Questions tagged [zeus]
The supreme sky god of Greek mythology.
56
questions
3
votes
0
answers
70
views
Why does Hesiod emphasize the fact that Hecate is the only child of her parents?
In Hesiod's Theogony, he dedicates a part to talking about Hecate's birth and the powers she possesses:
And she conceived and bare Hecate whom Zeus the son of Cronos honoured
above all. He gave her ...
- 103
2
votes
1
answer
101
views
Why does Cronus have the power to cast hailstones, in the Dionysiaca of Nonnus?
I was reading the page of Cronus on Theoi.com when I saw this passage, which talks about the fight between Zeus and Cronus:
Broadbeard Kronos fanned the flame of Enyo (War) as he cast icy spears
...
- 103
2
votes
2
answers
146
views
Specificness of gods
I am by no means an expert or insider on mythology, and maybe I misuse or misunderstand Greek mythology. But there has always been a question that has been on my mind.
Why do the gods have such ...
- 21
2
votes
1
answer
465
views
Who were all the godly children of Zeus and how many were there?
How many children did Zeus have that were gods? How many were there? I know that the 9 Muses were fathered by Zeus, as well as some of the Olympians (Apollo, Artemis, Dionysus, Athena, Ares, and ...
- 29
5
votes
1
answer
454
views
Did Galileo or Marius know that Callisto was tidally locked?
Jupiter IV, usually referred to as Callisto in modern times, is tidally locked to Jupiter(Zeus). Callisto of mythology attracted the attentions of Zeus (ostensibly because of her physique, according ...
- 135
3
votes
2
answers
115
views
Source for claim that white animals were sacrificed to Olympian gods?
The Wikipedia article about Zeus contains these two sentences:
Certain modes of ritual were held in common as well: sacrificing a white animal over a raised altar, for instance.
Olympian gods, by ...
- 151
1
vote
1
answer
137
views
Is there any surviving manuscript older than the 1st century CE that mentions the story of Danae being impregnated by Zeus's golden shower?
I know that the story is mentioned in:
Pherecydes' Genealogies
scholia of Apollonius of Rhodes
Sophocles' Antigone
Antipater of Thessalonica
Gaius Julius Hyginus' Fabulae
the Greek Anthology
...
- 141
1
vote
0
answers
288
views
Did Zeus become a literal ant, or a human with ant-like qualities, a worker?
The Myrmidons (or Myrmidones Μυρμιδόνες) were an ancient nation of Greek mythology. In Homer's Iliad, the Myrmidons are the soldiers commanded by Achilles.[1] Their eponymous ancestor was Myrmidon, a ...
- 11
5
votes
2
answers
240
views
Why was the goat Amalthea such a dreaded animal?
Amalthea was the goat that fed Zeus when Rhea wanted to protect him from Cronus, hiding him in a cave in Crete. Other versions say that she was actually a nymph, who was in charge of feeding him with ...
- 53
4
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Was there meant to be a connection or comparison between Poseidon's trident and Hades's bident?
In Greek mythology, Poseidon carries a three-pronged spear known as a trident, while his brother Hades carries a two-pronged spear known as a bident. For that matter, the third brother Zeus carries ...
- 540
4
votes
1
answer
219
views
Do we know of any battles or other specific events that happened during the Titanomachy?
Every account of the Titanomachy I’ve ever seen basically jumps from Zeus getting Kronos to regurgitate his siblings straight to the Olympians’ victory ten years later. A few will reference the ...
- 540
1
vote
2
answers
282
views
Do any myths specify whether Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, Hera, Demeter, and Hestia were sextuplets or simply siblings?
We know that Zeus was the youngest, but then people do still talk about being the "older twin" or "younger twin."
Do we know if Zeus was the youngest of six siblings born (and ...
- 540
1
vote
0
answers
167
views
what was the reason for rape in greek myths and culture
Is the reason gods assaulted women because of Eros?
Did gods and mortals alike blame Eros for their act of "passion"?
- 11
4
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Why doesn't Hera divorce Zeus and marry someone more faithful?
This is something I don't understand. If Hera hates Zeus' infidelity, to the point of cursing his lovers and even trying to overthrow him, why not marry someone else?
- 381
4
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Who in Greek mythology is associated with natural disasters?
For example, tsunamis being water are obvious to be Poseidon's doing, but what about volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, landslides, avalanches, soil liquefaction etc?
Some sources state that Poseidon ...
- 196
1
vote
1
answer
899
views
Did Hermes ever somehow helped Prometheus, or not? Is he God of thieves, or what?
Mine question: Did Hermes ever somehow helped Prometheus, or not? Is he God of thieves, or what?
