Zeus (Diy), the supreme god of the ancient Greeks. Supreme god of Olympus Zeus

Supreme god, ruler of gods and men; the son of the titans Kronos and Rhea, hence one of his names - Kronid. Having overthrown the dominance of Cronus and the gods of the older generation - the Titans, Zeus ceded power over the sea and the underworld to his brothers Poseidon and Hades. Zeus left himself supreme power over the world and control of all celestial phenomena, primarily thunder and lightning, hence his epithets Zeus the Thunderer, Zeus the Cloud Chaser.

J. Jordaens. Zeus's childhood

Zeus was revered as the guardian of social order and family; he was credited with establishing laws and customs. Olympus was considered the permanent residence of Zeus, hence the epithet Zeus the Olympian. The attributes of Zeus were an aegis, a scepter, and sometimes an eagle. As the giver of victory in wars and competitions, Zeus was depicted with the goddess of victory Nike (Roman Victoria) in his hand. Zeus was considered the father of the younger generation of Olympic gods: Apollo, Artemis, Ares, Athena, Aphrodite, Hermes, Hephaestus, Dionysus, Hebe, Iris, Persephone, as well as muses, charites and a number of heroes: Hercules, Perseus. Noble families descended from Zeus Ancient Greece. The most important places of the cult of Znus were Dodona (Epirus) and Olympia (Elis), where they held events in honor of Zeus Olympic Games. Individual episodes of the myths about Zeus are given in Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, in Hesiod's Theogony, and Apollodorus's Mythological Library. In ancient Roman mythology, Zeus corresponded to Jupiter.

Initially, in each region of Greece a special deity was revered, in charge of celestial phenomena - thunder and lightning. When pan-Greek culture emerged, the local gods merged into the image of Zevs, who was in charge of the change of seasons, sent a fair wind and granted clear days. When he shook his aegis, storms and rains came. Sometimes Zeus is identified with fate, sometimes he himself was subject to the moiras - the goddesses of fate. Zeus announced the destinies of fate through dreams, lightning and thunder, with the help of the flight of birds and the rustling of leaves of sacred trees. He gave people laws, established state power, patronized public meetings. Zevs protected the family and home, monitored the implementation of customs and rituals.

The main sanctuary of 3eus was Olympia in Elis, where the temple of 3eus was located and the Olympic Games were held in his honor. According to the main version of the myth, Zevs was saved by his mother from Cronus, who swallowed his children, and was hidden by her in a safe shelter. When Zevs grew up and matured, he rebelled against his father and overthrew his rule over the world. Zevs forced Kronus to vomit the swallowed children - his brothers and sisters.
Having overthrown the Titans into Tartarus, Zeus shared dominion over the world with his brothers Poseidon and Hades. Hera became the wife of 3eus, who gave birth to Ares, Hebe and, according to some versions, Hephaestus. In addition, 3eus had many children from other goddesses: from Lethe - Apollo and Artemis, from Demeter - Persephone, from Maya - Hermes, from Dione - Aphrodite, from Themis - Ora and Moira, from Eurynome - Charita. Zeus also had children from mortal women: Semele gave birth to Dionysus from Zeus, Alcmene - Hercules, Leda - Helen and Polydeuces, Danae - Perseus. In Dodona, 3eus was revered as the god of fertility, the lord of the ether, who revealed his will by the rustling of the leaves of the sacred oak. Here Dione was considered the wife of 3eus.

In Crete, 3evs was revered as the god of the secret forces of nature. The Cretans believed that 3eus was born by Rhea in secret from Cronus on Crete. Rhea hid Zeus in Crete, the nymphs Adrastea and Ida fed him with the milk of the goat Amalthea. In Crete, the grave of 3eus was shown; he was honored in orgies as the dying and resurrecting god of vegetation. In Rome, the cult of 3eus merged with the cult of Jupiter. IN ancient art 3evs was depicted as an omnipotent ruler, seated on a throne with a scepter and Nike in his hands, with an eagle near the throne.

