Z is for Zeus

I’m doing folklore and book review posts to reach and please a larger audience. Previous years have shown select interest in both and to minimise blogging throughout the year, I’m focusing my efforts on April.

If you’d rather check out my book review for today, go here.

We all know that Zeus is a womanizer of the worst kind: Mythology is full of stories of him coercing women into his bed (willing or not). We also know that he pretends to be the most honourable of the Greek gods. As sleazy as a politician.

Folklore

The Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology [1844] by William Smith

ZEUS (Zeus), the greatest of the Olympian gods, and the father of gods and men, was a son of Cronos and Rhea, a brother of Poseidon, Hades (Pluto), Hestia, Demeter, Hera, and at the same time married to his sister Hera. When Zeus and his brothers distributed among themselves the government of the world by lot, Poseidon obtained the sea, Hades the lower world, and Zeus the heavens and the upper regions, but the earth became common to all (Hom. Il. xv. 187, &c., i. 528, ii. 111; Virg. Aen. iv. 372).

According to the Homeric account Zeus, like the other Olympian gods, dwelt on Mount Olympus in Thessaly, which was believed to penetrate with its lofty summit into heaven itself (Il. i. 221, &c., 354, 609, xxi. 438). He is called the father of gods and men (i. 514, v. 33; comp. Aeschyl. Sept. 512), the most high and powerful among the immortals, whom all others obey (Il. xix. 258, viii. 10, &c.). He is the highest ruler, who with his counsel manages every thing (i. 175, viii. 22), the founder of kingly power, of law and of order, whence Dice, Themis and Nemesis are his assistants (i. 238, ii. 205, ix. 99, xvi. 387; comp. Hes. Op. et D. 36 ; Callim. Hymn. in Jov. 79).

For the same reason he protects the assembly of the people (agoraios), the meetings of the council (boulaios), and as he presides over the whole state, so also over every house and family (herkeios, Od. xxii. 335; comp. Ov. Ib. 285). He also watched over the sanctity of the oath (horkios), the law of hospitality (xenios), and protected suppliants (hikesios, Od. ix. 270; comp. Paus. v. 24. § 2). He avenged those who were wronged, and punished those who had committed a crime, for he watched the doings and sufferings of all men (epopsios, Od. xiii. 213; comp. Apollon. Rhod. i. 1123).

He is armed with thunder and lightning, and the shaking of his aegis produces storm and tempest (Il. xvii. 593) : a number of epithets of Zeus in the Homeric poems describe him as the thunderer, the gatherer of clouds, and the like.

He was married to Hera, by whom he had two sons, Ares and Hephaestus, and one daughter, Hebe (Il. i. 585, v. 896, Od. xi. 604). Hera sometimes acts as an independent divinity, she is ambitious and rebels against her lord, but she is nevertheless inferior to him, and is punished for her opposition (Il. xv. 17, &c., xix. 95, &c.) ; his amours with other goddesses or mortal women are not concealed from her, though they generally rouse her jealousy and revenge (Il. xiv. 317). 

The eagle, the oak, and the summits of mountains were sacred to him, and his sacrifices generally consisted of goats, bulls and cows. (Hom. Il. ii. 403; Aristot. Ethic. v. 10, ix. 2; Virg. Aen. iii. 21, ix. 627.) His usual attributes are, the sceptre, eagle, thunderbolt, and a figure of Victory in his hand, and sometimes also a cornucopia. The Olympian Zeus sometimes wears a wreath of olive, and the Dodonaean Zeus a wreath of oak leaves.

Greek Mythology: A Captivating Guide to the Ancient Gods, Goddesses, Heroes and Monsters by Matt Clayton

Zeus was a bawdy and lascivious character—a womanizer.

This philanderer had seven wives, not all at the same time, but he had dozens of mistresses while married. He swallowed his first wife whole to keep her from giving birth to a son who would one day overthrow him.

Here they are—all 7 of his wives:

1. Metis [cousin]—mother of Athena. Murdered by swallowing.
2. Themis [aunt]—mother of Dike, the Horae and the Morai. She built the Oracle at Delphi. Abandoned by Zeus.
3. Eurynome [elder Oceanid]—mother of the 3 “Charites” (“graces”). Abandoned by Zeus.
4. Demeter [older sister]—mother of Persephone, the future queen of the underworld. Abandoned by Zeus.
5. Mnemosyne [first generation Titanide]—mother of the 9 muses. Abandoned by Zeus.
6. Leto [cousin, Titanide]—mother of Artemis and Apollo. Abandoned by Zeus.
7. Hera [older sister]—mother of Ares (war), Hebe (cupbearer), Eileithyia (childbirth), Eris (discord) and Hephaestus (fire and metallurgy).

Zeus had more than a dozen divine consorts including 3 of his own daughters and his own grandmother, Gaia. He also had an incredible number of mortal lovers.

Sometimes, Zeus would change his form in order to seduce the current woman of his desires.

*More can be read in the book.

