Zeus

Also known as: Cronion / Friendly Zeus / Guardian of the city / Household Zeus / Laphystian Zeus / Larissæan Zeus / Lycæan Zeus / Martial Zeus / Nemean Zeus / Pan-Hellenian Zeus / Rainy Zeus / Remover / Supreme Zeus / Zeus Chthonius / Zeus Eleutherius / Zeus Homagyrius / Zeus Lecheates / Zeus of Ithome / Zeus of the Lightning / Zeus the Averter of flies / Zeus the Cleanser / the Contriver / Ægis-bearing Zeus · Family: divine · Role: god · First appears: Book 1 · Chapter 13

At his birth, Rhea hid Zeus from Cronos, who was given a stone instead of the child; Hoplodamus and other Giants protected her, and the Nymphs Thisoa, Neda and Hagno were said to have brought Zeus up on Mount Lycæus. Other traditions place his rearing among the Messenians, with Ithome and Neda as nurses. He contended with Cronos for sovereignty of Heaven, or, according to another account, established the games at Olympia after defeating him.

Zeus’s relationships and deeds appear in many local traditions. He was said to be the father of Athene, Helen, Dionysus and numerous other figures; he carried off Ægina, hid Europa, and sent a golden-fleeced ram to rescue Phrixus and Helle. At Olympia, he sacrificed to Zeus the Averter of flies, and his altar was attributed by some to Idæan Hercules. At Ægina, Æacus prayed to him during a drought, and Zeus brought rain; he also produced settlers from the soil at Æacus’s request. At Athens, Cecrops was said to have first called him supreme, while Zeus ordered Athene and Poseidon to share the country.

In the accounts of his marriage to Hera, he was said to have been enamoured of her while she was still a maid. When she left him, Cithæron advised Zeus to stage a wedding with a wooden image and claim he intended to marry Platæa; Hera discovered the trick and was reconciled with him. Traditions also say Zeus assumed Amphitryon’s appearance to approach Alcmena, and that Semele bore him Dionysus. His cult and image spread through temples, statues and offerings: Adrian built the temple of Olympian Zeus at Athens and installed its statue, while Phidias made the great statue at Olympia, where Zeus struck the pavement after Phidias prayed for a sign of approval.