ZEUS By Sharon Nam

WHO IS MY GOD?  Zeus the "Father of Gods and Men” ruled the Olympians of Mount Olympus, according to the ancient Greek religion. He is the god of sky and thunder in Greek mythology. Zeus is particularly closely identified with Roman Jupiter.  Zeus is the child of Cronus and Rhea, and the youngest of his siblings. He is known for his erotic escapades. These resulted in many godly and heroic offspring, including Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Hermes, Persephone (by Demeter), Dionysus, Perseus, Heracles, Helen of Troy, Minos, and the Muses (by Mnemosyne; by Hera, he is usually said to have fathered Ares, and Hebe

HIS ROLE  Zeus, the presiding deity of the universe, ruler of the skies and the earth, was regarded by the Greeks as the god of all natural phenomena on the sky; the personification of the laws of nature; the ruler of the state; and finally, the father of gods and men.

HIS ROLE  As the ruler of the state, he was the source of kingly power, the upholder of all institutions connected to the state, and the friend and patron of princes, whom he guarded and assisted with his advice and counsel. He was also the protector of the people, and watched over the welfare of the whole community.  As the father of the gods, Zeus ascertained that each deity perform their individual duty, punished their misdeeds, settled their disputes, and acted towards them on all occasions as their all-knowing counsellor and mighty friend.

A FATHER  As the father of men, he took a paternal interest in the actions and well-being of mortals. He watched over them with tender solicitude, rewarding truth, charity, and fairness, while severely punishing perjury and cruelty. Even the poorest and most forlorn wanderer could find a powerful advocate in Zeus, for he, as a wise and merciful paternal figure, demanded that the wealthy inhabitants of the earth be attentive to the needs of their less fortunate fellow citizens.

HIS STORY  Cronus sired several children by Rhea: Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, and Poseidon, but swallowed them all as soon as they were born, since he had learned from Gaia and Uranus that he was destined to be overthrown by his son as he had previously overthrown Uranus, his own father, an oracle that Rhea heard and wished to avert.  When Zeus was about to be born, Rhea sought Gaia to devise a plan to save him, so that Cronus would get his retribution for his acts against Uranus and his own children. Rhea gave birth to Zeus in Crete, handing Cronus a rock wrapped in swaddling clothes, which he promptly swallowed.[

HIS SYMBOLS  His weapon was a thunderbolt which he hurled at those who displeased or defied him, especially liars and oathbreakers.  Though he is most well known as god of the sky and thunder, Zeus was the supreme cultural embodiment of Greek religious beliefs. He had many epithets (titles) that emphasized different aspects of complete and wide ranging authority.

ART AND LITERATURE  Jupiter astride an eagle, 1st century B.C.–1st century A.D., Roman. Sardonyx  He is popular in Greek mythology and his affairs with mortal women. He was married to Hera but often tested her patience, as he was infamous for his many affairs.

MODERN DAY LITERATURE  He was also seen in a series of books known as the Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan. He is portrayed as himself, as the King of the Gods in Mount Olympus.  He was also in a Disney adaptation of the Greek mythology Hercules.

RELATED?  The only person related to me that would remind me of Zeus would be my father, just on the basis that he is father figure and is in a position of power.