The Forest in Folklore and Mythology by Alexander Porteous

Legend narrated that Zeus was born of Rhea among the groves of Mount Parhasion in the mountains of Arcadia, but other spots also claim the honour of having been his birthplace.

*More can be read in the book.

The Greek Myths by Robert Graves

Cronus married his sister Rhea, to whom the oak is sacred. But it was prophesied by Mother Earth, and by his dying father Uranus, that one of his own sons would dethrone him. Every year, therefore, he swallowed the children whom Rhea bore him: first Hestia, then Demeter and Hera, then Hades, then Poseidon.

Rhea was enraged. She bore Zeus, her third son, at dead of night on Mount Lycaeum in Arcadia, where no creature casts a shadow and, having bathed him in the River Neda, gave him to Mother Earth; by whom he was carried to Lyctos in Crete, and hidden in the cave of Dicte on the Aegean Hill. Mother Earth left him there to be nursed by the Ash-nymph Adrasteia and her sister Io, both daughters of Melisseus, and by the Goat-nymph Amaltheia. His food was honey, and he drank Amaltheia’s milk, with Goat-Pan, his foster-brother.

Around the infant Zeus’s golden cradle, which was hung upon a tree (so that Cronus might find him neither in heaven, not on earth, nor in the sea) stood the armed Curetes, Rhea’s sons. They clashed their spears against their shields, and shouted to drown the noise of his wailing, lest Cronus might hear it from far off. For Rhea had wrapped a stone in swaddling clothes, which she gave to Cronus on Mount Thaumasium in Arcadia; he swallowed it, believing that he was swallowing the infant Zeus.

Amorous Zeus lay with numerous nymphs descended from the Titans or the gods and, after the creation of man, with mortal women too; no less than four great Olympian deities were born to him out of wedlock. First, he begat Hermes on Maia, daughter of Atlas, who bore him in a cave on Mount Cyllene in Arcadia. Next, he begat Apollo and Artemis on Leto, daughter of the Titans Coeus and Phoebe.

Zeus lusted after Metis the Titaness, who turned into many shapes to escape him until she was caught at last and got with child. An oracle of Mother Earth then declared that this would be a girl-child and that, if Metis conceived again, she would bear a son who was fated to depose Zeus, just as Zeus had deposed Cronus, and Cronus had deposed Uranus. Therefore, having coaxed Metis to a couch with honeyed words, Zeus suddenly opened his mouth and swallowed her, and that was the end of Metis, though he claimed afterwards that she gave him counsel from inside his belly. In due process of time, he was seized by a raging headache as he walked by the shores of Lake Triton, so that his skull seemed about to burst, and he howled for rage until the whole firmament echoed. Up ran Hermes, who at once divined the cause of Zeus’s discomfort. He persuaded Hephaestus, or some say Prometheus, to fetch his wedge and beetle and make a breach in Zeus’s skull, from which Athene sprang, fully armed, with a mighty shout.

Only Zeus, the Father of Heaven, might wield the thunderbolt; and it was with the threat of its fatal flash that he controlled his quarrelsome and rebellious family of Mount Olympus. He also ordered the heavenly bodies, made laws, enforced oaths, and pronounced oracles. When his mother Rhea, foreseeing what trouble his lust would cause, forbade him to marry, he angrily threatened to violate her. Though she at once turned into a menacing serpent, this did not daunt Zeus, who became a male serpent and, twining about her in an indissoluble knot, made good his threat. It was then that he began his long series of adventures in love. He fathered the Seasons and the Three Fates on Themis; the Charites on Eurynome; the Three Muses on Mnemosyne, with whom he lay for nine nights; and, some say, Persephone, the Queen of the Underworld, whom his brother Hades forcibly married, on the nymph Styx. Thus he lacked no power either above or below earth; and his wife Hera was equal to him in one thing alone: that she could still bestow the gift of prophecy on any man or beast she pleased.

Zeus and Hera bickered constantly. Vexed by his infidelities, she often humiliated him by her scheming ways. Though he would confide his secrets to her, and sometimes accept her advice, he never fully trusted Hera, and she knew that if offended beyond a certain point he would flog or even hurl a thunderbolt at her. She therefore resorted to ruthless intrigue, as in the matter of Heracles’s birth; and sometimes borrowed Aphrodite’s girdle, to excite his passion and thus weaken his will. He now claimed to be Cronus’s first-born son.

*More can be read in the book.

Further Reading:

• Zeus
• Zeus
• Zeus :: Greek God of the Sky and Thunder, King of the Gods
• 11 Myths About the Greek God Zeus
• Zeus (mythology)
• Zeus
• Zeus
• What Is Zeus the God of in Greek Mythology?
• ZEUS

Folklore in a Nutshell by Ronel

[piece]

Zeus in Modern Culture

Percy Jackson books by Rick Riordan

Zeus is the Greek god of the sky, thunder, lightning, kingship, honor and justice. Throughout the series, Zeus is mentioned to be the most powerful god. He is the king of Olympus, the youngest son of the Titans Kronos and Rhea, and the husband of the goddess Hera. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter.

