ZeusZeus
Zeus, King of the Gods
Roman name: Jupiter/Jove
Pronunciation: Zoos
Zeus’s father, Kronos, was the king of all the gods when Zeus was born. All of the other gods obeyed him and humans worshipped him. This was the Golden Age, a time when there were no killings, thefts, of sadness.
Kronos was the youngest Titan. His other brothers, the Cyclopses and the monsters with 100 arms and 50 heads, had been locked in a pit called Tartarus by their father, Uranus. Kronus’ mother, Gaea (Mother Earth), told the Titans to overthrow their father and free their brothers. The six older ones grew afraid and fled, but Kronus took up a sickle and followed his mother’s instructions. When his father saw Kronus with the sickle, he fled. Kronus was now the lord of the universe, but he still had not freed his brothers like his mother wanted.
Mother Earth grew angry with him and began to plan his downfall. She knew that one day, one of his sons would be strong enough to overthrow Kronus. She was powerless to free her imprisoned sons until the day that Kronus’ wife would bear their youngest son.
Kronus, too, was aware that his youngest child would be more powerful than he was and would take his place as king. Because of this, every time his wife, Rhea, bore a child, he swallowed it. Rhea grew sad. Her sisters all had many children, but she had none. When she was expecting her sixth child, she went to her mother, Gaea, to ask for advice. Gaea whispered something to her daughter and Rhea left her mother happily.
When her child the mighty Zeus was born, she hid him, wrapped a stone in baby’s clothes, and gave the stone to her husband. Kronus ate it, never suspecting that he had been tricked.
Zeus was spirited away to a tiny island called Crete. This was where he grew up. He was tended by nymphs and nursed by the goat Amalthiea. This goat, however, was not ordinary. Out of her horns spurted nectar and ambrosia, the food and drink of the gods.
When Zeus was fully-grown, he thanked the nymphs by presenting them with the goat’s horns. These never emptied. With the goat hide, he made for himself an unbreakable breastplate, the Aegis. Now he was stronger than Kronus.
He was almost ready to fight, but his first wife, Metis, warned him that Kronus had powerful allies, the Titans. Metis said that before fighting, Zeus would have to have more people on his side.
Metis, who Kronus did not suspect of anything, tricked the king into eating a magical herb. She told him that the herb made the eater unconquerable. It really made him throw up all of his sons and daughters that he had swallowed. These were the gods and goddesses Hades, Poseidon, Hestia, Demeter, and Hera. They immediately joined Zeus, glad that he had set them free. At the sight of his six children, Kronus fled.
Now, Zeus ruled over all and shared his power with his brothers and sisters. The Titans, though, were unhappy with their new rulers. Only Titans Prometheus and Epimetheus joined Zeus. Prometheus could see into the future and knew that Zeus would win, so he joined Zeus with his brother.
Zeus let the monsters trapped in Tartarus free, and the 100-headed ones fought for Zeus. The Cyclopses fashioned weapons for Zeus and his brothers and sisters. For Poseidon, they forged a trident. Hades was given a cap of invisibility and Zeus was given thunderbolts. With these he was the more powerful than all else.
The Titans were eventually forced to retreat and Zeus locked them in Tartarus.
Mother Earth was once again angry because some of her sons had been locked up, so she sent the monster Typhon and his mate Echidna to overthrow Zeus. At first they frightened the gods, but Zeus regained his courage and hurled thunderbolts at the mountain Typhon was throwing at him. The mountain fell back and pinned the monster underneath.
Echidna and her children escaped, but Zeus allowed them to live as a challenge to future heroes.
Now, Mother Earth gave up her struggle at last. Zeus, his brothers, and his sisters could rule in peace.
