Zeus
The greatest of the gods in classical mythology was called Zeus by the Greeks and Jupiter by the Romans. He was immortal. Zeus was the youngest son of Titan Cronos and Rhea and the brother of Poseidon, Hades , Demeter and Hera.
Zeus's mother Rhea gave him away to shepherd family because of fear of her husband Cronos. He was swallowing his children as they were born. The reason is that he was concerned that he might be dethroned by one of his own children.
Zeus grew to be a beautiful young boy. One day he came back to the court of the gods, and was introduced to Cronos as the new cupbearer. Later on Zeus expelled his father Cronos and the older dynasties of the Titans. He withstood the attacks of the giants and the conspiracies of other gods. Zeus was then alotted the empire of heaven and air.
Zeus was the father of gods and mortals. Even though he didn't create them, he was their father in the sense of being their protector and ruler. His breastplate was his protection, his bird the eagle, and his tree the oak. His palace was on Mount Olympus. Zeus was the lord of the sky, the rain god and cloud gather, who wielded the terrible thunderbolt. He regulated the whole course of nature.
Zeus is pictured in two very different ways: as the god of justice and mercy, the protector of the weak, and the punisher of the wicked. Only the Fates were more powerful than him, and if they doomed a mortal to death, Zeus could not intervene. When the fates decided who should win a war, Zeus could not intervene.
Zeus was married to his sister Hera (queen of the gods). They were always quarreling. He wasn't always faithful to her. They had three children together . The rest of Zeus' children were born out of wedlock.
One of the seven wonders of the ancient world was said to have been a statue of Zeus by Phidias in the great temple at Olympia. The figure stood about 40 feet and was made out of ivory and gold in about 430 B.C.
By: MAGDA BORYCZKO
Source Book: The Greek Gods
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