# Epithets of Zeus

The numerous epithets of Zeus (titles which are applied to his name) indicate the diversity of the god's functions and roles. A number of these epithets, called epicleses, were used in cult, while others appear only in literature.

## Olympic Pantheon

Zeus played a dominant role, presiding over the Greek Olympian pantheon. He fathered many of the heroes and was featured in many of their local cults. Though the Homeric "cloud collector" was the god of the sky and thunder like his Near-Eastern counterparts, he was also the supreme cultural artifact; in some senses, he was the embodiment of Greek religious beliefs and the archetypal Greek deity.
Popular conceptions of Zeus differed widely from place to place. Local varieties of Zeus often have little in common with each other except the name. They exercised different areas of authority and were worshiped in different ways; for example, some local cults conceived of Zeus as a chthonic earth-god rather than a god of the sky. These local divinities were gradually consolidated, via conquest and religious syncretism, with the Homeric conception of Zeus. Local or idiosyncratic versions of Zeus were given epithets — surnames or titles which distinguish different conceptions of the god.

## Epithets

These epithets or titles applied to Zeus emphasized different aspects of his wide-ranging authority:
* Zeus Aegiduchos or Aegiochos: Usually taken as Zeus as the bearer of the Aegis, the divine shield with the head of Medusa across it, although others derive it from "goat" (αἴξ) and okhē (οχή) in reference to Zeus's nurse, the divine goat Amalthea.
* Zeus Agoraeus (Ἀγοραῖος): Zeus as patron of the marketplace (agora) and punisher of dishonest traders.
* Zeus Areius (Αρειος): either "warlike" or "the atoning one".
* Zeus Eleutherios (Ἐλευθέριος): "Zeus the freedom giver" a cult worshiped in Athens
* Zeus Horkios: Zeus as keeper of oaths. Exposed liars were made to dedicate a votive statue to Zeus, often at the sanctuary at Olympia
* Zeus Olympios (Ολύμπιος): Zeus as king of the gods and patron of the Panhellenic Games at Olympia
* Zeus Panhellenios ("Zeus of All the Greeks"): worshipped at Aeacus's temple on Aegina
* Zeus Xenios (Ξένιος), Philoxenon, or Hospites: Zeus as the patron of hospitality (xenia) and guests, avenger of wrongs done to strangers

## Additional titles

Additional names and epithets for Zeus are also:
* A
* B
* C
* D
* E
* G
* H
* I
* K
* L
* M
* N
* O
* P
* S
* T
* X
* Z

### A

* Abrettenus (Ἀβρεττηνός) or Abretanus: surname of Zeus in Mysia
* Achad: one of his names in Syria.
* Acraeus (Ακραίος): his name at Smyrna. Acraea and Acraeus are also attributes given to various goddesses and gods whose temples were situated upon hills, such as Zeus, Hera, Aphrodite, Pallas, Artemis, and others
* Acrettenus: his name in Mysia.
* Adad: one of his names in Syria.
* Zeus Adados: A Hellenization of the Canaanite Hadad and Assyrian Adad, particularly his solar cult at Heliopolis
* Adultus: from his being invoked by adults, on their marriage.
* Aeneius (Αἰνήιος) or Aenesius ( Αἰνήσιος), was worshipped in Cephalonia, where he had a temple on mount Aenos.
* Aethiops (Αἰθίοψ), meaning the glowing or the black. He was worshipped in Chios.
* Aetnaeus (Αἰτναῖος), due to the Mount Etna. There was a statue of Zeus and a festival was celebrated there.
* Agamemnon (Ἀγαμέμνων), was worshipped at Sparta. Eustathius believes that the epithet is because of the resemblance between Zeus and Agamemnon, while others believe that it signifying the Eternal, from ἀγὰν and μένων.
* Agetor (Ἀγήτωρ), leader and ruler of men.
* Agonius (Ἀγώνιος), helper in struggles and contests.
* Aleios (Ἄλειος), from "Helios" and perhaps connected to water as well.
* Alexicacus (Ἀλεξίκακος), the averter of evil.
* Amboulios (Αμβουλιος, "Counsellor") or Latinized Ambulius
* Apemius (Apemios, Απημιος): Zeus as the averter of ills
* Apesantius (Ἀπεσάντιος): of mount Apesas.
* Apomyius (Απομυιος): Zeus as one who dispels flies
* Aphesios (Αφεσιος; "Releasing (Rain)")
* Argikeravnos (ἀργικέραυνος; "of the flashing bolt").
* Asbamaeus (Ἀσβαμαῖος): Zeus as a god of oaths
* Astrapios (ἀστραπαῖός; "Lightninger"): Zeus as a weather god
* Atabyrius (Ἀταβύριος): he was worshipped in Rhodes and took his name from the Mount Atabyrus on the island
* Athous (Αθώος), derived from Mount Athos, on which the god had a temple.
* Aithrios (Αἴθριος, "of the Clear Sky").
* Aitherios (Αἰθέριος, "of Aether").

