Zeus (redirected from Zeus Ammon)

Zeus (zs), in Greek religion and mythology, son and successor of Kronos as supreme god. His mother, Rhea, immediately after his birth concealed him from Kronos, who, because he was fated to be overthrown by one of his children, ate all his offspring. Rhea gave him a stone wrapped in swaddling clothes which he devoured immediately, not suspecting that the infant Zeus still lived. Later, Zeus tricked Kronos into disgorging his brothers and sisters and led them in a successful revolt against their father (see Titan). When lots were cast to divide the universe, the underworld went to Hades, the sea to Poseidon, and the heavens and earth to Zeus. Zeus was an amorous god. His first mate was probably Dione, but his official consort was his sister, Hera, who bore him Ares and Hebe. Zeus also loved Themis, Eurynome, Demeter, Mnemosyne, Leto, and Maia and fathered many gods. Famous among his mortal loves were Danaë, Leda, Semele, Thetis, Io, and Europa. His sons sired from mortal wives include Hercules, Dardanus, and Amphitryon. He was also the father of Athena, who was said to have sprung from his head. Supreme among the gods, Zeus, ruling from his court on Mt. Olympus, was the symbol of power, rule, and law. As the father god and the upholder of morality, he rewarded the good and punished the evil. The root meaning of Zeus is "bright" or "sky," and in this sense he was god of weather and fertility. Thus he was worshiped in connection with almost every aspect of life. The most famous weapon of Zeus was the thunderbolt, but, according to some legends, he also possessed the aegis. The Romans equated Zeus with their own supreme god, Jupiter (or Jove).

Bibliography

See A. B. Cook, Zeus (3 vol., 1914–40).

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Zeus

Zeus hurling a thunderbolt, bronze statuette from Dodona, Greece, early 5th century BC; in the …

(credit: Courtesy of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Antikenabteilung)

In Greek religion, the chief deity of the pantheon, a sky and weather god. His Roman counterpart was Jupiter. Zeus was regarded as the bearer of thunder and lightning, rain, and winds, and his traditional weapon was the thunderbolt. The son of Cronus and Rhea, he was fated to dethrone his father. He divided dominion over the world with his brothers Poseidon and Hades. As ruler of heaven, Zeus led the gods to victory against the Titans. From his home atop Mount Olympus, he dispensed justice and served as protector. Known for his amorousness—a source of perpetual discord with his wife, Hera—he had many love affairs with mortal and immortal women, giving rise to numerous offspring, including Apollo, Ares, Artemis, Athena, Dionysus, Helen, Hephaestus, and Persephone. In art he was represented as a bearded, dignified, and mature man.

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Zeus

in form of a swan, seduces and impregnates Leda. [Gk. Myth.: Zimmerman, 149]

See : Bestiality

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Zeus

disguises himself as: satyr to lie with Antiope, Amphitryon with Alcmena, Artemis with Callisto, shower of gold with Danaë, white bull with Europa, swan with Leda, flame of fire with Aegina, and cuckoo with Hera. [Gk. Myth.: Jobes, 1719; New Century, 1158; Zimmerman, 293]

See : Disguise

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Zeus (Jupiter, Jove)

“Father of the gods and men”; had many legitimate and illegitimate children. [Gk. and Rom. Myth.: Benét, 1115; Bulfinch, Ch. I]

See : Fatherhood

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Zeus

disguised as Amphitryon, gives a banquet at the latter’s house. [Gk. Myth.: Benét, 32]

See : Feast

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Zeus

assumes the appearance of her husband Amphitryon in order to seduce Alcmene. [Fr. Drama: Moliere Amphitryon]

See : Impersonation

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Zeus

the many loves of this god have made his name a byword for sexual lust. [Gk. Myth.: Howe, 297–301]

See : Lust

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Zeus

supreme of Greek gods; extramarital affairs were count-less. [Gk. Myth.: Zimmerman, 292]

See : Profligacy

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Zeus

assumed many forms to indulge his passions. [Zimmerman, 292–293]

See : Transformation

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Zeus - Berkeley Yacc