Zeus

: "It used to be that being a god, it meant something. People would whisper your name before sharing their deepest hopes and dreams. They begged you for mercy without ever knowing if you were actually listening."
: ―Zeus to Hercules[src]
Zeus Panhellenios is the King of the Olympians, the Greco-Roman God of Lightning and the Sky, and the leader of Omnipotence City. When he ignored the pleas of Thor warning the gods of the threat of Gorr the God Butcher, their disagreement led to confrontation, culminating in Zeus having his own weapon, Thunderbolt, thrown through him. However, Zeus survived and tasked his son Hercules with killing Thor.
== Biography ==
=== King of the Olympians ===
: "Oh, I don't know if you know this, but I base a lot of what I do on this guy. He's the god of lightning, I'm the god of thunder. Huge source of inspiration."
: ―Thor to Mighty Thor and Valkyrie[src]
According to Thor, Zeus was the oldest and wisest of all the gods. He led the Greek/Roman pantheon and was a well-respected figure among gods.
=== Worshiped on Earth ===
: "They look to the sky, they don't ask us for lightning. They don't ask us for rain. They just want to see one of their so-called superheroes. When did we become the joke?"
: ―Zeus to Hercules[src]
Centuries ago, Zeus was known on Earth for his deeds as a noble and courageous warrior who was highly respected. He came to be worshiped by the Greeks as the God of Lightning and the Sky. Zeus deeply enjoyed being respected by his people, where he would listen to his people praying to him, sharing their deepest wishes without ever knowing whether Zeus would respond to them. This divine status made Zeus egotistical as time progressed.
Eventually, Zeus along with the other Olympians stopped being worshiped as a consequence of the popularization of Christianity in Greece, and were thus seen just as mythological and fictional beings. This led Zeus to live in seclusion in Omnipotence City along with other gods, where they would enjoy feasts and orgies while neglecting their own duties as a god.
=== Hiding in Omnipotence City ===
==== Visited by Thor ====
: "I hereby open this holy council of the god. Where we have many, many serious matter to be talk about. Such as, where are we going to hold this year’s orgy?"
: ―Zeus[src]
In 2025, Zeus arrived in the Golden Temple for a Council of Godheads’ meeting. He declared the meeting started and informed them that there were many important matters to be discussed, such as where the next orgy would be and who would be the winner of a competition.
As he spoke, he overheard someone talking and invited him to position himself in an arena in the center of the Temple. When the disguised man came out, he expressed his excitement to see Zeus and then stated he had come to the City to form an army against Gorr the God Butcher. Zeus apathetically said that the gods slain by Gorr were low-level and arrogantly demanded that the man return to his seat and shut up. The man insisted and ended up being arrested by a furious Zeus, who produced golden chains around the man’s wrists.
Zeus then removed the man’s disguise, only to see Thor, who was fully naked. Zeus noticed Mighty Thor, Valkyrie, and Korg and suggested he remove their disguises, only for them to remove it themselves. Zeus recognized them as Asgardians and said he thought he would never see them again after Odin's death. Zeus then proceeded to mock Thor for his title "God of Thunder."
Thor insistently tried to convince Zeus to form an army against Gorr, but Zeus retorted by stating that each god would observe its own pantheon and that they should not take their problems to other gods. Thor replied that his childhood hero seemed scared. Hearing this, Zeus approached Thor and silently admitted that he is scared because Gorr had the Necrosword and that he recognized that Thor was trying to do the right thing, but claimed that all Thor was doing was creating panic. Zeus then returned Thor's outfit. Thor then asked to use the Thunderbolt, but Zeus mocked Thor for not knowing the weapon's name and proceeded to dramatically reject it.
After seeing the other gods distressed, Zeus reassured them that Gorr would not be able to reach Eternity's Realm, but Thor retorted stating that it was necessary to act immediately. Zeus arrogantly said that Gorr doesn't have the key. An angry Thor stated that the gods were hiding and being cowardly, and that he and his allies would act alone; however, Zeus said he would not allow them to go since Gorr could use them to discover the location of Omnipotence City.
===== Attacked by Thor =====
: "Zeus!""You're next, Odinson!"