Zeus, as the most powerful god and the king of the gods, is very proud, commanding and has an extremely high amount of self-respect, almost to the point of sanctimoniousness, condescension and narcissism. He demands respect and precedence from mortals, demigods, and the other gods. 

Despite being the god of honor and justice, with demanding high standards from others, Zeus himself does not always provide the best moral example. In fact, at times, he could be extremely paranoid, selfish, and hypocritical. 

Learn more here.

SMITE video game

King of Gods, Zeus strives for fairness and justice, but will not hesitate to call down the thunder when there’s smiting to be done!

Zeus’ father, the Titan Cronus, immediately swallowed his children after birth so that none could overthrow him as he had his own father. When Zeus was born, Rhea, Zeus’ mother, hid the child from Cronus and gave the Titan a rock in swaddling clothes, which he swallowed instead. In secret, Zeus grew up on the isle of Crete until he was old and strong enough to challenge his father. During their battle, Zeus slit open Cronus’ stomach, allowing his swallowed brothers and sisters to escape, slaying the Titan. Then, Zeus released the Cyclops and other beings Cronus had kept imprisoned. In gratitude, the Cyclops awarded Zeus control over lightning.

With his two brothers, Poseidon and Hades, the three Gods drew lots to decide command of creation. Poseidon became king of the sea, Hades the underworld, and Zeus the sky. From his golden throne atop Mount Olympus, Zeus now rules Gods and Men with his wife Hera, upholding justice, hospitality, oaths, and honesty to all under his domain.

Yet, Zeus is a restless God, and while he holds high expectations for others, he does not keep those standards for himself. Chiefly, Zeus is nearly infamous for several infidelities to his wife which have resulted in dozens of children beget by other women, most famous of which are Hercules, Artemis, and Athena. Such wanton unfaithfulness is the source of great jealousy from Hera, though as King, Zeus can ultimately do as he wishes.

Weather is dictated by the Thunder God’s mood. When in a fair temperament, the sky is clear, bright and warm. When Zeus’ anger flares, black clouds roll in, lightning streaks the sky and thunder shakes the very ground. Lately, Zeus has been furious.

Learn more here.

Disney’s Hercules

Zeus is a major character in Disney‘s 1997 animated feature film Hercules. The mighty god of the skies and ruler of the gods, Zeus controls the universe and presides over Mount Olympus, with the power to control thunder and lightning. He is also father to Hercules, who—under Zeus’ guidance—would become the greatest hero in all of Greece. Zeus is jovial and carefree, which makes him a beloved figure amongst his godly colleagues, with the exception of his evil younger brother, Hades.

Learn more here.

Marvel comic books

Zeus is a member of the Olympians, a group of humanoid beings that hail from the pocket dimension of Olympus. He was worshiped by the humans of Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. He is supreme monarch of the Olympians, God of the heavens,^[14] sky,^[15] and weather. Zeus remained the ruler of the Olympian gods and of Olympus itself, as well as a staunch ally of the Asgardians. He set up the Olympia Corporation to maintain a small presence on Earth.

Learn more here.

Zeus Panhellenios is the King of the Olympians, the Greco-Roman God of Lightning and the Sky, and the leader of Omnipotence City. When he ignored the pleas of Thor warning the gods of the threat of Gorr the God Butcher, their disagreement led to confrontation, culminating in Zeus having his own weapon, Thunderbolt, thrown through him. However, Zeus survived and tasked his son Hercules with killing Thor.

Learn more here.

The Legendary Journeys TV series

Zeus is the powerful King of the Olympian Gods and the God of sky, and Lightning and Thunder. His father, Kronos, was King of the Titans, when his son Zeus tried to take his throne, Kronos called forth all the Titans into a war council, in which he appointed Atlas as his field general. (XWP: “The Titans“) In order to destroy Kronos once and for all, Zeus found the rib of Kronos. (XWP: “God Fearing Child“) With it, Zeus was able to kill Kronos and became the King of the Gods. (HTLJ: “Reunions“) the war against Kronos and anyone who supported him in an event that came to be called the Titanomachy which ended with Zeus killing his father and taking his place as King of the Gods.

Zeus married with Hera who became queen of the Olympians. Zeus was a great lover of mortal women. He took many human lovers and thus fathered many Half-Gods, when he fathered Hercules with Alcmene he took the form of Alcmene‘s dead husband Amphitryon.

Learn more here.

Zeus in My Writing

Origin of the Fae: Zeus

Probably putting it nicely in this song…

See this immortal in action in my writing:

Symphony of Destruction (Irascible Immortals #6)

‘Enough!’ Lightning crackled all around them. ‘I invited you.’
From the dust and mist, a man in a lavender suit, stylish beard and azure eyes emerged. Zeus. He was flanked by two beautiful women Poseidon couldn’t place.
‘Hello, Brother. Why the party?’
‘Lord Zeus. I’m honoured,’ Pan said with a bow.

Symphony of Destruction, Irascible Immortals 6, Ronel Janse van Vuuren

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