Zeus was considered the main deity of the ancient Greek pantheon. He was “in charge” not only of thunder and lightning, but also of the entire Olympus and the human world.

Birth

Zeus's parents were Kronos and Rhea. The father knew about a prophecy that said that one of his sons would overthrow him. Kronos was very afraid of this. He himself at one time destroyed his father Uranus, the very first god. The myth of Zeus says that Kronos ordered Rhea to bring him newborn children, which he swallowed without any pity. This fate has already befallen Hestia, Poseidon, Demeter, Hades and Hera.

Rhea, fearful for her youngest son, decided to give birth to him in a cave on the island of Crete. She gave Kronos a stone wrapped in swaddling clothes, which he swallowed, unaware of the trick.

The myth of the birth of Zeus also tells about the Curetes - the mysterious companions of Rhea. They were the ones who guarded the child while he was growing up in Crete. The guards clanged their armor and shields loudly if the baby began to cry. This was done so that Kronos would not hear these screams. The myth of the birth of Zeus was later adopted from the Greeks by the Romans. They called this

Childhood in a cave

Zeus ate honey from local bees, which they themselves brought to him from the hives on Mount Dikti. One of the caves at its foot is still considered the “Cave of Zeus”. When archaeologists carried out the first excavations here, they discovered a huge number of altars and figurines dedicated to the Thunderer. The myth of Zeus was known to every inhabitant of Hellas. The baby was also fed the milk of the Amalthea goat. This animal was brought into the cave by two nymphs: Adrastea and Idea. When Amalthea died, her horn was turned into and the skin was used by Zeus to make a shield with which he went to war against the Titans.

War with the Titans

When Zeus grew up and matured, he openly opposed his father, who was unaware of the existence of his son. He forced Kronos to bring back the children he had swallowed many years ago. Then they started a war against their father for power over the whole world. The myth of Zeus says that the altar on which they swore to fight Kronos was turned into a constellation.

The war with the titans lasted nine years. At first, it did not reveal the winners due to the equal strength of the opponents. The children of Kronos made their place of residence from where they led the war. In addition to Kronos, there were other titans in the second generation of gods, and some of them went over to the side of Zeus. The main one was the Ocean, which could control the seas and rivers.

Cyclops and Hecatonchires

Finally, Zeus decided to take extreme measures and resorted to the help of the Cyclops. They were the children of Uranus and Gaia. From birth they found themselves in Tartarus, where they languished until the Olympians freed them. These one-eyed giants forged lightning bolts for Zeus, which the Thunderer threw at his enemies during battles. They gave a helmet to Hades, and a trident to Poseidon. Athena and Hephaestus learned crafts from the Cyclopes.

The myth of Zeus also mentions the Hecatoncheires. These were giants with 50 heads and a hundred arms, imprisoned in the bowels of the earth. They also became allies of Zeus. These giants tore whole pieces from the mountains and threw them straight at the titans who tried to take Olympus by storm. A colossal battle shook the whole world, even underground Tartarus.

The Olympians' union bore fruit. They defeated the Titans and cast them straight into Tartarus, where they were chained. The Hecatoncheires began to guard the prisoners so that they could never be freed. From that moment on, the Olympian gods began to rule the world. The war with the titans became known as the Titanomachy. According to myths, it took place many centuries before the appearance of the human race.

New order

Power over the world was divided between three brothers. Zeus gained dominance over the sky. Poseidon became the ruler of the sea. Hades inherited the kingdom of the dead. The land was recognized as common property. At the same time, Zeus was called the eldest of the gods. He commanded the entire human world.

However, not everyone was happy with the new order of things. Gaia did not like the way the Olympians treated her titan children. Brief myth about Zeus, which includes this conflict, tells that the goddess of the Earth entered into marriage with the terrible Tartarus. From this connection Typhon, a mighty giant, was born. He personified all the fiery forces of the earth. The new god tried to overthrow Zeus.

