Zeus (Meaning and Explanation)

We explain who Zeus was in Greek mythology and what his cult was like. In addition, we tell you what other Greek gods were like.

zeus greek mythology antiquity — Zeus was considered the father of the gods and human beings.

Who was Zeus?

Zeus was the name of the supreme god of Ancient Greek religion and mythology He was considered the father of the gods and human beings, and the supreme ruler of Olympus, the mountain peak where the gods lived. He was represented as a bearded man carrying a crown and a scepter, and sometimes a lightning bolt, because The sky, thunder and energy were consecrated to him, in addition to the eagle, the bull and the oak.

In Greek mythology, Zeus had been the youngest son of the gods Rhea and Cronus. Cronus ruled the universe after having defeated and castrated his father, the god Uranus, and a prophecy predicted that he would suffer a similar fate at the hands of one of his sons.

For this reason, Cronus devoured his children as soon as they were born, until his wife, eager to keep the youngest of her children, gave him a stone wrapped in swaddling clothes in his place. Thus, Rhea was able to give birth to Zeus in secret and hide him in a cave on Mount Ida, in Crete, until the god was old enough to challenge his father.

Then Zeus opened Cronus's stomach and freed his brothers from inside, with whom he waged an epic war against the ancient gods (called “titans”), whom they defeated and imprisoned in the abyss of Tartarus. This war is called Titanomachy and represents the advent of the modern Greek gods, that is, the Olympian gods, reigned by Zeus, along with his wife and sister Hera.

Zeus, on the other hand, He was famous in the great Greek myths for his frequent and numerous infidelities, which is why he was the father of various deities (such as Athena, Ares, Apollo, Artemis, Hermes, Dionysus, Persephone and Hephaestus, depending on the story consulted) and many other classical heroes (such as Hercules, Orion, Corinth, Alexander the Great or Helen of Troy). His consorts and eventual lovers included goddesses, nymphs, and mortals, many of whom were later persecuted and punished by Zeus' jealous wife.

Cult of Zeus

In the religion of Ancient Greece, Zeus was the archetypal, omnipotent and supreme god who played a solar role (he was nicknamed “cloud gatherer”) in culture, in charge of commanding the universe and dispensing supreme justice among the gods. But, although he was considered the main god of the Olympic pantheon throughout Ancient Greece and its colonies (from Sicily to Asia Minor), His cult was never as popular as that of other minor divinities considered local patron saints in different cities and regions.

It was common, for example, to find statues of Zeus in government buildings, domestic altars, and on the tops of various mountains, but there was no temple dedicated to this god in Athens until well into the 6th century BC. C., and even the main temple of his cult, located in the ancient city of Olympia, was later than that of Hera. Even so, In his honor numerous animals were sacrificed, and the Olympic Games were held every four years.

The cult of Zeus, therefore, could vary depending on geography and also the role that the god was given. Thus, he had numerous epithets or invocations, each with its own name, which represented a certain aspect of his authority. Some examples of this are:

Zeus Olympian. In his role as father and ruler of Olympus, god of gods and patron of the Panhellenic festival (in which all of Ancient Greece gathered) in the city of Olympia.
Zeus Xenius. In his role as generous host and patron of guests (xenos“stranger”), ensured compliance with ancient laws of hospitality.
Zeus Agoreus. In his role as caretaker of the agora, that is, of the public square and commercial affairs, to punish dishonest citizens.
Zeus Horchius. In his role as guarantor of oaths, since those who broke the word pledged in an oath were forced to erect a statue to Zeus in compensation.
Zeus Memactes. In its role as ruler of the winds and winter storms, especially during the month of Memacterion (approximately November) in the city of Athens.
Zeus Eleutherius. In his role as guarantor of the freedom of Greek citizens, he was honored in different cities with the Eleuterian festivals.
Zeus Polyeus. In his role as caretaker of the polis, that is, of the State, who was worshiped during the Dipolias festivals in the city of Athens during the month of Scirophorion (at the end of spring).

Other gods of Greek mythology

zeus greek mythology other gods antiquity — Zeus dispensed supreme justice among the gods and was in control of the universe.

In addition to Zeus, the pantheon of Greek gods was made up of:

Hera (Juno for the Romans). Greek goddess of marriage, housework, motherhood and family, sister and wife of Zeus, she was often represented as a jealous and vengeful consort against the descendants of her husband's numerous infidelities.
Athena (Minerva for the Romans). Also known as Pallas Athena, she was a warrior and virginal goddess, associated with human knowledge: civilization, wisdom, justice, science and freedom. She was only the daughter of Zeus, since she was born from his head, after the father god swallowed one of his numerous lovers.
Poseidon (Neptune for the Romans). Greek god of the seas and earthquakes, whose rage generated storms, tidal waves, sea monsters and shipwrecks. Brother of Zeus, he was associated with horses and was represented as a bearded man wielding a trident, accompanied by a fish, lizard, dolphin or hippocampus, or in the company of the sea nymphs, the nereas.
Aphrodite (Venus for the Romans). Greek goddess of erotic love, sensuality and unbridled passion, represented as a fickle, capricious, moody and terribly beautiful woman. She was the unfaithful wife of the god Hephaestus, whom she deceived especially with Ares, god of war, and even with mortals from whom she conceived mythical heroes.
Hephaestus (Vulcan for the Romans). Greek god of fire, forging and metallurgy, patron of artisans and blacksmiths, he was represented as a bearded man with ugly features, unkempt and lame or with his feet upside down, leaning over his anvil with a hammer. His forge was inside Mount Olympus and the metal he forged was the best in all of Greece.
Ares (Mars for the Romans). Greek god of war, embodiment of bravery, tenacity, strength and virility. He was protector of armies, rebels and just men, and helper of the weak, although the brutality of war was also attributed to him. He was the son of Zeus and Hera.
Apollo (Delian for the Romans). God of the arts, divination and the bow and arrow, he was the Son of Zeus and Leto, and twin brother of Artemis. Beauty, balance, perfection, healing, the initiation of young people into adulthood, shepherding and music were also attributed to him.
Artemis (Diana for the Romans). Also called Artemis or Delia, she was a hunting goddess, associated with wild animals, virgin terrain, female virginity and childbirth. Twin sister of Apollo, she was represented as a young woman with a bow and a quiver full of arrows, accompanied by a deer, a cypress and even hunting animals, such as the dog.