Zeus

  Zeus is the arch patriarch of greek myth. He was born of Chronus and Rhea (Cybele) who were both Titans, but not without a struggle.

Chronus had already defeated his own father Uranus and castrated him to become an all mighty ruler. He fathered bothe the Cylclopes and the Hecatonchires, whom he imprisoned in the depths ofb the earth. With Rhea, he fathered Hestia, Hades, Poseidon, Demeter, Hera and Zeus. Chronus was fearful that his children would in turn otherthrow him (which Uranus and Gaia had told him would happen), so as they born he ate them whole.

By the time Zeus was due to be born, Rhea was rather fed up with this behaviour. She went to Crete to give birth and passed him to Gaia, her mother, who hid him in a cave. Then she wrapped up a great stone in infants coverings and gave this to Chronus to eat, pretending it to be Zeus.

When Zeus had grown to maturity Chronus was tricked into bringing up all that he had swallowed: first the stone and then his other children. With his brothers and sisters, Zeus waged war against Chronus. He released both the Cyclopes and the Hecatonchires who became his allies, as did the Titans Themis and Rhea. Chronus had the remaining Titans as allies. A great war raged for over ten years but finally Zeus was triumphant, and Cronus and this allies were confined to Tartarus.

Zeus thus became leader and ruler of the Gods. He divided his kingdom with his brothers Hades (who rled the underworld) and Poseidon (who ruled the sea). He first married Metis, a Titan, and fearing that the cycle would repeat itself, swallowed her whole. However, she was with child and the result was Athena, who was reborn from Zeus's head. Later Zeus married Hera, but had numerous affairs with Goddesses and mortals.

The result one such liason was Dionysius, who was the son of Semele. Another was Hercules. Zeus would pursue any woman, whether they were willing or not. Zeus remains undefeated ruler of the Gods.

Function and Meaning

Zeus represents the most extreme patriarchal aspects of The God. Zeus is authority and abuse of authority -- he sets the rules but breaks them just as easily. When that happens (as in allowing Hades to abduct Persephone) there are consequences to be had. Zeus's main weapon were thunderbolts, which are also his symbol.

I do not have Zeus in my pantheon. While he is chief of the greek gods, he has little to offer me. Worse yet, he reminds me of my father at his worst moments!