### B

* Basileus (Βασιλευς, "King, Chief, Ruler")
* Bottiaeus/ Bottaios (Βοττιαίος, "of the Bottiaei"): Worshipped at Antioch Libanius wrote that Alexander the Great founded the temple of Zeus Bottiaios, in the place where later the city of Antioch was built.
* Zeus Bouleus/ Boulaios (Βουλαίος, "of the Council"): Worshipped at Dodona, the earliest oracle, along with Zeus Naos
* Brontios and Brontaios (Βρονταῖος, "Thunderer"): Zeus as a weather god

### C

* Cenaean (Kenaios/ Kenaius, Κηναῖος): a surname of Zeus, derived from cape Cenaeum
* Chthonios (Χθόνιος, "of the earth or underworld")

### D

* Diktaios (Δικταιος): Zeus as lord of the Dikte mountain range, worshipped from Mycenaean times on Crete
* Dodonian/ Dodonaios (Δωδωναῖος): meaning of Dodona
* Dylsios (Δύλσιος)

### E

* Eilapinastes (Εἰλαπιναστής, "Feaster"). He was worshipped in Cyprus.
* Epikarpios (ἐπικάρπιος, "of the fruits").
* Eleutherios (Ἐλευθέριος, "of freedom"). At Athens after the Battle of Plataea, Athenians built the Stoa of Zeus Eleutherios. Some writers said that was called "of freedom" because free men built the portico near his shrine, while others because Athenians escaped subjection to the power of Persia and they were free.
* Epidôtês/ Epidotes (Επιδωτης; "Giver of Good"): an epithet of Zeus at Mantineia and Sparta
* Euênemos/ Euanemos (Ευηνεμος; "of Fair Winds", "Giver of Favourable Wind") or Latinized Evenemus/ Evanemus

### G

* Genethlios (Γενέθλιός; "of birth").
* Zeus Georgos (Ζεὺς Γεωργός, "Zeus the Farmer"): Zeus as god of crops and the harvest, worshipped in Athens

### H

* Zeus Helioupolites ("Heliopolite" or "Heliopolitan Zeus"): A Hellenization of the Canaanite Baʿal (probably Hadad) worshipped as a sun god at Heliopolis (modern Baalbek) in Lebanon
* Herkeios (Ἑρκειος, "of the Courtyard") or Latinized Herceius
* Hecalesius, a festival named Hecalesia (Εκαλήσια) was celebrated at Athens in honour of Zeus Hecalesius and Hecale.
* Hetareios (Ἑταιρεῖος, "of fellowship"): According to the Suda, Zeus was called this among the Cretans.
* Hikesios (Ἱκεσιος; "of Suppliants") or Latinized Hicesius
* Homognios (ὁμόγνιος; "of kindred")
* Hyetios (Ὑετιος; "of the Rain")
* Hypatos (Ὑπατος, "Supreme, Most High")
* Hyperdexios (Ὑπερδέξιος), from the village Hyperdexion.
* Hypsistos (Ὕψιστος, "Supreme, Most High")

### I

* Idaeus or Idaios (Ἰδαῖος), of mount Ida. Either Mount Ida in Crete or Mount Ida in the ancient Troad
* Ikmaios (Ικμαιος; "of Moisture") or Latinized Icmaeus
* Ithomatas (Ιθωμάτας), an annual festival celebrated at Ithome for Zeus Ithomatas.

### K

* Zeus Kasios ("Zeus of Mount Kasios" the modern Jebel Aqra) or Latinized Casius: a surname of Zeus, the name may have derived from either sources, one derived from Casion, near Pelusium in Egypt. Another derived from Mount Kasios (Casius), which is the modern Jebel Aqra, is worshipped at a site on the Syrian–Turkish border, a Hellenization of the Canaanite mountain and weather god Baal Zephon
* Kataibates (Καταιβάτης, "descending") or Latinized Cataebates, because he was sending-down thunderbolts or because he was descending to earth due to his love of women.
* Katharsios (Καθάρσιος, "purifying").
* Keraunios (Κεραυνιος; "of the Thunderbolt") or Latinized Ceraunius
* Klarios (Κλαριος; "of the Lots") or Latinized Clarius
* Konios (Κονιος; "of the Dust") or Latinized Conius
* Koryphaios (Κορυφαιος, "Chief, Leader") or Latinized Coryphaeus
* Kosmêtês (Κοσμητης; "Orderer") or Latinized Cosmetes
* Kronios (Κρόνιος; "son of Cronus")
* Ktesios (Κτησιος, "of the House, Property") or Latinized Ctesius