The seas boiled at the mere approach of Typhon, and many Olympian gods awaited his invasion in horror. The myth of Zeus tells about all this. Summary this new war is in some ancient Greek sources, for example, in Theogony. Zeus again took up the lightning, with which he struck Typhon. The giant was defeated and thrown back into Tartarus. However, there he still disturbs the earthly world. From his connection with Echidna, many monsters appeared, for example, the three-headed dog Cerberus, hydras and Chimera.

Life on Olympus

Zeus reigned at the top of Olympus, where he was constantly surrounded by a host of younger gods. The gates to his halls are shrouded in a cloud controlled by the Oras. These goddesses of the seasons allowed visitors to Olympus and opened the entrance for the gods who descended to earth.

In the kingdom of Zeus, eternal summer reigns - there is no snow, rain or natural disasters. The son of the thunderer Hephaestus built magnificent palaces in which the gods feasted and spent their free time from worries. The myth of Zeus (5th graders study this topic in the program) also mentions his wife Hera. She became the patroness of human marriage and bore her husband many children. The most famous of them was the daughter of Hebe, who became the goddess of youth and cupbearer on Olympus.

In ancient Greece, people were pagans and believed in the existence large quantity gods and their assistants. Thus, the main god of the ancient pantheon was Zeus, nicknamed the Thunderer. He was credited with controlling thunder, lightning and the entire sky.

Zeus and the other 12 main gods lived on the top of Mount Olympus, which is why they were also called “Olympians.” Many ancient Greek kings and military leaders claimed that they were descendants of the god Zeus. This god was fair and always sought to maintain the balance of things in the world. In addition, Zeus controlled the weather and created it depending on his mood. When he was in high spirits, he blessed the world with good weather. In a bad spirit, he caused rain, wind, lightning and could even cause some kind of climate disaster.

Zeus was the supreme god of all Greeks. In Roman culture it received the name Jupiter. His symbols were the eagle, the oak tree, the royal scepter, and thunder. Originally he was the god of the sky and heavenly powers. People in those days believed that Zeus was the only god who was concerned with the well-being of the entire universe constantly throughout the day. Later, the Greeks began to associate Zeus with justice. He punished me a lot evil people and ill-wishers and rewarded people who do good.

Zeus was the sixth child born to the Titans Cronus and Rhea. Since his father Kronus was at one time afraid that one of his own children would take away his power, he simply swallowed them immediately after birth. But Zeus’s mother saved him by hiding him from his father on the island of Crete, where baby Zeus grew up and overthrew his father’s power, freeing his older five brothers and sisters. The Supreme God of Thunder was considered the strongest of all the Olympians. Zeus could not control only the goddesses of Fate. In addition, Zeus was a very loving man and had many extramarital affairs, from which demigod children appeared, who later became heroes of Hellas. These romances provoked conflicts between Zeus and his wife, the goddess Hera.

The ancient Greeks depicted Zeus as a strong, handsome, mature man with wavy locks that fell to his shoulders, sitting on a golden throne with a scepter in one hand and striking lightning in the other. Zeus' lightning bolts were a gift from the Cyclops, whom he freed from captivity after defeating his father. The eagle was considered the sacred animal of Zeus. In addition, if the Thunderer was depicted in battle garb, instead of a scepter, he had a powerful shield called the Aegis.

Option 2

In the mythology of Ancient Greece, the main god of Olympus was Zeus. He was rightfully considered the father of all gods and people, because he was the strongest of them. He was called the Thunderer, because his weapons were thunder and lightning. During wars, he sent storms, supporting the army by instilling confidence and courage in their souls. The enemy army, on the contrary, felt horror and depression, and therefore lost. For this, God was nicknamed Zeus the Victorious.

Birth of Zeus

The lineage of the supreme god leads to the god Kronos and the Titanide Rhea. According to mythology, Zeus's father Kronos ate all his children because of a prediction that the god would be defeated by his own child. But at some point, Zeus’s mother Rhea deceived her husband by giving him a stone instead of a child, and she hid her son on the island of Crete, giving him to be raised by the Curetes and Corybantes.

