Who is Zeus and why is he the most powerful god in mythology?

Religion played a big role in the ancient world, especially in Greece and the Roman Empire. There used to be polytheism - belief in several deities, led by a leader.

Zeus was the supreme deity, revered for centuries on end. Songs and legends were composed in his honour. The name Zeus is thought to be derived from the ancient Greek word for 'bright'. The word has a strong association with dies, a Latin word for 'day' which has a very long history, so many mythologists consider Zeus to be one of the oldest Greek gods.

The mythological character remains popular to this day: his name is actively used in various spheres: the gambling industry and culture. An asteroid (5731) is even named after Zeus.

Mythology 

Who is Zeus? Zeus was the sixth child of Cronus, the god of agriculture, and his wife Rhea. The exact date and place of birth are unknown.

Cronus feared that his children would rise up against him and dethrone him, just as he had done to his own father Uranus. To keep power in his hands, he decided to get rid of his own children. Rhea became pregnant five times, and each time she gave the swaddled baby to Cronus, who literally "swallowed" the child. When Rhea was already carrying her sixth heir under her heart, she did not want him to suffer the same fate. On the advice of her parents, the girl gave birth to a baby boy and hid him in a cave on the island of Crete. She swaddled him in a rock and gave him to her husband to be eaten without him noticing.

Subsequently, the boy was given milk by a goat and brought up by Rhea's servants, Kouretis. The ancient Greeks revered the goddess for her kindness and courage.

As the years passed, Zeus grew up and declared war on his father. At Zeus' insistence, Cronus returned the children he had swallowed to the world. They joined in the fight against Cronus. Some of the titans (Oceanus, Styx, Zeal, Power, etc.) sided with them, as did the Cyclopes. They forged him thunder and lightning and Zeus threw them at the titans. After a long ten-year struggle, the Olympian gods were victorious and the enemies were cast into Tartarus.

Rule and family

The victors divided power amongst themselves, where he is the chief god and each has a sphere apart from the common cause of ruling over mankind:

• Hestia - goddess of the home;
• Demeter - the great goddess of fertility, patroness of all that grows and bears fruit on the earth, patroness of agriculture;
• Hera - patroness of marriage;
• Hades, deity of the underworld;
• Poseidon - god of the sea.

The gods lived on Mount Olympus. It was there that the destinies of people were decided and the everyday life of the deities went on.

Zeus invented the laws for the life of mankind, he has the right to judge people and always takes just decisions, listening to the advice of the goddess of justice.

He also directs all other deities, resolves conflicts and takes part in wars. The god of earth and sky can also foretell the future (but not always).

Personal life

Zeus was a lovable god. He had several wives:

• His first wife was Metida, goddess of wisdom. She was swallowed by Zeus when she was pregnant, fearing her newborn son would take over. However, some time later, a daughter Athena was born from his head, combining the wisdom of her father and mother. Since then Metide has been Zeus' advisor, bringing good and evil to his spouse.
• The second wife and sister is Hera. She is a jealous and controlling woman who has often caused trouble for the god and his illegitimate children, the most famous of whom is Hercules. Her child gods are Ares, Hephaestus and Geba.
• For the third time he married Themis, goddess of justice, who bore him Ora and Fate - goddesses of time and seasons.

Zeus had a total of 26 children by goddesses and earthly women, including illegitimate ones: Aeacus, Perseus, Harmony, Minos and others.

Zeus' popularity in the world

People prayed to the deity when they wanted to ask for something or ask for protection. It is known that services were performed at the famous altar at the top of Lycian Mountain in Arcadia, a thousand years before Zeus appeared in Greek mythology! Scientists have come to this conclusion after excavating the altar and finding clay crocks dating back to 1200-1300 BC. Other finds from different periods show that the cult had been worshipping the deity for several centuries: miniature vases, silver coins and iron swords from the Homeric (11th-9th century BC), Classical (5th-4th century BC) and Hellenistic (4th-1st century BC) periods of ancient Greece.

Ancient Greek philosopher and geographer Pausius, wrote notes on geography about the site: "On the highest point of the mountain is a green mound which forms an altar to Zeus, and from there you can see most of the Peloponnese. In front of the altar on the eastern side are two columns decorated with ancient gilded figures of eagles. The sacrifices (animal flesh) to Zeus of Lycia are made there in secret".

Zeus has multiple epithets used by worshippers of the god during prayer:

• Aristarchus ("best lord");
• Austrpey ("lightning-fast");
• Bronton ("thunderer");
• Genarchus ("ancestor");
• Hickesius ("patron of saviours");
• Keravn ("he who strikes with thunder");
• Cronidus ("child of Cronus");
• Mechios ("the merciful one");
• Ombrius ("he who sends rain");
• Soter ("rescuer");
• Theleios ("almighty");
• Moiraget ("head of the Moira" [parks]).

Such names signify a special, sacred status.

At first people worshipped only on altars, and much later they began to build temples. The most famous is the Olympeion.

One of the temple's attractions is a statue of the god Zeus sitting on a throne, clothed in marble and gold. It is considered the seventh wonder of the ancient world!

Unfortunately, the statue has not survived to this day (it burned down in a fire), nor has the original image of the deity. Only copies of images and written descriptions of Zeus by ancient Greek philosophers and historians have survived.

In art Zeus was depicted as a bearded, majestic and mature man of sturdy build. The ruler was often transformed into birds and beasts that characterised his personal qualities: the eagle signified power, the bull signified fertility, and the throne on which he sat was a symbol of limitless power.

Symbolism

The main attributes of the god are a leaf-shaped "crown" and a scepter, which symbolises the power and strength of the ruler. He is also known as the god of sky, thunder and lightning, leading the world. This nickname is not a coincidence, but a regularity, as the god controls the natural elements. He is known to use lightning as a weapon against his enemies. The double-edged axe or labris is another weapon of Zeus. He uses it against his enemies.

Zeus' sacred plants are the oak tree and the olive tree.

Where the name Zeus is used in modern culture

Zeus is a well-known figure. His character is often suggested in games: Dota2 and arcades (Zeus 1-3, Zeus Rush Fever, etc.).

And movies have been made about Zeus, where he plays both major and minor characters: Clash of the Titans, Percy Jackson, Hercules, War of the Gods: Immortals, etc.