Zeus (King)
godZeus was the king of the Olympian gods, ruler of the sky, wielder of the thunderbolt — the supreme deity whose authority held the divine and mortal orders together.
The Myth
The youngest son of Kronos, hidden in Crete, Zeus overthrew his father and freed his siblings. He defeated the Titans, the Giants, and Typhon. He divided the cosmos with his brothers: sky for himself, sea for Poseidon, underworld for Hades. He enforced oaths (by the Styx), protected guests (as Zeus Xenios), and maintained cosmic justice. His countless affairs with goddesses and mortals produced most of the heroes and many of the gods. His thunderbolt, forged by the Cyclopes, was the ultimate weapon.
Symbols
Fun Fact
The word "jovial" — meaning cheerful and good-humoured — comes from Jove/Jupiter, Zeus's Roman name, as those born under Jupiter were thought to be merry.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
Explore Further
Apollo
godGod of light, music, poetry, and prophecy. Apollo embodied the Greek ideal of youthful masculine...
Artemis
godTwin sister of Apollo and goddess of the hunt. Artemis roamed the wild forests with her band of...
Athena
godGoddess of wisdom and strategic warfare, born fully armored from the head of Zeus. Patron deity of...
Crete
placeCrete was the largest Greek island and the seat of the Minoan civilisation, home to King Minos, the...
Dionysus
godGod of wine, ritual madness, and theatrical performance. Dionysus was the only Olympian born of a...
Hades
godRuler of the underworld and lord of the dead. Despite his fearsome reputation, Hades was not evil —...