Greek mythology: why is Zeus the most important of the gods?
In the myths of ancient Greece, Zeus was the most important God. He is the God of Heaven, Law, Destiny and Order. The Greeks pictured him as a mature and strong man. He had thick hair and a long beard. He was usually depicted wearing a long black shirt and cloak. Sometimes he was depicted naked. Often Zeus had a wreath of olive tree branches on his head. The Roman name for Zeus was Jupiter. In Latin Zeus is Zeus. His main attributes are lightning, an eagle and a sceptre. Zeus means "sky" and "radiance". Today, this name is still used in various spheres to impart power and justice. More information about who Zeus is - on the website sigeneration.ca.
Zeus in mythology
According to legends, Zeus is the youngest son of Kronos and Rhea. Cronus was an evil tyrant. He swallowed every child born to him by his wife. Thus he tried to avoid the prediction that he would be dethroned by his offspring. The last son, Zeus, escaped this fate. His mother, Rhea, hid him in a cave on the island of Crete. She slipped Cronus a stone wrapped in a diaper. Zeus began to be raised by the nymphs. The goat Amalthea fed him with her milk. When Zeus cried, the warriors guarding the cave muffled his cry by beating on their shields.
When Zeus grew up, the goddess of wisdom, Metis, began to support him. She prepared a special potion for Conos from which all the children he had swallowed came out. Zeus then frees the Cyclopes. For this, the Cyclopes forged lightning bolts for him. The Cyclopes assisted Zeus and his brothers in their fight against Kronos. In the end Cronus was defeated. After the victory, Zeus and his brothers drew lots. In the end Zeus ruled the heavens, Hades ruled the underworld, and Poisedon ruled the sea.
Zeus marries his sister Hera, whom he has seduced in the guise of a cuckoo. The couple were constantly quarrelling. Zeus' cousin Prometheus has given mankind fire, which he has stolen from the gods. Zeus was furious with Prometheus and ordered him to be chained to a mountain. Every day an eagle flew to the mountain and pecked at Prometheus' liver, which grew back.
Zeus took on various guises in order to seduce mortal women. He was a bull, a swan, a golden rain. Zeus had relations with several titanids: Metida, Themis, Eurynoma and Demeter. He made attempts to seduce Aphrodite and Asteria. But they were unsuccessful. Zeus' favourite son was Hercules. Zeus made him God. From Zeus' liaisons with women many children of demigods were born.
The chief God kept order. He punished criminals who acted against the Gods. Thus he punished Tantalos, who stole ambrosia, Ikon, who tried to possess Hera. Zeus' other important tasks were:
- To preserve life in the city.
- To guide people in the right direction.
- To protect all wronged people.
- To keep the hearth of the family safe.
- To see that all laws were obeyed and all customs were followed.
Zeus could solve any problem. He comforted everyone who needed help. His energy extended to all of Olympus.
The popularity of Zeus in the world
The main symbol of Zeus is a stylised lightning bolt. He waved it like a spear. His other symbols are the royal sceptre, the eagle, and the shield (a symbol of anger and fury).
A temple in honour of Zeus was built in 471-456 BC as a symbol of his worship. This building is unique in its architecture and grandeur. It was designed by Libonus, an architect of ancient Greece. People used to come here to ask forgiveness for their sins to Zeus. Today only a few fragments of this temple have been preserved. Scholars and archaeologists have recreated the look that the temple of Zeus of Olympus once had, according to ancient writings. The building was impressive in its grandeur and impossible to take your eyes away from it. On the western side of the temple were paintings. They depicted a battle between centaurs and lapithi. These paintings represent the victory of civilisation over illiteracy and savagery.
In 406 BC the reigning Theodosius decreed that all the temples of Olympia be destroyed as it was a sign of pagan worship. The surviving remains were destroyed by earthquakes in 522 and 551. Fragments of the temple have survived to this day. They are preserved in the archaeological museum of Olympia and in the Louvre in Paris.
There are many holy places that are dedicated to Zeus. Famous places where he is worshipped are:
- The cave on Mount Ida. It is located in Psiloritis. Ida is the highest mountain in Crete. This sacred site developed in ancient Greece. It is considered to be as sacred as the other Greek temples. According to legend, Zeus is believed to have been born and raised here.
- Dodona. This is an ancient Greek city in Epirus. It was created to venerate Zeus and also to honour the oracle who lived there.
Arcadia is a historical centre in Greece, in the central part of the Peloponnesian Peninsula. It was once a place of worship for Zeus. The Greeks made sacrifices here. Arcada is believed to have been named after the son of Zeus and Callisto Arcades. When Callisto was pregnant, Zeus turned her into a bear to hide her from her wife Hera.
Where the name Zeus is used in contemporary culture
Today, the name Zeus is often used for the names of gambling games and clubs. This is because the theme of the game is based on ancient Greek mythology, specifically with the god Zeus. This helps to get through the game without various problems. Among the symbols of these games you can also find the god Zeus, Pegasus and many other symbols of ancient Greece.
A well-known gambling expert Alexei Ivanov has created a website dedicated to online casino reviews, which he called Zeus.
There are also so many feature films dedicated to Zeus or featuring Zeus in the modern world:
- "Axel Ringwall's Jupiter by Jorden: This is the first film that was dedicated to Zeus.
- Jason and the Argonauts by Niall McGinnis.
- "Laurence Olivier's Battle of the Titans and the sequel Wrath of the Titans.
- The Hercules cartoon.
- "Thor: Love and Thunder" by Russell Crowe.
Famous TV series featuring Zeus:
- "Hercules": the 1990 series. The role of Zeus was played by Corey Burton.
- Netflix animated series "The Blood of Zeus".
- The series Three: The Fall of the City.