Zeus

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Zeus is one of the most important and powerful deities in ancient Greek mythology, ruling as the king of the gods and the god of the sky, thunder, lightning, law, and justice. According to myth, Zeus was the youngest son of the Titans Cronus and Rhea. His story begins with the prophesy that one of Cronus’s children would overthrow him, as Cronus had once overthrown his own father, Uranus. In fear of this fate, Cronus swallowed each of his children immediately after birth. However, when Zeus was born, Rhea tricked Cronus by hiding him and giving him a stone wrapped in swaddling clothes, which Cronus swallowed thinking it was the newborn Zeus. Zeus was secretly raised by nymphs on the island of Crete, and when he reached maturity, he returned to rescue his siblings, whom Cronus had swallowed. With the help of the Titaness Metis and other allies, Zeus forced Cronus to disgorge his siblings, and together they waged war against the Titans.

The war between the Olympian gods, led by Zeus, and the Titans, led by Cronus, is known as the Titanomachy. After a long and brutal conflict, the Olympians emerged victorious, and Zeus assumed his role as the ruler of the gods, dividing the cosmos with his brothers Poseidon and Hades. Zeus took control of the sky, Poseidon ruled the seas, and Hades became the lord of the underworld. As the god of the sky, Zeus was often depicted wielding a thunderbolt, a symbol of his power to both create storms and bring justice.

In Greek mythology, Zeus was not only a powerful god but also a complex figure known for his numerous romantic escapades. He was married to his sister Hera, but his many affairs with both mortal women and goddesses produced numerous offspring, including famous figures such as Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Perseus, Heracles, and Helen of Troy. These myths often highlight Zeus’s role as a figure of both creation and destruction, bringing forth great heroes and significant events while also dealing with the consequences of his actions, such as the wrath of his wife Hera.

Abbaitis, Phrygia 200-100 BCE Adramytion, Mysia 360-340 BCE Adramytteion, Mysia 350 BCE Aesernia, Samnium 263-240 BCE Ainianes, Thessaly 4th-early 3rd centuries BCE Alexander IV/Antipater 323-317 BCE Alexandria ad Issum 2nd-1st century BCE Ambrakia, Epeiros 278-275 BCE Antigenes 322-320 BCE Antigonos Monophthalmos 305-300 BCE Apamea, Phrygia 133-48 BCE Aphytis, Macedon 430-390 BCE Archon or Dokimos 323-317 BCE Aspesias 316-311 BCE Autokane, Aeolis 400-300 BCE Axos, Crete 3rd-2nd cent BCE Blaundos, Lydia 200-100 BCE Choma, Lykia ca 1st century BCE Corinth 248-243 BCE Cremna, Pisidia 26 BCE Dia, Bithynia 85-65 BCE Diodotos I of Baktria 255-235 BCE Eikonion, Lykaonia 100-0 BCE Ekkara, Thessaly 325-320 BCE Euhippe, Caria 300 BCE Eumeneia, Phrygia before 133 BCE Gamerses 400-380 BCE Gauls 315-275 BCE Gomphoi-Philippopolis 4th-3rd cent BCE Gonnos, Thessaly ca 350 BCE Gyrton, Thessaly 299-200 BCE Halos, Thessaly 3rd century BCE Iolla, Mysia 400-300 BCE Isinda, Pisidia 100-0 BCE Kalas/Demarchos 325-323 BCE Kamnaskires III w Anzaze 80/79 BCE Kentoripai, Sicily 344-336 BCE Kierion, Thessaly 4th cent BCE Knossos, Crete 300-270 BCE Koinos 324/323 BCE Komama, Pisidia 1st century BCE Krannon, Thessaly 350-300 BCE Laomedon 319/318 BCE Lyttos, Crete 3rd century BCE Magas 300-275 BCE Magnesia ad Sipylum, Lydia 2nd-1st century BCE Magnetes, Thessaly 2nd century BCE Melitaia, Thessaly 325-300 BCE Memphis, Egypt 323/2 BCE Menelaus 315-306 BCE Mopsos, Kilikia 2nd-1st century BCE Mostis 139-101 BCE Mytilene, Lesbos 332 BCE Nikokles of Paphos 325-317 BCE Nikomedes II 110/9 BCE Nikomedes III 126/5 BCE Nikomedes IV 92/91 BCE Olosson, Thessaly 400-350 BCE Orontas 4th century BCE Orthosia, Karia ca 2nd century BCE Perdikkas 321/320 BCE Perrhaiboi, Thessaly 400-344 BCE Phalanna, Thessaly 4th century BCE Pharnakeia, Pontos 85-65 BCE Philip II 354-349 BCE Philip III Arrhidaeos 331-321 BCE Philoxenos 325-323 BCE Pitane, Mysia 350-300 BCE Pixodaros 341-335 BCE Praisos, Crete 300-270 BCE Ptolemaios 85-40 BCE Ptolemy III Euergetes 246-222 BCE Ptolemy Keraunos 281-279 BCE Ptolemy Keraunos 281-279 BCE Sagalassos, Pisidia 100-0 BCE Seleukeia on the Issos 2nd-1st centuries BCE Seleukeia, Syria 312-280 BCE Seleukos I Nikator 296-281 BCE Sesamos, Paphlagonia 4th c. BCE Stamenes/Archon 324/323 BCE Synnada, Phrygia 2nd-1st centuries BCE Tabai, Karia 1st Century BCE Tarkondimotos 39-31 BCE Termessos, Pisidia 71-36 BCE Thymbra, Troas 4th century BCE Tios, Bithynia 300 BCE Tralleis, Lydia 3rd century BCE Vonones 85-60 BCE