Rise to power

Time passed, Zeus grew up and decided to oppose his father. First of all, he forced Kronos to spit out his brothers and sisters: Hades, Poseidon, Hera, Hestia, Demeter. In gratitude for freedom, they gave Zeus thunder and lightning. And then it began Great War, which lasted 10 years and ended with the victory of Zeus over his father. All together, the gods cast him into Tartarus.

Division of spheres of influence

After defeating their father, the three brothers, after consulting, decided to divide their spheres of influence. Zeus chose to rule the sky, Poseidon - the sea, Hades - the kingdom of the dead.

Helpers of the Supreme God

Zeus had three assistants who maintained order in the world of people and gods:

1. Themis punished lawbreakers.
2. Dike administered justice if it was violated.
3. Nemesis carried out retribution and punished criminals.

Thanks to such control, rulers used their power wisely and wisely, and crafts, agriculture and art developed on the earth.

Zeus the consort

Zeus had three wives:

1. Metis is the first wife of the supreme god. It was she who helped Zeus free the brothers and sisters by brewing a potion for Kronos. Unfortunately, she suffered a sad fate. There was a prophecy according to which their son would outshine Zeus in everything. Upon learning of his wife's pregnancy, Zeus swallowed her.
2. Themis - the goddess of justice, was the 2nd wife of the supreme god. They had 3 daughters and 3 sons.
3. Hera is the goddess who patronizes marriage and motherhood, 3rd wife.

Children of Zeus

Hera gave birth to Zeus' son Hephaestus, the Titanide Leto - Apollo. Athena, according to mythology, was created by Zeus himself, since she appeared from his head. The gods Hermes, Persephone, Dionysus and Eros are also children of the supreme god. On earth, Zeus also had beloved women who gave birth to such heroes as Hercules, Harmony, Helen, and Perseus.

Zeus is famous for his wise rule. Majestic temples were erected in his honor. All of them were without a roof. It was believed that since Zeus is the god of the sky, this is how he will hear and see a person asking during prayer or sacrifice.

Report Zeus - the god of Ancient Greece and his history

Zeus is the ancient Greek mythological immortal dominant god over all gods and people, mortal and immortal, the lord of the sky, thunder and lightning, living on Olympus.

The requisites of Zeus were a shield, a scepter, a chariot drawn by eagles, a double-sided ax called in Greek as labrys, the eagle itself, but in most mythology Zeus reincarnated into it, as well as into many other animals.

Zeus was always accompanied by his three servants - Power, Strength and Victory (Nike).

The most powerful god was so strong that all the gods together, united, could not overthrow him.

Commanding over people and gods, Zeus distributed good and evil with the help of two bowls standing near his throne, founded shame and conscience, punished people, could look into the future, founded legislation, established kings, guarded the poor and sick, honored traditions and watched, so that people follow the customs. In addition, thanks to Zeus, people and gods began to live better than ever before. Zeus fed on the prayers and worship of people.

Zeus was born in the third generation of gods, from the titans Kronos and Rhea. According to the prophecy, Kronos was to be killed by his own child, and fearing this, he swallowed newborn babies. But Rhea, wanting to deceive her husband, secretly gave birth to another child and named him Zeus, and allowed Kronos to swallow a stone in a diaper. According to the legends, Zeus was raised in the deepest secrecy and was protected in every possible way so that Kronos would not find out about him.

Having matured, Zeus took out a potion that made Kronos spit out his children. Thus, Zeus had two brothers - Hades and Paseidon, and two sisters - Hestia and Demeter. After a long war that lasted 10 years, Zeus won over the titans, becoming the main one among all.

Having drawn lots, Zeus got dominance in the sky, Paseidon got the sea, Hades went to the kingdom of the dead underground. Hestia became the goddess of the family hearth and sacrificial fire, Demeter gained honor among the gods in the person of the goddess of fertility and agriculture.

Zeus was popular among women, of whom he had quite a few, and had many children. The first wife was Metis, the goddess of wisdom, whom Zeus, in order not to repeat the mistakes of his father, swallowed while pregnant because of a prophecy according to which the child she bore was supposed to overthrow Zeus. The second is the goddess of justice Themis, the third official wife was Hera, she is also the goddess of marriage, in other words, his sister Hestia.

