Jupiter

Also known as: Ammon / Cenæan Jupiter / Father of the Gods / Jove / Panomphæan Thunderer / Saturnian Jupiter / great Jupiter / great Thunderer / son of Saturn / the omnipotent Father · Family: deity · Role: ruler of the world · First appears: Fable 4

After Saturn was driven into Tartarus, Jupiter assumed rule over the world, shortened spring, divided the year into four seasons, buried the Giants beneath the mountains, and shattered Olympus with lightning. He convened the gods over the corruption of mortals, exposed Lycaon’s plot against him, destroyed Lycaon’s house with avenging flames, changed him into a wolf, and resolved to destroy mankind by a universal deluge, imprisoning North Wind and sending forth South Wind.

Jupiter descended from Olympus in human form to investigate the earth, then revealed himself as a god. He pursued Io, darkened the earth, ravished her, changed her into a heifer to conceal her from Juno, and gave her to Juno; Epaphus was believed to be born from him. When Phaëton endangered the universe with fire, Jupiter struck him with lightning. In Arcadia he assumed Diana’s form to seduce Calisto, later placing Calisto and Arcas among the constellations, and he carried Europa to Crete in the shape of a bull. He is also described as taking other forms in his pursuits of Ægina, Asterie, Antiope, Alcmene, Danaë, Mnemosyne, and Deois, while becoming enamored of Ganymede.

Jupiter is the son of Saturn, brother of Juno, Neptune, and Pluto, and husband of Juno. He is named as father of Apollo, Mercury, Bacchus, Vulcan, Tityus, Tantalus, Perseus, Minerva, Æolus, Pelasgus, Æacus, Castor, and Pollux, among others. After promising Semele that he would grant her request, he appeared in his full majesty with clouds, storms, thunder, lightning, and his thunderbolt; Bacchus was then removed from Semele’s womb and placed in Jupiter’s thigh. He later granted Tiresias prophetic knowledge, and mediated between Ceres and Pluto, dividing Proserpine’s year between them.

At the prayer of Æacus, Jupiter transformed ants into men. Disguised as a human with Mercury, he visited Philemon and Baucis, rewarded their welcome by preserving their cottage and changing it into a temple, and appointed them its priests. He raised Hercules among the stars, made Ganymede the Cup-bearer of the Divinities, and changed the deceitful Cercopians into ugly animals.