Did Hermes helped Prometheus:
During his feat
Or while Prometheus served a life sentence.
2
votes
1
answer
773
views
How did Prometheus deceive Zeus?
In Hesiod's Works and Days, we learn that Zeus hid fire from humankind in anger because Prometheus had deceived him:
For the gods keep hidden from men the means of life. Else you would easily do work ...
- 17k
10
votes
2
answers
390
views
Who was Zeus' first child conceived with a mortal?
Zeus was well known for his sexual escapades (both willing or unwilling).
These resulted in many divine (Gods,Olympians) and heroic offspring (demi-gods)
My question is : Who was Zeus' first child ...
- 4,051
9
votes
1
answer
4k
views
What do we know of the rebellion against Zeus by Poseidon, Hera and Athena?
In the first book of the Iliad Achilles mentions that Thetis, his sea nymph mother, once saved Zeus from a rebellion by Poseidon, Hera and Athena:
Help your brave son, therefore, if you are able. Go ...
- 17k
2
votes
1
answer
754
views
Are there any myths that prove Athena was the favorite daughter of Zeus?
In Greek mythology, Athena is often said to be favourite child of Zeus.
The only proof that I know of is him gifting her his shield (Aegis).
But are there any other myths that provide proof for this ...
- 563
8
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How did Cronos lose if he was god of time?
I have read in many articles where it is mentioned that Zeus overthrew the Titan Cronos who could control time.
How is it possible? Cronos could just turn back time and correct wherever he went wrong....
- 191
5
votes
2
answers
3k
views
When Zeus impregnates Danae, what is the meaning of the shower being golden?
In the myth where Zeus impregnates Danae through a golden shower, what is the significance of the water being golden? Rain is often symbolizing semen, but why is it golden? Does it simply indicate ...
- 2,227
7
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Zeus' Lightning Bolt
Did Zeus'/Iupiters' lightning bolt ever attain it's own personal name, or did the Greeks and Romans only ever use generic words for thunder and lightning?
- 525
20
votes
2
answers
22k
views
Why is rape featured so prominently in Greek mythology?
This question may be a little controversial so try to keep your answers as academically as possible. (take an example from @DukeZhou )
If on the subject general answers are also accepted
I am familiar ...
- 4,051
2
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What does Tiresias's answer to the gods mean?
Zeus and Hera once had an argument on which gender enjoyed love making more. They called on Tiresias, a mortal that had been both a man and a woman. his answer was this...
Of ten parts a man enjoys ...
- 6,685
4
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Did Zeus give Pandora the box?
Did Zeus give Pandora the box?
So the version I'm most familiar with is that Epimetheus had a box containing the evils of the world, but in some other versions e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=...
- 413
13
votes
2
answers
9k
views
Metis' unborn son
In the myth of Athena's birth it is mentioned that Metis' second child would overthrow Zeus. When Zeus swallowed Metis, he prevented the prophecy's fulfillment and Metis never had a son. But what if ...
- 563
1
vote
1
answer
628
views
Why did Zeus take half the goodness out of a man?
I found something online mentioning a passage from the Odyssey, Book XVII. I checked it against my own Odyssey translated by Samuel Butler. The passage holds true.
"...Servants never do their work ...
- 6,685
6
votes
1
answer
429
views
Persian Zeus in Xenophon's Cyropaedia
In the Cyropaedia, the fictional biography of Cyrus the Great, there are, at least, 26 instances of "Zeus", in many cases used like... "By Zeus!"
This is interpretatio graeca, of course, but, if we ...
- 2,277
1
vote
2
answers
680
views
When has Zeus shown wisdom?
Zeus swallowed his wife Metis, titan of Wisdom, because he feared the prophecy that a son between the two of them would overrule him. It is then said that Metis became the source of Zeus's wisdom. ...
- 6,685
5
votes
1
answer
824
views
Why are the three Judges of the Underworld Zeus's sons?
The Judges of the Dead in Greek Mythology are Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Aeacus.
Minos was a tyrant king of Crete. He made war with Athens because his son died there. He demanded 14 virgin youths, 7 ...
- 6,685
9
votes
2
answers
494
views
Is Zeus ever referred to as Earthshaker?
From my exposure to Greek mythology (The Iliad, The Odyssey, etc.) I had always seen/heard the god of the sea, Poseidon, referred to as Earth-Shaker. Zeus was always given other titles such as Zeus ...
- 241
4
votes
1
answer
234
views
When did Zeus get the aegis?
Every version I have read has Perseus given a shield by Athena. He uses the shield to see Medusa's reflection to cut her head off. Some time later, he gave the shield and the head to Athena. Athena ...
