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The Gods of Ancient Greece:
Zeus Zeu_j basileu&v, Zeu_j d'a)rxov a)pantwn
a)rgike/raunov
“Zeus the king, Zeus who rules all with the bright bolt.”
--Orpheus
Zeus is the King of the gods, the head of the Olympians. The most popular of the gods, he was worshipped everywhere, by all ancient Greeks. He is a god of justice, oaths, and storms. He is the law-giver, the settler of disputes, and took revenge against anyone who broke their oaths. Supplicants often came to him to beg for help. In artwork he is shown as a strong, mature man, often with a beard, holding thunderbolts or scepter and may be seated on a throne.
He is related to most of the other Olympians either as father, or as brother. Even though he is married to Hera, Zeus had numerous affairs with both goddesses and mortal women. He and Hera are the parents of Ares. He also fathered Apollo and Artemis by Leto, Persephone by Demeter, and Dionysos by Semele. Some of his better-know mortal children are Heracles, Helen, and Perseus.
It is believed that originally he was a god of storms, which would explain the symbolism of the thunderbolts. Certainly he is a sky-god, and one of his totem animals is the eagle. How he came to be the King of the gods is related in a myth which you will read about shortly.
He is the most revered among the gods, and is the subject of numerous hymns. Almost every piece of ancient literature makes reference to him. He had temples all over the ancient world, the most famous of which probably is Olympia. The statue of Zeus inside was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
Many festivals were held in his honor. The famous Olympics were dedicated to him, and the Gamelia celebrated his marriage to Hera.
Epithets
Zeus has many, many epithets. I will only give a few of them here.
Basileus, “King”
Boulaios, “of Counsel”
Eleutherios, “Liberator”
Euboulos, “Good Counselor”
Gamelios, “of marriage”
Hellenios, “of the Greeks”
Kataibates, “Descender” (as in lightening)
Khthonios, “chthonic” (or underground)
Lukaios, “of the wolf”
Meilikhios, “gentle”
Pater, “father”
Soter, “savior”
Teleios, “accomplished”
Xenios, “Protector of strangers”
(Campbell, pp. 49-51)
How should we sing of him, as Dictaean or Lycaean? My mind is full of doubt, since his birth is disputed. Zeus, some say you were born in the Idaian hills, but others say, Zeus, you were born in Arcadia. Which ones, O Father, are the liars? “The Cretans always lie.” For the Cretans built you a tomb, Lord. Yet you did not die; you are eternal.
Rhea bore you in Parrhasia, where there was a hill sheltered with thick brush. Thus the place is holy, and no creeping creature that has need of Eileithyia nor any human female approaches it, but the Apidanes call it the primeval childbed of Rhea. There when your mother had let you down from her great lap, straightaway she sought a stream of water, with which she might cleanse herself of the pollution of childbirth, and bathe your body too.
And gripped by distress the Lady Rhea said, “Dear Earth, give birth also. Your birthpains are light.” Thus the goddess spoke and lifting her great arm up she struck the mountain with her staff. For her it split in two, and out poured a flood. After she washed you with this, she swaddled you and gave you to Neda to bring inside the Cretan hollow, in order that you might grow up in hiding; to Neda, the eldest of the nymphs who were about her bed, first-born after Styx and Philyra.
But you, Zeus, the companions of the Corybantes took to their embrace, the Meliae of Mt. Dicte [the ash-tree nymphs]; and Adrasteia laid you in a golden cradle, and you sucked the rich teat of the goat Amaltheia and ate sweet honeycomb. For suddenly on the Idaian hills, which men call Panacra, there appeared the works of the Panacrian bee. And about you the Couretes danced a war-dance, beating their armor, so that Cronus might hear with his ears the din of the shield, but not your infant cries.
You grew well, and you were well nurtured, heavenly Zeus, and quickly you came to manhood, and soon there was down on your cheeks. But while yet a child you conceived all the deeds of your maturity. Therefore your siblings, though earlier born, did not grudge you heaven for your own domain.
From: “Callimachus’ Hymn to Zeus,”
http://www.personal.kent.edu/~jlarson/Myth/gods/hymn.html
Zeus is the first. Zeus the thunderer, is the last.
Zeus is the head. Zeus is the middle, and by Zeus all things were fabricated.
Zeus is male, Immortal Zeus is female.
Zeus is the foundation of the earth and of the starry heaven.
Zeus is the breath of all things. Zeus is the rushing of indefatigable fire.
Zeus is the root of the sea: He is the Sun and Moon.
Zeus is the king; He is the author of universal life;
One Power, one Daimon, the mighty prince of all things:
One kingly frame, in which this universe revolves,
Fire and water, earth and aither, night and day,
And Metis (Counsel) the primeval father, and all-delightful Eros (Love).
All these things are United in the vast body of Zeus.
Would you behold his head and his fair face,
It is the resplendent heaven, round which his golden locks
Of glittering stars are beautifully exalted in the air.
On each side are the two golden taurine horns,
The risings and settings, the tracks of the celestial gods;
His eyes the sun and the Opposing moon;
His unfallacious Mind the royal incorruptible Aither.
From: “Orphic Fragments,” http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/af/af10.htm
Myths
This myth tells how he came to be the King of the gods. Kronos once was the
King of the gods. A prophecy said that he would one day be overthrown by one of
his children. In order to prevent this, Kronos swallows his children as they are
born. Rhea, his wife, hides the last child, Zeus, and instead presents Kronos
with a rock dressed to resemble the newborn child. Kronos immediately swallows
the “child” without realizing he has been deceived. As the years pass, Zeus
grows and the day arrives in which he fulfils his destiny. Not only does Zeus
defeat Kronos and takes his place as king of the gods, but he also frees his
brothers and sisters who are trapped inside Kronos’ stomach.
This next myth explains why the gods were given bones and fat as a sacrifice, instead of the good parts of the animal, the meat. Prometheus, who was a friend to humankind, wanted to allow Zeus to decide which portions of the animal sacrifice should be given to the gods. Prometheus took the stomach of the animal and filled it with meat. The he took the bones and other inedible and unsavory parts and wrapped it nicely in a slice of appealing fat. He then presented the two choices to Zeus, whereupon Zeus chose the second of the two. Angered when he discovered that he had chosen only bones, he punished Prometheus. However, the practice of offering the inedible parts of the sacrifice continued.