Zeus Greek god of Lightning, Heavens, and Sky, the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympia, and was the face of Greek Mythology. He was the primary deity that ruled over all of the deities and had rightfully earned his spot after leading a revolution to overthrow the Titans. While there are many things the Thunder god is known for, one of his primary attributes was his infidelity to his wife, Hera, which seemed to cause more problems than good.
Zeus Greek God: The Rise to Olympia
Zeus was the son of Titans Cronus and Rhea. The mother of Cronus was Gaia, mother Earth, who prophesied that one of their children would overthrow the Titans and take control of the world. Cronos was struck with fear when he heard this and did what most wonderful fathers would do: he decided to eat his children. When Zeus was born, Rhea hid him from his cannibalistic father, handed him off to a couple of foster mothers, and hid him in Crete.
While being raised on Crete, Zeus met his first wife, Metis. Metis advised him to disguise himself as an Olympian cupbearer. Cronus was fooled and did not know that Zeus was his son. Zeus was able to give Cronus poisoned wine to drink, which then caused Cronus to throw up violently. During his heaves of vomit, Cronus reproduced all the children he had swallowed. Zeus, who had been the youngest, was now the oldest due to the rebirth of his siblings.
The siblings united and followed Zeus in a revolution against the Titans. They successfully overthrew the Titans and began their rule of the world from Mount Olympus.
Cronus' mother, Gaia, did not approve of Zeus' actions against the Titans and tried to usurp him multiple times but failed.
The Women of Zeus
Throughout the stories of Zeus Greek God of the Heavens, he seemed to always struggle with various women and prophesies.
- Thetis - It was prophecied by Prometheus that the child that came from Thetis would be greater than the father. Zeus had eyes for Thetis, as did Poseidon, but both chose to move on from her in light of the prophecy. She went on to marry Peleus. Their son became Achilles.
- Metis - Zeus' first wife, was also prophesied to give birth to a child that would be greater than the father. Zeus decided to perform the same trick as his father and swallow his impregnated wife. It did not matter as Athena was born.
- Themis - Bore to him Horae and the Fates
- Eurynome - The third wife of Zeus, brought Charites into the world
- Demeter - Fourth wife, the sister of Zeus, whom he had Persephone.
- Mnemosyne - The fifth wife who bore the Muses
- Leto - Sixth and mother to Apollo and Artemis
- Hera - Final wife of Zeus and mother to Ares, Hebe, and Hephaestus
Zeus had many lovers, that are too many to name here. He was a promiscuous god whose actions were often irresponsible and without reason.