Zeus is the king of the Greek gods, which makes him one of the most important members of the Greek Pantheon. Check out Tutorbase! If he cheats on her, and she is a Hera type, she may end up as a jealous and insecure woman. He is a baby who shows a strong will right from the beginning. He is bright, but not overly intellectual or introspective, making him an emotionally shallow person. (2020, August 26). He does not take other people all that seriously. Upon learning of the abduction . Zeus the philanderer was always getting women pregnant and fathering numerous offspring. He's also often depicted with the three-headed dog, Cerberus. Leda took pity on and rescued the swan, which then turned into Zeus, who raped her. Zeus freed his brothers, Poseidon and Hades, then he and others helped overthrow Cronus and the Titans, who ruled from Mount Olympus after a ten year battle. I am getting a book I wrote on the Tarot published. She has been featured by NPR and National Geographic for her ancient history expertise. His father was Cronus (the Titan god of time), and his mother was Rhea (the Titan goddess of female fertility). Take care, Jean, This was an awesome read Jean Bakula. Gill, N.S. He understands old boy networking, and acquiring money and power is a game he plays well. Join to view profile Lightshade. After traveling throughout Greece, Leto finally gave birth painlessly to Artemis, the virgin huntress, on the isle of Ortygia. What traits comprise a Zeus like person in our day and age? Still in the form of a heifer, Io ran madly from country to country, tormented by the stinging insect. He then renders decisions on acceptable behavior. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. These twelve gods ruled over everything on earth and directly intervened in the affairs of mortals. Most of these were older Goddesses, who were worshiped before Zeus came into power, so their divinities were secondary to his. Zeus mated with, among others, Aegina, Alcmena, Calliope, Cassiopea, Demeter, Dione, Europa, Io, Leda, Leto, Mnemosyne, Niobe, and Semele. Because so many statues of Zeus have survived, we know quite accurately what the ancient Greeks thought he looked like: very tall and muscular, with long curly hair and big, bushy beard. Most Zeus men do marry during the phase of life when they are establishing themselves, if he is young and needs her help to shape his life, this match is crucial. "Learn About the Olympian God Zeus." Our knowledge of Greek myths is pieced together from ancient documents that can be incomplete or even tell competing stories. And from her descendants would come Heracles, the man who would set Prometheus free. 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. After Prometheus and Athena crafted humanity out of clay, they were forbidden by the gods from teaching them the benefit of fire, which would make them powerful enough to challenge the gods. Hera took the little bird in because she was afraid that it would freeze to death. But she could avenge herself on the females with whom Zeus dallied, and she often took full advantage of this. It's very exciting, but lots of work. People who broke their vows, lied, or traded dishonestly in the marketplace got a taste of his retribution as well. What You Need to Know About the Greek God Zeus. The Twelve Olympian Gods and Goddesses of Greek Mythology, Fast Facts on Helios - Greek God of the Sun, 10 Fast Facts on Athena and Her Parthenon, Prometheus: Fire Bringer and Philanthropist, Fascinating Stories About the Greek God Cronos, M.A., Linguistics, University of Minnesota. What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? Jean Bakula (author) from New Jersey on July 24, 2011: Thanks for sharing. If you would like to read more, here are five recommended books: For over fifty years, this book has introduced generations of children to the world of the Greek gods. Okay, so maybe youve read all three of these and you dont want just a greatest hits of Greek mythology. CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. After deposing Cronus, Zeus and his brothers drew lots to see which portion of the world would be ruled by each. He allowed Hades to abduct and rape Persephone, and did not react to her cries for help. In art work depicting Zeus, the king of the gods often appears in altered form. 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. This was one of the most popular sites in the ancient world and was among the Seven Wonders visited by Greek tourists. Rhea was pretty sick of Cronus eating all her children, so when Zeus was born, she wrapped up a stone in baby clothes and fed that to Cronus instead of little Zeus. He and his two brothers split the rule of the world, with Hades becoming king of the Underworld, Poseidon, king of the sea, and Zeus, king of the heavens. I do believe in the Divine Feminine. