Zeus - Profile of the Greek God Zeus

Greek Mythology

Who Is Zeus?

Zeus is father of gods and men. A sky god, he controls lightning, which he uses as a weapon, and thunder, and is king of Olympus, the home of the Greek gods. Zeus is also credited as the father of Greek heroes and the ancestor of many other Greeks. Zeus mated with many mortals and goddesses but is married to his sister Hera.
Goddesses With Whom Zeus Mated and their Children

Myths involving Poseidon / Neptune (re-told by Thomas Bulfinch):

• Prometheus and Pandora
• Theseus / Castor and Pollux
• Monsters
• Hercules / Hebe & Ganymede
• Cadmus
• Juno
• Minerva & Niobe
• Proserpine
• Phaeton
• Perseus

Family of Origin: Zeus is the son of the Titans Cronus and Rhea. He is the brother of his wife Hera, his other sisters Demeter and Hestia, and his brothers Hades, Poseidon.

Roman Equivalent: The Roman name for Zeus is Jupiter and sometimes Jove.

Attributes: Zeus is shown with a beard and long hair. His other attributes include scepter, eagle, cornucopia, aegis, ram, and lion.

The cornucopia or (goat) horn of plenty comes from the story of his Zeus' infancy when he was nursed by Amalthea.

Powers: Zeus is a sky god with control over weather, especially of rain and lightning. Zeus is King of the gods. He is one of the oracular gods, especially at Dodona with its sacred oak.

Sources: Ancient sources for Zeus include: Apollodorus, Diodorus Siculus, Hesiod, Homer, and Hyginus.

Etymology of Zeus and Jupiter: The root of both "Zeus" and "Jupiter" is in a proto-Indo-European word for the often personified concepts of "day/light/sky," and the form in Sanskrit is similar etymologically to the Greek and Latin words "Zeus" and "Jupiter".