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In this article, Thea talks about the Greek king of gods: Zeus.
Mythology of Zeus
Mythology of Zeus
By Thea Schreiber
By Thea Schreiber
Zeus, the loverman of lovermen, is the God of the Skies and King of the Gods in Greek mythology. According to Britannica, the Greeks have been worshiping Zeus for about 3000-4000 years. From his birth and ascension to his kingship and active love life, Zeus was responsible for some of the greatest heroes and their stories.
Zeus’ life started rather perilously. According to Theoi, Zeus’ father, the Titan King Kronos and his siblings had just overthrown their father, the primordial sky god Ouranos, when he received a warning from his mother Gaia, the primordial earth goddess. Gaia told Kronos a prophecy, that his own children would overthrow him. In fear of this prophecy, Kronos ate all of his children as soon as they were born, but his wife and sister Rhea hid their last child and replaced him with a rock swaddled in a blanket. This child was Zeus who was raised on the island of Crete by nymphs. When he grew to adulthood, he made his father throw up his siblings, the now also fully grown Olympian gods. AQs stated on ThoughtCo that the regurgitated gods and goddesses got together with the gods who had not been swallowed—like Zeus—to fight the Titans. The battle between the gods and Titans was called the Titanomachy. It lasted for 10 years and, when the Gods of Olympus won, they trapped the Titans in Tartarus, the deepest pit of the underworld. However, according to some sources, Kronos himself was put in charge of the Islands of Blest.
When thinking of Zues’ wife, people probably think of Hera, the Queen of the Gods, but they might be surprised to learn that she was not his first wife. Zeus’ first wife was actually the goddess Metis. Much like what happened to his father Kronos, Zeus also received a prophecy from Gaia stating that Metis would bear him a son far stronger than him and a daughter far smarter than him who would one day overthrow him. Zeus, having learned a lesson from his father, did not eat his children. Instead, he absorbed his wife and unborn child so the prophecy could never happen. This later resulted in the goddess Athena being born from his skull. Hera, having grown into a beautiful woman, soon caught the eye of Zeus. Zeus soon decided to seduce his sister and took the form of a cuckoo bird to do so. They later married and Hera became the Queen of the Gods. Hera and Zeus had a total of three children together: the God of War, Ares; God of the Forge, Hephaestus; and the Goddess of Youth, Hebe. Unfortunately for Hera, Zeus had eyes for many women and would not stay loyal throughout their relationship. This is how she became known for being jealous and wrathful as shown in this quote: "The anger of Hera, who murmured terrible against all child-bearing women that bare children to Zeus...." [Theoi Hera: Callimachus, Hymn 4 to Delos 51 ff (trans. Mair)]
Many people know the stories of Zues’ philandering with mortal women, which would result in many demigods and famous stories. Some of the most famous of these many children are Hercules; Perseus; messenger god Hermes, the God of Wine, Dionysus; the Sun God, Apollo; and his sister the moon goddess Artemis. Zeus is also very well known for taking many animal forms to seduce the mothers of these children. A few examples include a swan, a bull, a shower of gold, a satyr, and even his own daughter Artemis.
So that is Zues, the loverman of lovermans, including his early days and active love life. The King of the Gods was most certainly interesting and was responsible for some of the greatest Greek myths and the largest of Hera’s temper tantrums.
Sources:
Sources:
Theoi Hera: Callimachus, Hymn 4 to Delos 51 ff (trans. Mair)
Titanomachy: Thought Co.
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