to be . When he got old enough, Zeus confronted Cronus and fed him a potion given to him by his grandmother Gaia (the Titan goddess of the Earth). For many, these versions are the quintessential Greek myths full of the same action, intrigue, and weirdness as the stories we talked about above. The Olympic Games were initially held to honor Zeus. bookmarked pages associated with this title. I hope to get back to the Greek Gods, I have more to write about and became really interested in them. He may then find himself rejected by his family, bitter, and without people who care about him. The most famous depiction of Zeus is the Statue of Zeus at Olympia. They are ambitious and have the abilities to establish areas where they are the chief authority, and this is where a Zeus type will establish his kingdom. Donald Trump would be considered a "Zeus" man in our times. Thats obviously not okay by modern standards, but it does tell us that masculine power and sexual power were connected for the ancient Greeks. Each of Zeus' wife has their own unique stories that will keep you invested in the rich mythologies of the Greek Gods. The son of Cronus and Rhea, he is probably most famous for his infidelity to his sister and wife, Hera . An excellent question! Zeus may have been considered to be a "good" God during his time . As an adolescent, he may have issues with authority figures. Upon hearing this prophecy, Zeus ate his pregnant lover Metis (Titan goddess of wisdom) to prevent it. He had five older siblings, three sisters and two brothers, whom were swallowed by Cronus because he feared his children would grow to be more powerful than he. Zeus was so furious with Hera over her deception that he hung her from the sky with golden chains, and her cries shook the Earth. But eleven other gods lived on Olympus, too. Previous It is tempting to say that his primary occupation is that of seducer. What You Need to Know About the Greek God Zeus. There he was nursed by the nymph (or female goat) Amalthaea and guarded by the Curetes (young warriors), who clashed their weapons to disguise the babys cries. "Learn About the Olympian God Zeus." This enabled the development of technology and civilization. So it is a marriage that is not very personal, intimate, and doesnt get much of his attention. The Earth and Mt. What Can I Say Instead Of "Passionate About" In A Cover Letter? It was written and illustrated by a husband-and-wife duo, who bring the Olympian world alive in a vibrant and exciting way that is a perfect starting place for all ages. With a pedigree like that, you know he was born for power. The lack of introspection and emotional distance makes it so Zeus does not realize how cut off he is from others, then he understands something is seriously wrong. Zeus took the sky to rule, Poseidon received the sea, and Hades got the underworld. Zeus could also make it rain, providing water for crops, depending on his moods. An example of this is the man who marries the bosss daughter. N.S. Zeus H. Passionate Cannabis Ambassador, Advocate & Enthusiast Aurora, Colorado, United States. But other sources give that seat to Hestia, goddess of the hearth, or Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry. He may view her as another acquisition, want her sexually, or all of the above. I think the weather thing would be a nice poster. Humans were greedy and disloyal to the gods, and Zeus got so sick of them that he decided to just wipe them all out with a massive flood. Humanity developed technology and grew in power until all Zeus could do was to intervene in human affairs. A sculpture of Zeus called the "Zeus of Otricoli," which is a Roman copy of the original Greek statue. After courting her unsuccessfully he changed himself into a disheveled cuckoo. I have slowed down a little on writing for HP lately. suziecat7 from Asheville, NC on May 29, 2011: Excellent Hub. I got hooked on Greek Myth after I wrote one article. ap. In Greek mythology, Circe usually enters the scene because Odysseus shipwrecked on Aeaea, where Circe turned his men into pigs (which may not have been a huge transformation for many of them). Ganymede had been a mortal prince of Troy when his great beauty caught the eye of Jupiter/Zeus. Europa belonged to Asia by birth, but the other continent, which was nameless, said that Zeus would give Europa to her. Greek gods had human faults, they aren't like religious Gods we have today. Poseidon was god of the sea, earthquakes, storms, and