Zeus  

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 +[[Image:Watteau Jupiter und Antiope Detail.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''[[Jupiter and Antiope ]]'' (c. [[1715]]) by [[Antoine Watteau]]]]
 +[[Image:Danae.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''[[Danaë (Klimt painting)|Danae]]'' ([[1907]]-[[1908|08]]) by [[Gustav Klimt]] depicting [[Zeus]], the master of [[metamorphosis]], as a [[golden shower]].]]
 +
 +[[Image:Jupiter_and_Thetis.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''[[Jupiter and Thetis (Ingres)|Jupiter and Thetis]]'' ([[1811]]) by [[Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres|Ingres]], [[Thetis]] is depicted in the painting by [[Ingres]] as [[pleading]] at the knees of [[Zeus]]: "She sank to the ground beside him, put her left arm round his knees, raised her right hand to touch his chin, and so made her [[petition]] to the [[Zeus|Royal Son of Cronos]]" (''[[Iliad]]'', I).]]
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-'''Zeus''' in [[Greek mythology]] is the king of the gods, the ruler of [[Mount Olympus (Mountain)|Mount Olympus]], and god of the [[sky father|sky]] and [[List of thunder gods|thunder]]. His symbols are the [[thunderbolt]], [[eagle]], [[bull (mythology)|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 frequently envisaged by Greek artists in one of two poses: standing, striding forward, a thunderbolt leveled in his raised right hand, or seated in majesty.+:''[[Loves of Zeus]]''
 +'''Zeus''' in [[Greek mythology]] is the [[king of the gods]], the [[ruler]] of [[Mount Olympus (Mountain)|Mount Olympus]], and god of the [[sky father|sky]] and [[List of thunder gods|thunder]]. His symbols are the [[thunderbolt]], [[eagle]], [[bull (mythology)|bull]] and the [[oak]]. Zeus is frequently envisaged by Greek artists in one of two poses: standing, striding forward, a thunderbolt leveled in his raised right hand, or seated in majesty.
-The son of [[Cronus]] and [[Rhea (mythology)|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 (mythology)|Dione]]: according to the ''[[Iliad]]'', he is the father of [[Aphrodite]] by Dione. Accordingly, he is known for his [[erotic]] [[escapade]]s, including one [[Pederasty in ancient Greece|pederastic relationship]] with [[Ganymede]]. His [[tryst]]s resulted in many famous [[offspring]], including [[Athena]], [[Apollo]] and [[Artemis]], [[Hermes]], [[Persephone]] (by [[Demeter]]), [[Dionysus]], [[Perseus]], [[Heracles]], [[Helen]], [[Minos]], and the [[Muse]]s (by [[Mnemosyne]]); by Hera he is usually said to have sired [[Ares]], [[Hebe (mythology)|Hebe]] and [[Hephaestus]].+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 (mythology)|Dione]]: according to the ''[[Iliad]]'', he is the father of [[Aphrodite]] by Dione. Accordingly, he is known for his [[erotic]] [[escapade]]s, including one [[Pederasty in ancient Greece|pederastic relationship]] with [[Ganymede]]. His [[tryst]]s resulted in many famous [[offspring]], including [[Athena]], [[Apollo]] and [[Artemis]], [[Hermes]], [[Persephone]] (by [[Demeter]]), [[Dionysus]], [[Perseus]], [[Heracles]], [[Helen]], [[Minos]], and the [[Muse]]s (by [[Mnemosyne]]); by Hera he is usually said to have sired [[Ares]], [[Hebe (mythology)|Hebe]] and [[Hephaestus]].
His [[Roman mythology|Roman]] counterpart was '''[[Jupiter (mythology)|Jupiter]]''', and his [[Etruscan mythology|Etruscan]] counterpart was [[Tinia]]. His [[Roman mythology|Roman]] counterpart was '''[[Jupiter (mythology)|Jupiter]]''', and his [[Etruscan mythology|Etruscan]] counterpart was [[Tinia]].
He is known for his [[shapeshifting]] abilities, especially when he wanted to [[seduce]]. He transforms himself into a cloud (he hid himself in a cloud with [[Io]]), a golden shower with [[Danae]], a swan with [[Leda]], a bull with [[Europa]], depending on whether he needed to be charming and beautiful or powerful and frightening in his [[conquest]]. He is known for his [[shapeshifting]] abilities, especially when he wanted to [[seduce]]. He transforms himself into a cloud (he hid himself in a cloud with [[Io]]), a golden shower with [[Danae]], a swan with [[Leda]], a bull with [[Europa]], depending on whether he needed to be charming and beautiful or powerful and frightening in his [[conquest]].
 +
 +The film ''Clash of the Titans'' (1981) has a dialogue on Zeus's promiscuousness:
 +<blockquote>
 +[discussing Zeus' womanizing]<br>
 +Thetis: So many women, and all these transformations and disguises he invents in order to seduce them. Sometimes a shower of gold, sometimes a bull or a swan. Why, once he even tried to ravish me disguised as a cuttlefish.<br>
 +Hera: Did he succeed?<br>
 +Thetis: Certainly not.<br>
 +Athena: What did you do?<br>
 +Thetis: Beat him at his own game. I simply turned myself into a shark.<br>
 +[they laugh]
 +</blockquote>
 +
 +==References==
 +
 +*Burkert, Walter, (1977) 1985. ''Greek Religion'', especially section III.ii.1 (Harvard University Press)
 +*[[Arthur Bernard Cook|Cook, Arthur Bernard]], ''Zeus: A Study in Ancient Religion'', (3 volume set), (1914–1925). New York, Bibilo & Tannen: 1964.
 +**Volume 1: ''Zeus, God of the Bright Sky'', Biblo-Moser, June 1, 1964, ISBN 0-8196-0148-9 (reprint)
 +**Volume 2: ''Zeus, God of the Dark Sky (Thunder and Lightning)'', Biblo-Moser, June 1, 1964, ISBN 0-8196-0156-X
 +**Volume 3: ''Zeus, God of the Dark Sky (earthquakes, clouds, wind, dew, rain, meteorites)''
 +* [[Maurice Druon|Druon, Maurice]], ''[[The Memoirs of Zeus]]'', 1964, [[Charles Scribner's and Sons]]. (tr. [[Humphrey Hare]])
 +* Farnell, Lewis Richard, ''Cults of the Greek States'' 5 vols. Oxford; Clarendon 1896–1909. Still the standard reference.
 +* Farnell, Lewis Richard, ''Greek Hero Cults and Ideas of Immortality, 1921.
 +* [[Robert Graves|Graves, Robert]]; ''[[The Greek Myths]]'', Penguin Books Ltd. (1960 edition)
 +* [[William Mitford|Mitford,William]], ''The History of Greece'', 1784. Cf. v.1, Chapter II, ''Religion of the Early Greeks''
 +* Moore, Clifford H., ''The Religious Thought of the Greeks, 1916.
 +* [http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/gpr/ Nilsson, Martin P., ''Greek Popular Religion'', 1940.]
 +* Nilsson, Martin P., ''History of Greek Religion'', 1949.
 +* [[Erwin Rohde|Rohde, Erwin]], ''Psyche: The Cult of Souls and Belief in Immortality among the Greeks'', 1925.
 +* [[William Smith (lexicographer)|Smith, William]], ''[[Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology]]'', 1870, [http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/ Ancientlibrary.com], William Smith, ''Dictionary'': "Zeus" [http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/3655.html Ancientlibrary.com]
 +
 +
== See also == == See also ==
*[[Divine jealousy]] *[[Divine jealousy]]
*[[Jupiter]] *[[Jupiter]]
 +*[[Europa]]
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Revision as of 20:36, 15 February 2014

