ZEUS

ZEUS God Zeus was the first of the GODS and a very imposing figure. Often referred to as the “Father of Gods and men”, he is a sky god who controls lightning (often using it as a weapon) and thunder. Zeus is king of Mount Olympus, the home of Greek gods, where he rules the world and imposes his will onto gods and mortals alike.The name Zeus means “bright” or “sky.” His weapon of choice was the thunderbolt, made for him by the MYTHICAL CREATURES, the Cyclops. Zeus, more recently known for causing thunder and lightning, was once a rain-god. He was always associated with the weather in some form. The Zeus described in Homer was not an extension of nature; instead, he had a standard of right and wrong that made him more relatable to mankind. Zeus became the ruler of heaven and earth after a revolt against his father, Kronos. In his position as king of the gods, Zeus had to play mediator when other the immortals were mad at each other. He is the father of Athena, who is said to have sprung from his head. She was his favorite child, with whom he shared the thunderbolt and aegis. Hades and Poseidon were his brothers. His wife Hera was also his sister. Zeus was not a faithful husband; he was known for having many affairs with mortal women. What are some of Zeus’s special powers?Using his shield, the Aegis, God Zeus could create all natural phenomena related to the air and the sky, such as storms, tempests, and intense darkness. At his command, mighty thunders would flash and lightnings would roll, wreaking havoc; or the skies would open to rejuvenate the earth with life-giving water. Why was Zeus the most important god?Zeus, the presiding deity of the universe, ruler of the skies and the earth, was regarded by the Greeks as the god of all natural phenomena on the sky; the personification of the laws of nature; the ruler of the state; and finally, the father of gods and men.