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Indeed, as a sky god it was expected of him to fecundate the earth; and neither goddess, nymph, nor mortal was able to resist his advances, for the most part. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. He is often associated with an oak tree, and in illustrations he is always a stately figure in the prime of life, bearing a scepter or thunderbolt, and accompanied by an eagle. She was also known to turn her anger towards mortals who . Eventually Zeus sent his son Hermes to deliver lo from Argus, which was very difficult because Argus never slept. Zeus, the king of the gods and the god of thunder, ruled over the Olympians. Thats where knowing how to find and understand literary elements comes in. The worst parents for a Zeus child is a weak mother and an abusive father who likes to throw his weight around. The Olympic Games were initially held to honor Zeus. When other people take emotional stances, he is dismissive of them. Hades's strengths include his wealth of the earth, especially precious metals; persistence; and determinedness. Since Zeus never broke his word, he sadly showed himself forth in his true essence, a burst of glory that utterly destroyed Semele, burning her up. If youre not familiar with Greek gods at all, this is the perfect place to start your mythological journey into the world of Olympus. Hera calmly asked Zeus if she could have this animal, and Zeus gave it to her, reluctant to go into an explanation. 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. Zeus is a sky god with control over weather, especially of rain and lightning. Just to be safe, he decided he would eat--yes, eat--all of his children. Zeus is often depicted as an older man with a beard and is represented by symbols such as the lightning bolt and the eagle. His choice of partners reflects this lack, and as he grows older, his partners may get younger and younger, a classic example of an aging man who carries on with a series of young, compliant girls. This one was carved in the 4th Centuryso it's still really, really old. The Passion of Zeus & Phoebe: A True Love Story. I understand what you're saying about the publishing. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. I have noticed my journey on HP has been like that--as I search for topics to write about, sometimes I don't know much about them, and it turns into a learning experience for me as well. Jean Bakula (author) from New Jersey on November 27, 2012: Well, Zeus was very moody. Some involve demanding acceptable conduct of others, whether human or divine. So lets dive in and learn all that there is to know about Zeus, Greek god of all Greek gods. (Gross, but true.). If the Zeus archetype is not the strongest in him, he may marry a woman he actually loves. Zeus was regarded as the sender of thunder and lightning, rain, and winds, and his traditional weapon was the thunderbolt. Zeus thinks vulnerability or a show of emotions is stupid and weak. He is the brother of his wife Hera, his other sisters Demeter and Hestia, and his brothers Hades and Poseidon. Zeus was known to have 7 wives in the annals. You could show him in the sky in the poster, and decide if you want him to help or hurt the planet. Zeus is emotionally distant, does not have an earthy nature (he is the Sky God), he does not feel he has to try to please a woman, and a distant person is not passionate. He may then find himself rejected by his family, bitter, and without people who care about him. Zeus is the son of the Titans Cronus and Rhea. "What You Need to Know About the Greek God Zeus." Their children, the Titans (Prometheus who gave fire to man is probably . I am trying to publish a book on the Tarot, and am fixing up my old hubs. Similarly to how he tricked Hera, Zeus transformed himself into a swan that was being pursued by an eagle. Midlife is when successful Zeus men know they have arrived at the top. Zeus is the king of the gods in the Greek pantheon. Zeus had acquired wives as his worship spread from locality to locality and he had to marry each provincial earth goddess. His is also associated with a ram or a lion and wears an aegis (a piece of armor or shield), and carries a cornucopia. Not only does his form change, but he could mimic the voice of others as well to add to the deception of his shapeshifting. Flexible . You are mixing several topics, but these subjects do lead to that. For example, in Athens, Zeus was also the god of farming and the harvestand in Crete, Zeus was god of the sun! Zeuss siblings (Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades and Poseidon) became the first gods of the Greek Pantheon. He may keep himself in good physical shape, but that is mastery over the body, not enjoyment of it. He needs to be taught fairness and justice at home and school. Zeus grew up quickly and forced his father to vomit up each of his siblings. 