Zeus

Zeus , in Greek religion and mythology, son and successor of Kronos as supreme god. His mother, Rhea, immediately after his birth concealed him from Kronos, who, because he was fated to be overthrown by one of his children, ate all his offspring. Rhea gave him a stone wrapped in swaddling clothes which he devoured immediately, not suspecting that the infant Zeus still lived. Later, Zeus tricked Kronos into disgorging his brothers and sisters and led them in a successful revolt against their father (see Titan ). When lots were cast to divide the universe, the underworld went to Hades, the sea to Poseidon, and the heavens and earth to Zeus. Zeus was an amorous god. His first mate was probably Dione, but his official consort was his sister, Hera, who bore him Ares and Hebe. Zeus also loved Themis, Eurynome, Demeter, Mnemosyne, Leto, and Maia and fathered many gods. Famous among his mortal loves were Danaë, Leda, Semele, Thetis, Io, and Europa. His sons sired from mortal wives include Hercules, Dardanus, and Amphitryon. He was also the father of Athena, who was said to have sprung from his head. Supreme among the gods, Zeus, ruling from his court on Mt. Olympus, was the symbol of power, rule, and law. As the father god and the upholder of morality, he rewarded the good and punished the evil. The root meaning of Zeus is "bright" or "sky," and in this sense he was god of weather and fertility. Thus he was worshiped in connection with almost every aspect of life. The most famous weapon of Zeus was the thunderbolt, but, according to some legends, he also possessed the aegis . The Romans equated Zeus with their own supreme god, Jupiter (or Jove).

Bibliography: See A. B. Cook, Zeus (3 vol., 1914-40).

Zeus In Greek mythology, the chief of the gods, who struck people in anger with thunderbolts from Mount Olympus. By NT times Zeus was identified with the chief god of any of the religions in the Hellenistic region. Barnabas is taken to be Zeus (Acts 14: 12; ‘Jupiter’, AV, RV) at Lystra.

Zeus in Greek mythology, the supreme god, the son of Cronus (whom he dethroned) and Rhea, and husband of Hera, traditionally said to have his court on Olympus. Zeus was the protector and ruler of humankind, the dispenser of good and evil, and the god of weather and atmospheric phenomena (such as rain and thunder). His Roman equivalent is Jupiter.