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Zeus

Mythology series #6

By Ravena Published 3 years ago 3 min read
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Zeus
Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash

Zeus is the child of Chronos and Rhea, the king and Queen of the Titans, he's the brother of Poseidon and Hades, and Hera (yes his wife), Demeter and Hestia. His wife is Hera but he is not faithful at all. He has many children and is an all-father that rules the Greek pantheon. He is the god of lightning, sky, and thunder. He is also associated with Wisdom, awareness, war, authority, destiny, and power.

Its believed that Zeus is one of the oldest gods in greek mythology. His name has a close relationship to the Latin word for day and the greek word for bright.

Zeus is very prominent in greek mythology so there are very many stories about him. His father Chronos learned that one of his children would overthrow him as king and so he swallowed Zeus's older sisters, Hera, Demeter, and Hestia, and his older brothers Hades and Poseidon. Rhea saved Zeus by slipping Chrono a rock and hiding Zeus in a cave where he was raised by nymphs.

Zeus met his first wife Metis (which means Wisdom) and she gave him the idea to disguise himself as a cupbearer in Olympus and giving Chronos poisoned wine. Chronos vomited up all his previous children making them now the younger siblings. Zeus and his sibling freed the one-eyed Cyclopes and the many handed Hecatoncheires. Together they fought the 10-year war called Tinanomachy and overthrew Chronos and the Titans. After their victory, Zeus and his brothers drew lots for what they would rule over. Poseidon got the sea, Hades got the underworld and Zeus got the sky and became the ruler of Mount Olympus and all.

The beginning of his rule was challenged by his grandma Gaia, who is angry that he imprisoned the titans and so ensues a war named Gigantomachy. A war between the Gods and the Gigantes, where the gods prevail again. The loss further enrages Gaia and she gives birth to Typhoeus and Zeus calls upon Hermes and Pan to defeat the giant fire-breathing serpentine monster.

Zeus had another challenge early on in his life. Hera, Athena, and Poseidon stole Zeus's lightning bolt and tied him up, and attempted to take the rule from him. He was freed and they were punished.

Zeus had many wives and was a well-known womanizer. He was foretold with his first wife Metis that his child would overthrow him so he swallowed her whole while she was pregnant, but that did not stop the baby from being born. Athena the goddess of wisdom Athena was born from Zeus's head fully grown and armored. Zeus married Themis next who bore him the Horea and the Fates. His third wife Eurynome gave him the Charities. then he married his sister Demeter and had Persephone. The Muses came from his fifth wife Mnemosyne. Leto, his sixth wife gave birth to Apollo and Artemis.

His seventh and final wife is Hera, another of his sisters. when she was a virgin he disguised himself as a cuckoo, knowing she loved animals and tricked her into sleeping with him. She was so ashamed she agreed to marry him. That marriage proves to be horrible for her. Zeus takes many lovers, including his mother Rhea, and bares so many children I can't name them all. Hera chased him all over angry and hurt by his adultery.

Zeus is identical to Jupiter in Roman mythology. He was seen as a protector of cities, homes, strangers, guests, property, and supplicants.

He was seen as a carefree god that loved to laugh out loud. he was seen as wise, fair, just, prudent, and merciful but he could also be easily angered and was known to throw fits and create lightning storms.

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About the Creator

Ravena

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