Zeus was and is the most important and famous deity. Many legends have been invented about him. Among them there are those connected with the birth of Zeus. According to legends, Zeus appeared from the titans Cronus and Rhea. The father Cronus was cruel. As soon as he was predicted that his power would be taken away by his son, he began to devour every child his wife Rhea bore him. Rhea tried to dissuade her husband, but it was all in vain. Several children were eaten by the merciless Cronus. Then Rhea decided to save her last child. It turned out to be Zeus. She slipped her husband a stone wrapped in diapers.
Cronus didn’t notice the switch and swallowed it. Rhea escaped to the island of Crete, which is located in Greece. Here Rhea settled in a cave. Zeus was raised by a nymph and fed with her milk by the goat Amalthea. This is how Zeus grew up and matured.
How Zeus came to power
After Zeus grew up, he decided to free his sisters and brothers. With the help of his first wife Metida, Zeus decided to prepare a special drink. When Cronus drank it, he began to spit out the babies he had eaten. They came out as older.
After that, the war between the Titans and the gods began. It was a long and terrible war that lasted 10 years. Zeus and his brothers could not defeat the titans for a long time, but the Cyclopes and the hundred-armed giants came to their aid. Once Zeus helped them. He freed them from Tartarus.
In the end of a terrible battle, Zeus finally defeated the titans. He locked them in the deep dungeon of Tartarus. Mother of titans and goddess of the earth Gaea did not like it very much. She decided to take revenge on Zeus for treating her children so cruelly. Gaea created the horrible monster Typhon. Typhon had a hundred heads. Each head let out fire. When the gods saw him, they fled in terror. Zeus alone was not afraid. He was able to strike Typhon with lightning.
After that, the gods settled on Mount Olympus. Here they lived in a beautiful castle. The power in the world was divided between Zeus, Hades and Poseidon. Zeus, as the liberator, was given power over the sky. Poseidon ruled the sea element and Hades ruled the underworld. Zeus sat on his throne and watched over everyone. He bestowed the blessings of good on all who did good deeds. Those who did evil, he punished. Zeus was feared by the ancient Greeks, but at the same time, they believed that he was a god who brought order to life. Thanks to him in the world reigned calm.
In the view of the ancient Greeks Zeus had long hair and a long beard. He also had a masculine face and a strong and muscular body. Zeus was depicted sitting on his throne or standing with a lightning bolt in his hand.
The ancient Greeks believed that Zeus was a true hero lover. He had three official wives and many children out of wedlock. Among them were great heroes such as Hercules and Prometheus. His first wife was Oceanides Metila, his second wife was his own aunt, Themis, and his third wife was his sister Hera. The latter was very jealous. She arranged various trials for Zeus’s illegitimate wives and his children.
Zeus also had relations with earthly women. To conquer from Zeus could transform into different animals and even into different elements of nature. For example, he could become rain.
In ancient Greece, several places were created in which the great Thunderer was honored and worshipped. One of these places was the Greek island of Crete. This is the place where the great God was born. Also a place where Zeus is honored is the city of Olympia. Here a temple in honor of Zeus was erected.
In honor of the great Zeus, various festivals and holidays are held. In Athens to this day hold a holiday, which is associated with Zeus – Diacea. In Olympia they hold the Olympic Games, which are also connected with the worship of Zeus. Site about Zeus – https://whoiszeus.ca/.