horses and is considered one of the most bad-tempered, moody and greedy Olympian gods. After Zeus grew to manhood he led a revolt against the Titans and succeeded in dethroning Cronus, perhaps with the assistance of his brothers Hades and Poseidon, with whom he then divided dominion over the world. Athena inherited traits from everyone involved: wisdom from Metis, power from Zeus, and craftsmanship from Hephaestus, making her a very formidable goddess. In time Europa gave birth to Minos and Rhadamanthus, wise rulers who became judges in the netherworld after death. Zeus saved Dionysus's life two times, first by taking him from his dead Mother's womb and sewing him into his thigh, then rescuing him when Hera drove his foster parents mad. But he still has the authority in the family. These retellings are just a taste of all the many, many myths of Zeus! John Sarkis from Winter Haven, FL on May 30, 2011: Great hub Jean! Lightning. Then he will tease children he perceives as weaker than him in school and at play. Deucalion and Pyrrha landed at the top of a mountain and begged Zeus to repopulate the Earth. Hephaestus was the only ugly god among perfectly beautiful immortals. The watchman Argus with a hundred eyes was put in charge. If youre just looking for more amazing stories to read, youll love our post on the 127 best books to read before you take the AP English Literature exam. Zeus was born with shapeshifting powers that allow him to take on the form of any being and he can recreate the form perfectly without fail. She then laid two eggs, from which four children were born. She really did have a terrible husband who fathered children with every maiden, goddess, and nymph that crossed his path. 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. Zeus and his now-regurgitated siblings then waged war on Cronus and eventually overthrew the Titans and imprisoned them for eternity in Tartarus, a place of eternal suffering and torment. Aphrodite was, in fact, widely worshipped as a goddess of the sea and of . They were Metis, Themis, Eurynome, Demeter, Mnemosyne, Leto, and Hera. He then renders decisions on acceptable behavior. Here are some quick facts. He ruled as king on Mount Olympus, which is the highest point in Greece. https://www.thoughtco.com/profile-of-the-greek-god-zeus-111915 (accessed March 4, 2023). But he can bide his time and cooperate, as he has good strategy skills and will not engage in power struggles he cannot win. He is the god that governs the skies, including things that come from the sky like thunder and lightning. If Hera was diligent about punishing lo, Europa escaped her wrath scotfree. Notable among his offspring were the twins Apollo and Artemis, by the Titaness Leto; Helen and the Dioscuri, by Leda of Sparta; Persephone, by the goddess Demeter; Athena, born from his head after he had swallowed the Titaness Metis; Hephaestus, Hebe, Ares, and Eileithyia, by his wife, Hera; Dionysus, by the goddess Semele; and many others. His emotional distance keeps him from wasting thoughts on peoples feelings, or worrying about the consequences of his acts. Zeus grew up in exile to protect him from his own father. Helen and Pollux were Zeuss children, and Clytemnestra and Castor were the Spartan kings. Take care, Jean, This was an awesome read Jean Bakula. Get the latest articles and test prep tips! Its more thorough than Hamiltons and the DAulairess versions, but the prose is a lot more old-fashioned and somewhat difficult for a modern reader to follow. It explains the distant generation of Fathers my parents, and people my age, to a lesser degree, grew up with. Ask below and we'll reply! How are you? His birth from Zeus's thigh alone conferred immortality on him. He was afraid his children would be more powerful than him, I believe I explained that (but I wrote it a long time ago). Myths like those below are interesting to read because we see earlier peoples attempts to explain the world, and while they may not make much literal sense, they give us a sense of the ways the ancient Greeks understood the world. Additionally, Zeus relationships with women (or lack thereof) help modern readers understand that misogyny and the mistreatment of women arent new problems. Leda took pity on and rescued the swan, which then turned into Zeus, who raped her. I remember back when I was in 4th or 5th grade, we spent a couple weeks learning about Greek Mythology. Zeus fell in love with Io and seduced her under a thick