Zeus did not recognize his equals, nevertheless from different women He gave birth to: Hephaestus, a miracle blacksmith; Apollo (the most beautiful of men) and Artemis (goddess of hunting and chastity); Athena – goddess of courage and wisdom; Hermes – god of trade; Dionysus - god of winemaking; Eros is the god of love, heroes are Hercules, Perseus, Helen, etc.

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The god of Ancient Greece Zeus is known to us as the main Olympian god, ruling the entire world, sky, thunder and lightning. The god of Ancient Greece, Zeus, is associated with real rock and fate. This is justified by the fact that people were protected by it: asking and pleading. Not only subjects, but also kings and other gods obeyed Zeus.

Ancient Greek God Zeus

The Greek god distinguished between good and evil and introduced people to the concepts of shame and conscience. Zeus, the supreme god of Olympus, had three brothers with whom he shared power. The location of the god was Mount Olympus, which is why the patriarchy of Zeus was called Olympian. The power of the patron did not satisfy the other gods, so they tried to overthrow him from the throne. They failed to carry out a coup d'état, so all violators were punished.

What does the god Zeus look like?

The god of Ancient Greece Zeus was the father of all people and gods, and Roman mythology identified him with Jupiter. Thanks to Zeus, Greece had an established social order. The traditional description of the god Zeus is an image of a mature man with a noble face, thick snow-white curls, a beard and a strong powerful figure, strong slender arms. Later artists depict God in a huge variety of guises, among which Zeus appears as a deceiver of women, a character in love affairs.

What did Zeus patronize?

The third son of Kronos was different from the rest of the Gods. He was not only a fair, honest and decent leader, but also responsible for the welfare of the entire population. The main tasks of Zeus were:

• protect city life;
• avoid disorder and chaos;
• direct life in the right direction;
• protect all those offended;
• protect the family hearth;
• monitor the implementation of laws and observance of customs.

This is not the entire list of what Zeus was responsible for. Ancient Greek god Sky and Thunder was able to solve any pressing issue, calm and pacify everyone who needed help at a certain point in their life. Thanks to his “power”, everyone was confident that justice would always triumph. The energy of God spread to the entire Olympus and delighted with its purity.

Attributes of the god Zeus

Each attribute gave Zeus the Thunderer strength and was an integral part of the overall image. The main association with Zeus is lightning, which is in the hands of the patron and serves as a material weapon. However, these are not all the attributes of God.

1. The first and one of the main symbols of power is the eagle, which is associated with Zeus.
2. The shield of Zeus is a symbol of anger and rage.
3. A chariot drawn by eagles.
4. Scepter.
5. Hammer or labrys.

Zeus Family

Zeus belongs to the generation of titans. His father Kronos knew even before birth that his own son would overthrow his father’s power, so he swallowed every baby born to Rhea. As the myth of the birth of Zeus testifies, his mother deceived Kronos and gave birth to a baby, hiding it. It is impossible to find out the exact place of birth of the child, but the island of Crete is considered the leader among all versions. So that the clever Kronos did not notice the birth of his son, he had to absorb a stone in a diaper. The born Zeus laughed for a week - after which the number 7 began to be considered sacred.

The Cretan version of the myth insists that Zeus was raised by the Curetes and Corybantes, fed on goat's milk, and fed on bee honey. It is difficult to consider this information the only correct one. Another version of the legend says that the boy, fed on goat's milk, was guarded by guards every minute. On occasions when a child cried, the guards would bang their spears on their shields to deceive Kronos' ears.

The grown god created a potion with which he freed his brothers from Kronos. The mighty brothers started a fight with their father that lasted 9 years. After some time, it was still not possible to determine the winner. But the savvy Zeus the Thunderer found a way out, freeing the Cyclopes and the Hundred-Handed Men. They helped bring down the titan and bring him down. After a protracted struggle, the three brothers finally began to rule the island.

