Zeus

**Zeus** was the king of the gods from Greek mythology.

## Depiction

Zeus was usually depicted as a regal, bearded man. His retinue was particularly large. Cratus and Bia were the enforcers of Zeus who were responsible for apprehension jobs, such as the imprisonment of Prometheus. Nike drove the chariot of Zeus. Zelus was also in the retinue of Zeus although his exact duty is unknown.

Hermes was the personal messenger of Zeus who also acted as the agent of Zeus' will. Iris was also sometimes given the duties of Hermes, although she is usually said to be the personal messenger of Hera.

Themis was usually seated next to Zeus' throne and was attended to by the Horae and the Moirae. She was the high counselor of Zeus who was responsible for summoning all gods to assemblies on Olympus.

Hestia was responsible for tending to the eternal flame in the hearth of Zeus' home.

Metis was the provider of divine wisdom to Zeus. Although usually not seen in his retinue because Zeus swallowed her whole before she gave birth to Athena.

Ganymede and Hebe were the cupbearers of Zeus.

The Harpies were described as the "hounds of Zeus" who punished mortals who had done bad things.

Pegasus was a winged horse who was responsible for carrying Zeus' lightning bolts.

## Abode

Aside from being king of the gods, Zeus was the god of the sky, thunder, lightning, law and order, destiny and fate, and kingship. Zeus was also the protector of oaths who punished those who broke oaths.

### Attributes

His most notable attribute was definitely his lightning bolt or an eagle. Other attributes of his included a royal scepter, a throne, the aegis, an an olive leaf crown. His sacred animals included a bull as well as an eagle. His sacred plants were the oak and olive trees.

## Relationships

 Offspring
**With Themis:** The Horae, The Moirae, The Themeides
**With Eurynome:** The Charites
**With Mnemosyne:** The Muses
**With Demeter:** Persephone
**With Leto:** Apollo, Artemis
**With Metis:** Athena
**With Maia:** Hermes
**With Semele:** Dionysus
**With Persephone:** Zagreus, Melinoe
**With Carme:** Britomartis
**With Selene:** Pandia, Herse
**With Aex:** Aegipan
**With Thalia:** The Palici
**With Gaea:** The Cyprian Centaurs, Manes
**With Aegina:** Aeacus
**With Europa:** Minos, Rhadamanthys, Sarpedon
**With Calyce:** Aethlius, Endymion
**With Lamia:** Acheilus, Herophile
**With Olympia:** Alexander the Great
**With Antiope:** Amphion, Zethus
**With Niobe:** Argus, Pelasgus
**With Callisto:** Arcas
**With Cassiopeia:** Atymnius
**With Electra:** Dardanus, Emathion, Iasion
**With Leda:** Polydeuces, Helen
**With Io:** Epaphus, Ceroessa
**With Thyia:** Graecus, Magnes, Macedon
**With Alcmene:** Heracles
**With an African nymph:** Iarbas
**With Hora:** Colaxes
**With Himalia:** Cronius, Cytus, Spartaeus
**With Taygete:** Lacedaemon
**With Pandora:** Latinus
**With a Sithnid nymph:** Megarus
**With Othris:** Meliteus
**With Eurymedusa:** Myrmidon
**With Danae:** Perseus
**With Laodameia:** Sarpedon
**With Plouto:** Tantalus
**With a daughter of Borysthenes:** Targitaus
**Without a consort:** The Litae, Aletheia, Caerus, Crinacus

## Other Names

* Jupiter (in Roman mythology)
* Jove (in Roman mythology)

## Sources

* Atsma, Aaron J. "Zeus." *Theoi Greek Mythology*. Theoi Project, n.d. 19 May 2017.