: ―Thor and Zeus[src]
Zeus then watched as Thor, Mighty Thor and Valkyrie banded together to defeat his guards. Tired of what was going on, Zeus threw his Thunderbolt through Korg, causing Korg's body to crumble into pieces, although his face survived. Thor, believing his friend to be dead, screamed at Zeus, who summoned his Thunderbolt back and boasted that Thor would the next to die. Zeus then hurled the Thunderbolt at Thor, who caught it in his hands, charged it with lightning, and hurled it back at Zeus, impaling him through the chest. Thor then told a shocked Zeus that was the sound of lightning, before Zeus fell from his podium and plummeted to the floor below, seemingly killed.
==== Enlisting Hercules ====
: "They will learn to fear us again. They will fear us, when Thor Odinson falls from the sky. Do you understand, Hercules? Do you understand, my son?""Yes, father."
: ―Zeus and Hercules[src]
Having survived, Zeus mused on his throne to his aids about how people no longer feared the Gods, lamenting that superheroes were draining their influence. Refusing to allow the Gods to become jokes, Zeus decided that only Thor’s death could make the people fear the Gods again. Zeus then asked his son Hercules, who was watching his father, if he understood what needed to be done. Hercules affirmed his father's instructions, intent on hunting down Thor to exact vengeance.
== Personality ==
: "Zeus, this is bigger than us. He's taken Asgardian children.""Who do you think we are? The god police? Every god watches over their own peoples. Nothing more, nothing less. Asgardian problems are Asgardian problems."
: ―Thor and Zeus[src]
As described by Thor, Zeus once was a noble and courageous warrior, describing him as his personal hero. By living for so long in the safety and luxury of Omnipotence City, however, Zeus grew vain, arrogant, entitled and selfish, caring only about pleasing himself and the residents of his utopia, boasting about and showing off his might while refusing to aid any outsiders.
Above all else, Zeus is egotistical. He described the deities slain by the God Butcher as "lesser gods" and displayed no concern for the threat he presented, instead focusing on arranging an orgy for his entourage. But once called out on his cowardice by Thor, he quietly admitted to being afraid of Gorr, as he wielded the Necrosword and was capable of killing all gods for good - but downplayed the threat in order to maintain his mighty image, as well as to not cause panic amongst his peers. He tried to save face by ordering the Asgardian to remain on Omnipotence City, but only succeeded in spurring a brawl where Thor pierced his heart with his own lightning bolt.
Zeus' ego also made him vengeful and power hungry. After the ruckus caused by the Asgardians and having his wound treated by aides, the God of the Sky rambled to his son, Hercules about how Thor shifted humanity's view of the gods to protectors, "superheroes", instead of idols to adore, praise and submit themselves to. Zeus then vowed to teach mankind to fear the gods again, by striking down the God of Thunder. This shows that Zeus enjoyed the days when mortals viewed gods as their only heroes and devoutly prayed to them without even knowing if the gods were listening, but after Thor emerged as a world-known hero, the god's holy place in the hearts of humanity was taken, leading Zeus to vow for revenge.
== Powers and Abilities ==
=== Powers ===
* Olympian Physiology: To be added
** Superhuman Strength: To be added
** Superhuman Durability: Zeus has astonishing resistance to damage and is able to survive having his heart and other innards destroyed by Thor throwing his thunderbolt through his chest.
** Superhuman Speed: To be added
** Superhuman Agility: To be added
** Superhuman Stamina: To be added
** Superhuman Reflexes: Zeus had quick reflexes, that allowed him to perform many flourishes with his weapon.
** Regenerative Healing Factor: Zeus can heal from wounds that would be otherwise fatal, such as having Thunderbolt pierce straight through him. He only truly feared the Necrosword, for it was the one thing that could truly slay gods.
** Immortality: Zeus, as an Olympian God, cannot die from age and has existed for many millennia, unlike the Asgardians whose life expectancies are about 5000 years. According to Thor, he is the oldest of the gods.
** Flight: To be added
** Electricity Generation: Much like Thor is the God of Thunder, Zeus is the God of Lightning. He could channel the power to call forth lightning through his weapon, Thunderbolt; furthermore, without it, Zeus was able to create shackles of electricity to restrain Thor.