Father of Zeus

By ancient Greek mythology, Kronos was the supreme deity. Another version insists that Kronos is the Titan god, the father of Zeus, the god of agriculture, and was identified with Chronos. The reign of Kronos is considered the golden age in Greece. The main attribute of Kronos is the sickle. Kronos was the supreme god, and due to his seniority, he became king.

Mother of Zeus

The mother of the god Zeus, Rhea, was considered the goddess of the earth, was a Titanide and the daughter of Gaia and Uranus. Rhea was the mother of Hestia - the goddess of the hearth, Demeter - the goddess of fertility, - the goddess of families, Hades, Poseidon, Zeus. Rhea is remembered by mythology as a brave and courageous Titanide who was able to go against her husband’s will by secretly giving birth to a child. Rhea had the power of healing, which was useful to her to save the life of Dionysus.

Zeus's wife

According to some myths, Zeus was very attached to Thetis and wanted to leave his wife for her sake. The only obstacle to this was a prophecy. Zeus seduced his chosen ones, taking on various forms: a swan, a bull, a snake, rain, an ant, a bird, a beetle. Zeus was not distinguished by constancy and had many wives and lovers, among whom:

• Metis is the only wife of Zeus who was swallowed;
• Themis;
• Hera is the last wife of God;
• Demeter;
• Thebe;
• Phthia;
• Aytos;
• Ganymede.
• Callirhoe.

Son of Zeus

Zeus contributed to the birth strongest sons, which made their mark in the history of ancient Greek mythology. But strong and brave sons are contrasted with the gentle, intelligent and fertile daughters of Zeus. The sons of Zeus were:

• the love god Eros, born of Aphrodite;
• god of struggle Ares;
• the fire god Hephaestus, who patronized blacksmithing;
• Hermes, patron of trade;
• horned baby Sabazius;
• wine god Dionysus;
• Apollo is the son of Zeus, the god of light, music, and medicine.
• Egipan;
• patron of the herd Pan;
• Karpos.

Daughters of God Zeus

Zeus is the father of most known to the world goddesses. Based on their number, they were divided into groups according to the tasks performed.

1. 9 muses of Zeus led by Euterpe, Thalia, Melpomene, Terpsichore, Erato, Polyhymnia, Urania and Calliope. The goddesses were responsible for science, poetry, and art.
2. Charites responsible for fun, joy and pleasure in life.
3. The Moirai, including Clotho, Atropos, Lachesis, were responsible for.
4. The Orami controlled the seasons.
5. The Erinyes committed acts of revenge and rebellion.
6. The senior muses include Telxiope, Aeda, Arhu and Meleta.

The Greek god Zeus was the ruler of the earth and the underground, and judged the dead. The fair and strong Zeus accomplished both good deeds and real feats in the name of the common good. Zeus is not only the real supreme god, patron and leader, he was a symbol of brotherly love, intelligence and logic. From an early age, Zeus differed from his peers in his thirst to live, fight for justice, and win. The legendary titan was a true fighter and builder of the general order.

He is the highest god of Olympus, the god of all gods. But how much do you know about Zeus beyond this? So, we present to your attention 10 interesting facts about the main hero of Olympus.

The men's spring/summer 2014 collection from Dolce&Gabbana - “Mythological Sicily” (Sicilia Mitologica) - is literally imbued with Magna Graecia and its amazing temples, such as those located in the Valley of the Temples of Agrigento: the temples of Taormina and the Temple of Apollo in Syracuse became a source of inspiration for all collections. Here is a fantastic triumph of prints of the ancient gods: Zeus, representing power and creation in Greek mythology, and Apollo, representing light, sun, kindness and beauty. But did you know that Zeus had almost 70 children? We offer you 10 facts that you probably didn’t know about the king of all gods and goddesses.

1. Zeus’s father wanted to eat him.

Kronos and Rhea had several children: Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades and Poseidon. However, he ate them all as soon as they were born, because Gaia and Uranus predicted to him that he would be overthrown by his own son, as he himself had overthrown his father.