blanket of cloud to keep Hera from learning of it. Zeus is passionate about serving the Latino community. This usually comes in a form of extreme anger as the King of Gods had a very fiery temper that should never be trifled with. When other people take emotional stances, he is dismissive of them. When he wakes up, the message is usually a note from the wife who leaves him, the adult child who confronts him with, You do not even know me at all, and when the whole family wants nothing to do with him. So if you want to understand Greek mythology, you should start by getting to know Zeus. 127 best books to read before you take the AP English Literature exam. One night as Hera slumbered, Zeus made love to one of the Pleiades, Maia, who gave birth to the tricky messenger of the gods, Hermes. Gill is a Latinist, writer, and teacher of ancient history and Latin. His name may be related to that of the sky god Dyaus of the ancient Hindu Rigveda. So he took it out on people. Thanks for reading and commenting! Infectious. A number of Zeus's affairs resulted in new gods and godesses. Before 1942, this was the collection that every school child read. Hades's strengths include his wealth of the earth, especially precious metals; persistence; and determinedness. Prometheus, who happened to be Deucalions father, had convinced him to build and ark and ride out the storm. It was the first time I ever got excited about school, feeling as I was finally learning something of value. Hera was worshipped throughout the Greek world and played an important part in Greek literature, appearing most frequently as the jealous and rancorous wife of Zeus and pursuing with vindictive hatred the heroines who . If theres one thing you need to know about Zeus its that he had serious issues when it came to controlling his libido. Thats where knowing how to find and understand literary elements comes in. Zeus then was attracted by his sister Demeter, who resisted him. Then the bull charged into the sea, and on the sea journey Europa and Zeus were accompanied by strange sea creatures: Nereids, Tritons, and Poseidon himself. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. At the direction of Hera, the infant Zagreus/Dionysus was torn to pieces, cooked, and eaten by the evil Titans. Jean Bakula (author) from New Jersey on July 18, 2011: Thank you for stopping by and commenting. Its up to historians to try and make sense of it alland sometimes that means acknowledging the differences. (Carole Raddato/Flickr). Now you know why there are so many Greek statues of Zeus! In the Roman pantheon, Zeus is known as Jupiter. But Hera knew it was Io, so she put her under guard. In some versions of Greek mythology, Zeus ate his wife Metis because it was known that their second child would be more powerful than him. One night as Hera slumbered, Zeus made love to one of the Pleiades, Maia, who gave birth to the tricky messenger of the gods, Hermes. Hera is the Queen of the Gods and is the wife and sister of Zeus in the Olympian pantheon. To learn more about all of them and their mythological backgrounds, check out this expert overview. Europa then realized that the bull was a god in disguise and she begged Zeus not to desert her. Jean Bakula (author) from New Jersey on February 05, 2019: What did you want to know? Persephone, Latin Proserpina or Proserpine, in Greek religion, daughter of Zeus, the chief god, and Demeter, the goddess of agriculture; she was the wife of Hades, king of the underworld. Zeus name translates to a very simple word: shining, which references his role as god of the sky! This was one of the most popular sites in the ancient world and was among the Seven Wonders visited by Greek tourists. hbspt.cta.load(360031, '4efd5fbd-40d7-4b12-8674-6c4f312edd05', {}); Have any questions about this article or other topics? Only after they are gone does he feel the pain of what he missed. And one was a monster of depravity: Tantalus, who served up his son Pelops as food to the gods. She resented this forever afterwards, and when she overheard the other gods talking about how fed up they were with Zeuss arrogance, she convinced them to try to overthrow Zeus. He is a baby who shows a strong will right from the beginning. I completed my first novel a few months ago. Zeus on Twitter. This 2018 novel retells the myth of Circe. Zeus then became a good military strategist and successful alliance maker. The titles are different, but the game is the same. Hermes, Greek