100% accurate depiction of Zeus' marriage. Poor Io was famous for her long persecution at the hands of Hera. After all, how could humans possibly live free of strife and conflict if the very gods who pulled the puppet strings were themselves constantly fighting? aceAccess. Further, Zeus's infatuations were not limited to women, for when he fell in love with the youthful Ganymede he had the boy abducted by his eagle and brought up to Olympus to serve as cupbearer. Looking for something just as accessible as DAulaires book but a little more grown up? and any corresponding bookmarks? I like how you described certain people in today's times with his characteristics. Jean Bakula (author) from New Jersey on December 28, 2017: Jean Bakula (author) from New Jersey on January 13, 2015: Jean Bakula (author) from New Jersey on May 14, 2013: You are most welcome. Thats because the last seat on Olympus is a bit of a revolving chair. "Learn About the Olympian God Zeus." Each of Zeus' wife has their own unique stories that will keep you invested in the rich mythologies of the Greek Gods. Zeus on Twitter. How are you? A Zeus son of an emotionally distant father will admire Dad if he helps him get ahead in the world as he gets older. He frequently shows up as an eagle, as when he abductedGanymede,or a bull. Unfortunately for them, Zeuss loyal friend Briareus (a Titan who Zeus had feed from Tartarus), rescued Zeus easily. In literature more than in art, he wields a huge shield named Aegis. He was the God of lightning, symbolized by the thunderbolt, which he loved to hurl. 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 had one foolproof means of seduction: transform into an animal and use that to convince a woman to let down her defenses. It's lots of work, but I hope it will be worth it. He is also credited as the father of Greek heroes and the ancestor of many other Greeks. In art Zeus was represented as a bearded, dignified, and mature man of stalwart build; his most prominent symbols were the thunderbolt and the eagle. Zeuss son Ares was rejected by his father, which had a big psychological affect on him all his life. Like if he was feeling crabby, he threw lightning bolts, or caused stormy weather. Each of these new gods and goddesses were full-fledged Olympians, having had two divine parents. Miller explores the Circe myth from a feminist perspective and has a very twenty-first century take on Zeuss problematic relationships with women. She then bore him three children, one of whom was Minos, the king of Crete whose labyrinth was inhabited by another offspring of a bull, the minotaur. Still inside Zeuss stomach, she furiously made armor and weapons for her unborn child. The earliest centre of his cult was probably Arcadia, where Mt. Zeus replied that he was taking her to Crete, his original home, and that her sons from this union would be grand kings who would rule all men. Jean Bakula (author) from New Jersey on May 13, 2013: Jean Bakula (author) from New Jersey on May 03, 2013: Thank you for taking the time to write to me, and I am glad you enjoyed my piece. Zeus was considered to be a "good" God but he would be chastised in this day and age. Zeus is a hard worker or alpha male, even from the time he has his first part time job. I think people are interested, the article is 10 years old and gets many views. By swallowing Metis, however, Zeus had gained wisdom as part of his intrinsic nature. It was also decreed that earth, and Olympus in particular, would be common to all three. He is King of the gods and a god of oraclesespecially in the sacred oak at Dodona. Leda, for example, after being visited by Zeus in the form of a swan, gave birth to an egg from which came Helen and Clytemnestra, and Castor and Polydeuces. Humanity developed technology and grew in power until all Zeus could do was to intervene in human affairs. As an adolescent, he may have issues with authority figures. In fact, Zeus was unfaithful to an extreme, which became a major theme in his mythological stories. If you want it to be more dramatic and one of you can draw well, it could still be a heavy rain with thunderbolts, but show that it's not killing the plants, make them look healthy. 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. It is tempting to say that his primary occupation is that of seducer. So it is a marriage that is not very personal, intimate, and doesnt get much of his attention. On Ganymede, fromVergil's Aeneid Book V(Dryden translation): Danae was the mother of the Greek hero Perseus. He may come out of this period more humbled, and reconstruct or try to live his life differently now. Zeus Zeus, in ancient Greek religion, chief deity of the pantheon, a sky and weather god who was identical with the Roman god Jupiter. N.S. Advertisement. But if what he wants does move out of his grasp, he can think fast and change directions.