Image:Danae.jpg
Danae (1907-08) by Gustav Klimt depicting Zeus, the master of metamorphosis, as a golden shower.
Image:Jupiter and Thetis.jpg
Jupiter and Thetis (1811) by Ingres, Thetis is depicted in the painting by Ingres as pleading at the knees of Zeus: "She sank to the ground beside him, put her left arm round his knees, raised her right hand to touch his chin, and so made her petition to the Royal Son of Cronos" (Iliad, I).

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Zeus in Greek mythology is the king of the gods, the ruler of Mount Olympus, and god of the sky and thunder. His symbols are the thunderbolt, eagle, bull and the oak. Zeus is frequently envisaged by Greek artists in one of two poses: standing, striding forward, a thunderbolt leveled in his raised right hand, or 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.

His Roman counterpart was Jupiter, and his Etruscan counterpart was Tinia.

He is known for his shapeshifting abilities, especially when he wanted to seduce. He transforms himself into a cloud (he hid himself in a cloud with Io), a golden shower with Danae, a swan with Leda, a bull with Europa, depending on whether he needed to be charming and beautiful or powerful and frightening in his conquest.

The film Clash of the Titans (1981) has a dialogue on Zeus's promiscuousness:

[discussing Zeus' womanizing]
Thetis: So many women, and all these transformations and disguises he invents in order to seduce them. Sometimes a shower of gold, sometimes a bull or a swan. Why, once he even tried to ravish me disguised as a cuttlefish.
Hera: Did he succeed?
Thetis: Certainly not.
Athena: What did you do?
Thetis: Beat him at his own game. I simply turned myself into a shark.
[they laugh]

References


See also




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