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• Deities in the Iliad (4)
• Greek gods (96)
• Greek mythology (984)
• Mythological kings (240)
• Pederastic heroes and deities (37)
• Savior gods (6)
• Sky and weather gods (65)
• Thunder gods (35)

Encyclopedia: Zeus

Zeus (in Greek: nominative: Ζεύς Zeús, genitive: Διός Diós), is the king of the gods, the ruler of Mount Olympus, and god of the sky and thunder, in Greek mythology. His symbols are the thunderbolt, eagle bull and the oak. In addition to his Indo-European inheritance, the classical Zeus also derives certain iconographic traits from the cultures of the ancient Near East, such as the scepter. Zeus is envisaged by Greek artists especially in two poses: standing, striding forward a thunderbolt levelled in his raised right hand and seated in majesty.

The son of Cronus and Rhea, he was the youngest of his siblings. He was married to Hera in most traditions, although at the oracle of Dodona his consort was Dione: according to the Iliad, he is the father of Aphrodite by Dione. Accordingly, he is known for his erotic escapades, including one pederastic relationship, with Ganymede. His trysts resulted in many famous offspring, including Athena, Apollo and Artemis, Hermes, Persephone (by Demeter), Dionysus, Perseus, Heracles, Helen, Minos, and the Muses (by Mnemosyne); by Hera he is usually said to have sired Ares, Hebe and Hephaestus.

Translations

How to say "Zeus" in other languages:

	(Chinese)	宙斯
	(Japanese)	ゼウス
	(German)	Zeus
	(Spanish)	Zeus
	(French)	Zeus
	(Italian)	Zeus

Search results

Crinacus

In Greek mythology, Crinacus was the son of Zeus, and the father of Macar...

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Euboulos

In Greek mythology, Euboulos was the father of Carme, who mothered Britomartis by Zeus...

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Iodame

In Greek mythology, Iodame was a Boeotian nymph, mother of Thebe with Zeus...

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Locrus

In Greek mythology, Locrus was the son of Maera and Zeus. See also: Mythology...

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Cynosura

In Greek mythology, Cynosura was a nymph (an Oread) on Mount Ida, Crete. According to some legends, she nursed Zeus when he was being hidden from his father, Cronus. In gratitude, Zeus placed her in the stars when she died...

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Maera

In Greek mythology, two people bore the name Maera . Daughter of Proetus, mother of Locrus by Zeus, Maera was a friend of Artemis'. Artemis killed Maera because she lost her virginity to Zeus. Daughter of Atlas...

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Iynx

In Greek mythology, Iynx cast a spell on Zeus which caused him to fall in love with Io...

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Nyctimus

In Greek mythology, Nyctimus was the son of Lycaon who was killed and served up as part of a feast to Zeus. Some scholars identify Lycaon with Zeus Lycaeus, Zeus in his role as god of light, who slays Nyctimus (the dark), or is succeeded by him, in allusion to the perpetual succession of night and...

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Taygete

In Greek mythology, Taygete was one of the Pleiades. She was the mother of Lacedaemon by Zeus. Zeus pursued Taygete, who prayed to Artemis. The goddess turned Taygete into a doe but Zeus raped her when she was unconscious. She thus conceived Lacedaemon, the mythical founder of Sparta...

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Metis (mythology)

mythology, Metis ("wisdom") was a Titaness who was the first wife of Zeus and the mother of Athena. She was the goddess of wisdom and deep thought. Metis gave Zeus an emetic to force Cronus to vomit out Zeus' brothers and sisters. Zeus lay with Metis but immediately feared the consequences. It had been...

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