God Zeus Of Ancient Greece: As the ancient Greek was polytheistic, they had a number of gods to worship. Greeks gods and mythology are loved by the world, even today. Greek gods may be divided into three categories; the Titans, who were the elder gods, the Olympians, and the lesser gods.

Zeus Symbol

God Zeus belonged to the category of the Olympians. Zeus, most powerful of the gods, was the lord of the sky and the rain god. He was regarded as the king of gods. He punished all those who lied. He monitored the order and justice in the world. The Olympic Games were held as a symbol of expressing honor to the god of Zeus. Most of the ancient Greek coins bore the image of Zeus.

The name Zeus is connected with an ancient Indo-European deity Dyeus, which means as ‘sky’ or ‘day’. He has been portrayed in almost all works of art and sculpture. Early Classical vase paintings often show him throwing thunderbolts, identifying him as a powerful warrior deity, affiliated with Hephaestus the god of the forge and maker of thunderbolts. It is said that he is related to Indra, the Hindu sky god.

The abode of the god Zeus was believed to be Mount Olympus. His symbols were Thunderbolt, Eagle, Bull, and Oak. Born to Cronus and Rhea as their sixth son, his children were Athena, Apollo and Artemis, Hermes, Persephone, Dionysus, Perseus, Heracles, Helen, Minos, and the Muses; Ares, Hebe, and Hephaestus.

God Zeus Story

Of all the children born to him, Heracles was often described as his favorite. Indeed, Heracles was often called by various gods and people as “the favourite son of Zeus”, Zeus and Heracles were very close and in one story, where a tribe of earth-born Giants threatened Olympus and the Oracle at Delphi decreed that only the combined efforts of a lone god and mortal could stop the creature, Zeus chose Heracles to fight by his side.

Zeus Children

There is an interesting myth behind the birth and childhood of Zeus. It was said that one of the children of Cronus would overthrow him. Fearing this, Cronus swallowed all children born before Zeus. But 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. Rhea gave birth to Zeus in Crete, handing Cronus a rock wrapped in swaddling clothes, which he promptly swallowed. Zeus was hidden by Rhea in a cave on Mount Ida. In course of time, Zeus along his brothers and sisters overthrew Cronus and other Titans.

Zeus Powers

He was married to Hetis and Hera. He had numerous other wives. Thunderbolt was his weapon and he would hurl it to bring order. Zeus had a love for other women and his power made it difficult for women to resist.

It is also said that Zeus primary occupation was to seduce for which he changed his shape into that of animal or bird.This is only a short note on Zeus and not all information is included.