- 6,685
5
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Who did Zeus punish by having poison/acid dripped on them?
I am not sure if this is a real myth, as I learned about it from a Tumblr post:
charlesoberonn:
Hades was the least evil entity in the entire Greek pantheon. Just look at the ...
- 6,685
7
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Is there a tale of Zeus having sex with a deer?
I heard about a myth saying Zeus had sex with a deer, but after hours of research, I hold nothing. Can anyone tell me of this myth?
I am especially interested in acquiring any information about a ...
- 6,685
8
votes
1
answer
219
views
Did the power of Zeus grow considerably after the Titanomachy?
In my previous question, I learned of Typhon's revolt against Zeus. What puzzles me is how Zeus managed to overcome the monstrous giant without any help from the Olympians, or anyone else.
In the ...
- 1,400
9
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Was the rule of Zeus ever challenged?
Zeus became king of the gods and absolute ruler of the cosmos when he overthrew his father Cronus in the Titanomachy.
I wonder if his reign was ever challenged after that?
- 1,400
8
votes
3
answers
882
views
If Athena was born from Zeus' brain, does this mean Athena is a manifestation of Zeus' intelligence?
I have heard that Athena was born out of thoughts, sprang from Zeus' head. In that case, does this mean Athena is a manifestation of Zeus' intelligence?
- 306
3
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Why was the Worship of Zeus and his kin banned?
I read somewhere that before Christianity, the Greeks worshiped the seven Greek Gods and eventually it was outlawed or forbidden.
My question is, Why was the Worship of Zeus and his kin banned?
I'm ...
- 141
8
votes
1
answer
369
views
Is there any significance to the forms Zeus took?
Zeus often takes many forms to trick his wives and other damsels and some of the more prominent forms that he had taken are:
-the eagle(for Ganydeme)
-the swan(for Leda)
-the bull(for Eurynome)
-...
user1385
4
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What power does Hera have over Zeus?
Zeus was king of the gods, and his lightening bolt was something of a supreme weapon in the clash with the titans.
And yet, Zeus is often depicted as a hen-pecked husband, fearful of his wife.
...
- 14.1k
4
votes
1
answer
851
views
Is Zeus subject to the decrees of the Moirai?
In Herodotus's Histories (I.91) it is said:
When the Lydians came, and spoke as they had been instructed, the
priestess (it is said) made the following reply. “No one may escape
his lot, not ...
- 1,249
8
votes
2
answers
598
views
What is the earliest source to claim that Zeus and Ganymede were lovers?
On this question, I and another poster claim on the basis of internet sources that Ganymede was Zeus' male lover. A commenter challenged that, however, and I haven't yet found a reliable source to say ...
- 959
7
votes
1
answer
286
views
Who was the goddess, pregnant with Zeus' child or children, who was denied sanctuary?
A certain goddess, having been impregnated by Zeus, was driven from her home by the ever-angry Hera, and forced to flee, with her children or child, unsure. Everywhere she went she was rejected in ...
- 433
7
votes
1
answer
207
views
Are there any studies of the historic phenomenon of the chief god of a pantheon being replaced by the storm god?
We find in at least two instances the chief god of a pantheon being replaced by the younger storm god of that pantheon. For example, in Canaanite mythology, the supreme god El is replaced with the ...
- 1,327
15
votes
1
answer
803
views
Looking for an obscure myth where Zeus kills one of Apollo's male lovers
I remember reading a myth as a child, but have not been able to find it again ever since.
It starts like a typical Apollo myth: Apollo has a young best friend/lover, and they are inseparable. Then ...
- 259
15
votes
3
answers
8k
views
What happened to Metis after the birth of Athena?
Zeus swallowed Metis to prevent the prophecy of her future son overthrowing him from being fulfilled, but she was already pregnant, and later her daughter Athena sprang from Zeus' head. What happened ...
- 959
16
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Which cities had chthonic Zeus cults?
The Wikipedia article on Zeus tells us (emphasis mine):
Although etymology indicates that Zeus was originally a sky god, many Greek cities honored a local Zeus who lived underground. Athenians and ...
- 17k
14
votes
1
answer
286
views
Status of Euhemerus theory on Zeus
Euhemerus (4th Century BC) is famous for his attempt to interpret myths as deformed historical events. In particular he thought that Zeus was originally a Cretan king whose tomb could be found in ...
- 3,539
15
votes
2
answers
441
views
Was Zeus a compilation of gods?
Zeus is a complex character; although he is chief among gods, with many noble qualities, he is also deeply flawed. Among various sites on the internet 1 2 3 4, there's this passage which suggests that ...
- 2,494