** Weather Manipulation: To be added
** Wind Manipulation: As the God of the Sky, Zeus could call forth strong gusts of wind. He used such power to flick Thor's disguise away.
** Telekinesis: Zeus used telekinesis to give Thor's disguise back.
=== Former Powers ===
* Thunderbolt Capabilities: Thunderbolt has been Zeus's iconic weapon and symbol for thousands of years prior to Valkyrie's theft of the weapon.
** Electricity Generation: Thunderbolt can channel the electrical energy of Zeus.
** Flight: To be added
** Teleportation: Thunderbolt can create a sphere of energy that allow its user to travel interstellar distances.
** Weapon Calling: Zeus could call back Thunderbolt from a distance, much like Mjølnir and Stormbreaker could do the same to their masters.
=== Abilities ===
: "Zeus, the oldest and wisest of them all."
: ―Thor to Mighty Thor[src]
* Genius-Level Intellect: To be added
* Master Tactician: To be added
* Master Combatant: Zeus, at one point, was able to use Thunderbolt to hold his own against Thor, Valkyrie, Mighty Thor, and Korg and was able to demolish Korg's body during the battle.
== Equipment ==
=== Former Weapons ===
: "My lightning bolt is called Thunderbolt."
: ―Zeus to Thor[src]
* Thunderbolt: His lightning bolt, a powerful weapon with which he could summon and command storms. Thunderbolt could be split in two for dual wielding, and Zeus could split it into several smaller versions of itself in order to show off during his entrances. He used it in an attempt to kill Korg and Thor; he managed to deeply wound the Kronan, but the Asgardian caught the weapon and launched it back, piercing him through the heart and wounding him. It was shortly later stolen by Valkyrie.
== Facilities ==
: "We are safe here. You, my friend, you are safe here. So, chill, baby cake. Have some wine, have some grape."
: ―Zeus to Thor[src]
* Golden Temple: To be added
== Relationships ==
=== Family ===
* Dionysus - Son
* Hercules - Son
* Ares - Son
* Artemis - Daughter
* Minerva - Daughter
* Aphrodite - Daughter
=== Allies ===
* Olympians
** Zeusettes - Attendants
** Zeus' Pretty Boys - Servants
* Council of Godheads
** Bao
** Ninny of the Nonny
** Odin †
** Ennead
*** Bast
*** Isis
*** Sekhmet	
=== Enemies ===
* Gorr the God Butcher †
* Asgardians
** Thor - Former Fan, Attempted Victim, and Attempted Killer
** Brunnhilde/Valkyrie
* Korg - Attempted Victim
* Jane Foster/Mighty Thor †
== Trivia ==
* In the comics, Zeus Panhellenios, known by the Romans as Jupiter, is the supreme monarch of the Olympians and the father of Athena. He was worshiped by humans in Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire.
* In Greek mythology, Zeus is the sky and thunder god who rules as king of the gods on Mount Olympus. In Roman mythology, he is known as Jupiter.
== Behind the Scenes ==
* Nigel Poulton was a stunt double for Russell Crowe in the role of Zeus.
* Bobby Winch was a stand-in for Russell Crowe in the role of Zeus.
* Harvey B. Jackson was a body double for Russell Crowe in the role of Zeus.
* Shaun Barry was a picture double for Russell Crowe in the role of Zeus.
* Russell Crowe was initially going to portray Satan, with concept art depicting his potential appearance. However, this was changed to Zeus later in development. Septimus Caton would later be cast as Satan, but his scenes were cut.
* According to Taika Waititi, there was a quite lengthy ongoing discussion about whether Zeus should talk with either a British or Greek accent. Russell Crowe even shot all of his scenes twice with both accents, in case one or the other ended up being used.
== References ==
# ↑ Thor
# ↑ Jump up to:2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Thor: Love and Thunder
# ↑ Thor: Love and Thunder Mid-credits Scene
# ↑ Russell Crowe Was Originally Going to Play Satan in ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’
# ↑ Odd Studio on Instagram - March 24, 2023
# ↑ Russell Crowe filmed his Thor: Love and Thunder scenes twice – with two different accents
== External Links ==
* Zeus on Marvel Database
* Zeus on Wikipedia
* Jupiter on Wikipedia
* Zeus on Wikipedia
* Zeus on Marvel Website