Rhea, pregnant with Zeus, found Gaia to ask her to save her son, who could punish Kronos for crimes against Uranus and his own children. Rhea gave birth to Zeus on Crete, and gave Kronos a stone wrapped in the baby's clothes to eat.

2. Zeus was raised by... things.

For example, a goat named Amalthea. And the Corybantes - soldiers and minor gods - at that moment danced, shouted and banged their spears on their shields so that Kronos would not hear the child’s cry.

He was also raised by a nymph named Adamantia. Kronos ruled on Earth, in the skies and on the sea. Adamantia hid Zeus, hanging him on a rope from a tree, so that he hung between the earth, sea and sky and was inaccessible to his father's gaze.

He was also raised by the nymph Kinosura. In gratitude, Zeus then placed her among the stars.

He was also raised by Melissa, who fed him goat milk and honey.

He was also raised by a shepherd's family on the condition that their sheep would be saved from wolves.

3. Zeus saved his brothers and sisters.

After becoming a man, Zeus forced Kronos to vomit up first the stone and then his siblings in the reverse order of swallowing. In some versions of the myths, Metis gave Kronos an emetic medicine to force him to do this, and in others, Zeus ripped open Kronos' stomach. Zeus then freed Kronos' brothers - the Giants, Hecatoncheires and Cyclopes - from their prison in Tartarus, killing their guard Kampa.

As a token of gratitude, the Cyclopes gave Zeus thunder and lightning. Along with his brothers and sisters, as well as the Giants, Hecatonchires and Cyclopes, Zeus overthrew Kronos and the other Titans in great battle Titanomachy. The defeated titans were then exiled to a dark corner underworld- Tartarus. Atlas, one of the Titans who fought against Zeus, was punished by having to hold up the sky.

4. His wife Hera was his sister, and his other wives were also his relatives.

In most ancient myths, firstborns had to marry each other, regardless of relationship, because there were few people with whom to continue the family line. Therefore, Zeus married his sister Hera (who, according to some versions of the myths, was also his twin). A nymph named Pluto was the mother of King Tantalus of Lydia (by Zeus), and since Pluto's father was Kronos, this means that she was also Zeus's sister (or at least a paternal sister). Zeus cheated on Hera with one of his sisters, but it was not Demeter. According to Hesiod's Theogony, Zeus was married six times before he took Hera as his wife.

5. Since he had so many wives, he had dozens of children.

He had many children with goddess or demigoddes or mortal wives. In total, he had about 70 women, and accordingly, there were even more children.

6. Zeus has many names.

Zeus Olympus refers to Zeus' rule over all the gods. Zeus Panellenios, Zeus Gorky - i.e. Zeus, keeper of oaths. Zeus Agora: Zeus oversaw affairs in the agora and punished dishonest merchants. Zeus Xenius, Philius and Hospides: Zeus was the patron of hospitality (xenia) and guests and was ready to take revenge on anyone who harmed strangers. Zeus Egiokh - this term comes from the word αἴξ ("goat") and is taken from the myth of how he was suckled by Amalthea.

7. Many mountains are associated with Zeus.

Many mountains were dedicated to Zeus: in the Thessaly region, Olympus, Pelias and Eta; in Arcadia - the Lyceum and Mount Itoma in Messenia; in Attica - Parneta and Imetto; in Boeotia - Kytheron; in Phocis - Parnassus; in Troy - Ida, another mountain called Ida on the island of Crete and many others.

8. Zeus has been represented in different ways.

Zeus was represented in different images, but one detail was always present: he was always depicted with the symbol of kings and gods - the scepter, which mortal kings received from him to administer power and justice.

9. He wasn't THAT good.

Zeus was also revered as a multiple god, with a two-way soul, and therefore he was both a good and an evil god.

10. Zeus is a truly unique type of god.

For all its vicissitudes, the image of Zeus cannot be compared with any of the other Indo-European gods with the same powers or names (for example, Varuna, or Wodan). The trait of the father of the universe, expressed in the epic phrase "father of mortals and gods", dates back to the prehistoric era, as well as power over the weather.

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