### L

* Zeus Labrandos (Λαβρανδευς; "Furious, Raging", "Zeus of Labraunda"): Worshiped at Caria, depicted with a double-edged axe (labrys), a Hellenization of the Hurrian weather god Teshub
* Laphystius ("of Laphystium"), Laphystium was a mountain in Boeotia on which there was a temple to Zeus.
* Limenoskopos (Λιμενοσκοπος; "Watcher of Sea-Havens") or Latinized Limenoscopus occurs as a surname of several deities, Zeus, Artemis, Aphrodite, Priapus and Pan
* Lepsinos, there is a temple of Zeus Lepsinos at Euromus.
* Leukaios (Λευκαῖος Ζεύς; "Zeus of the white poplar")

### M

* Maimaktês (Μαιμάκτης; "Boisterous", "the Stormy") or Latinized Maemactes, a surname of Zeus, from which the name of the Attic calendar month 'Maimakterion' (Μαιμακτηριών, Latinized Maemacterion) was derived and which that month the Maimakteria was celebrated at Athens.
* Zeus Meilichios/ Meilikhios (Μειλίχιος; "Zeus the Easily-Entreated") There was a sanctuary south of the Ilissos river at Athens.
* Mêkhaneus (Μηχανευς; "Contriver") or Latinized Mechaneus
* Moiragetes (Μοιραγέτης; "Leader of the Fates", "Guide or Leade of Fate"): Pausanias wrote that this was a surname of Zeus and Apollo at Delphi, because Zeus knew the affairs of men, all that the Fates give them and all that is not destined for them.

### N

* Zeus Naos: Worshipped at Dodona, the earliest oracle, along with Zeus Bouleus
* Nemeian

### O

* Ombrios (Ομβριος; "of the Rain", "Rain-Giver")
* Ouranios (Οὐράνιος, "Heavenly").
* Ourios (Οὐριος, "of Favourable Wind"). Ancient writers wrote about a sanctuary at the opening of the Black Sea dedicated to the Zeus Ourios (ἱερὸν τοῦ Διὸς τοῦ Οὐρίου). In addition, on the island of Delos a dedication to Zeus Ourios was found. The dedication was made by a citizen of Ascalon, named Damon son of Demetrius, who escaped from pirates.
* Osogoa (Ὀσογῶα), the Carian name of Zeus at Mylasa. There was a sanctuary of him in the city.

### P

* Palaimnios (Παλαμναῖος; "of Vengeance")
* Panamaros (Πανάμαρος; "of the city of Panamara"): there was an important sanctuary of Zeus Panamaros at the city of Panamara in Caria
* Panhellenius (Πανελλήνιος, "of all the Greeks/Common to all Greeks")
* Pankrates (Πανκρατής; "the almighty")
* Patrios (Πάτριος; "paternal")
* Pelorios (Πελώριος), sacrifices were offered to Zeus Pelorios, during the Thessalian festival of Peloria.
* Phratrios (Φράτριος), as patron of a phratry
* Philios (Φιλιος; "of Friendship") or Latinized Philius
* Phyxios (Φυξιος; "of Refuge") or Latinized Phyxius
* Plousios (Πλουσιος; "of Wealth") or Latinized Plusius
* Polieus (Πολιεὺς; "from cities (poleis").

### S

* Skotitas (Σκοτιτας; "Dark, Murky") or Latinized Scotitas
* Sêmaleos (Σημαλεος; "Giver of Signs") or Latinized Semaleus:
* Sosipolis (Σωσίπολις; "City saviour"): There was a temple of Zeus Sosipolis at Magnesia on the Maeander
* Splanchnotomus ("Entrails cutter"), he was worshipped in Cyprus.
* Stratios (Στράτιος; "Of armies").

### T

* Zeus Tallaios ("Solar Zeus"): Worshipped on Crete
* Teleios (Τελειος; "of Marriage Rites") or Latinized Teleus
* Theos Agathos (Θεος Αγαθος; "the Good God") or Latinized Theus Agathus
* Tropaioukhos/ Tropaiuchos (τροπαιοῦχος, "Guardian of Trophies"): after the Battle of the 300 Champions, Othryades, dedicated the trophy to "Zeus, Guardian of Trophies" .

### X

* Xenios (Ξενιος; "of Hospitality, Strangers") or Latinized Xenius

### Z

* Zygius (Ζυγίος): As the presider over marriage. His wife Hera had also the epithet Zygia (Ζυγία). These epithets describing them as presiding over marriage.