god, son of Zeus and the Pleiad Maia; often identified with the Roman Mercury and with Casmilus or Cadmilus, one of the Cabeiri. The almighty Zeus is known to have seven immortal wives. Growing up, Zeus fell in love with her and tried to make her return his love. Spoiler alert: it was gigantic. Zeus was considered to be a "good" God but he would be chastised in this day and age. Her reputation did not suffer from Zeuss indiscretions however, and Hera was worshipped and greatly revered as the Goddess of Marriage. Poor Io was famous for her long persecution at the hands of Hera. According to a Cretan myth that was later adopted by the Greeks, Cronus, king of the Titans, upon learning that one of his children was fated to dethrone him, swallowed his children as soon as they were born. Zeus was always looking down on Earth from Olympus, searching for beautiful women. The Twelve Olympian Gods and Goddesses of Greek Mythology, Drawings of the Greco-Roman Gods and Goddesses, 12 Olympians - The Gods and Goddesses of Mt. Gill, N.S. Basically, this 1855 collection of Greek mythology is the book that Hamiltons book replaced. When he impregnated Leda, he appeared as a swan; When he abducted Ganymede, he appeared as an eagle in order to take Ganymede to the home of the gods where he would replace Hebe as cupbearer; and, when Zeus carried off Europa, he appeared as a tempting white bullalthough why the Mediterranean women were so enamored of bulls is beyond the imaginative capacities of this urban-dwellersetting in motion the quest of. Shapeshifting. He remains neutral most of the time, allowing his son Sarpedon to die and glorifying his favorite, Hector. He sees an attractive woman as a perk, or another measure of his success. That should keep me busy..Best, Jean. By swallowing Metis, however, Zeus had gained wisdom as part of his intrinsic nature. In addition, Zeus is the god of hospitality and fair treatment of guests. Zeus infidelity helps us understand more about the Ancient Greeks perspective on male power and womens rights. He was the son of Kronos and his sister Rhea, the eldest of six: Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus. Zeus became determined to seduce her. If the Zeus archetype is not the strongest in him, he may marry a woman he actually loves. credit for rescuing his brothers and sisters from their father and titan Cronus, Zeus became king of heaven and gave his brothers, Poseidon and Hades, the sea and the underworld, respectively, for their domains. Other Gods like Hera, Ares, and Poseidon are forced to be friends with Zeus because they don't want to face his wrath. Our vetted tutor database includes a range of experienced educators who can help you polish an essay for English or explain how derivatives work for Calculus. Yet in order to allow Athena to live, as Metis' firstborn, Zeus (in some Greek sources)had Hephaestus take an axe and cleave his forehead open, and from Zeus's head sprang Athena, fully armed. Robert Graves was a well-respected poet and writer, so the myths are beautifully told. from your Reading List will also remove any By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. When Zeus kidnapped the most beautiful of mortals, the Trojan prince Ganymede, from Mt. Zeus was well known for his amorousnessa source of perpetual discord with his wife, Heraand he had many love affairs with both mortal and immortal women. The Beginnings Poseidon, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Aphrodite, Hermes, Demeter, and Dionysus. Once again we see the humanization of the gods. Learn About the Olympian God Zeus. If Zeus also has a nurturing mother who teaches him manners and social skills, he will grow up with a sense of entitlement, but will have confidence in himself and his place in the world. As the chief Greek deity, Zeus is considered the ruler, protector, and father of all gods and humans. Zeus and his siblings confronted his father and the Titans in the greatest battle ever fought: the Tianomachy. Zeus never cared much for his two legitimate sons, Ares and Hephaestus. Join Membership- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNna4bg9nRaxhoS1CJ1hbaw/joinDBS King Died with Shotgun - Passion of Gaming (ZEUS) vs RajGaming (SRB Raj) te. Some sources list Hades, the god of the dead and the underworld, as the god that occupies the final seat. Jean Bakula (author) from New Jersey on May 31, 2011: The generation of Fathers did quite a bit of psychological damage to the sons.