Zeus

=//Zeus//=


 * Zeus is the god of the sky and ruler of the Olympian gods.


 * His weapon is a thunderbolt or lightningbolt, which he hurls at those who displease him


 * He is married to Hera, but is famous for his many affairs.


 * Zeus is represented the god of justice and mercy, the protector of the weak, and the punisher of the wicked.


 * Zeus held a scepter with an eagle on top in its left hand and a winged goddess of victory (Nike) in its right hand.


 * He was called the "master of the gods", and " father of men."


 * Zeus raped Io, and seems to have had quite a penchant for young girls.


 * His tryst resulted in many famous offspring, including Athena, Apolhlo and Artemis, Hermes, Persephone, Dionysus, Perseus, Heracles, Helen, Minos, the Muses and it is said that he also fathered Ares, Hebe, and Hephaestus.


 * Zeus overthrew his father Cronus.


 * He had 5 siblings who were, Hades, Hestia, Demeter, Poseidon, and Hera.


 * He was the only one of his father`s children not to be swallowed by him at birth.


 * Zeus is often seen as the older man with a beard, chasing after beautiful women, and trying to deceive his beautiful wife.


 * The eagle, oak trees, and bull are all symbols of Zeus.


 * He is known to have mood swings.


 * Zeus` weaknesses are his mood swings and troubles over love affairs.

Even though Zeus loved Hera he sometimes would disguise himself as a mortal, and marry the mortal girl in Greece. Because of this Zeus had many wives and children. Hera did not like this so she would torment every one of them, and Zeus could not do anything about it. Zeus tried to protect one of his wives by turning her into a cow. Hera was not fooled by this and begged Zeus to let her keep the cow for herself. Since Zeus could not refuse her, he agreed to let her keep the cow. Her most watchful and trusted servant was ordered to watch her. Zeus did not like seeing his wife in distress, so he made Hermes, the cleverest of his sons, to set her free. Hermes dressed up as a shepherd, and sat down next to Argus, the servant, and told a very long, tedious story. Eventually, Argus fell asleep, and closed all of his 100 eyes. Hermes then decided to permanently close all of Argus’ eyes. Hermes set Io, the cow, free, and she ran back to her father. Her father then recognized her, and he was furious. Her father, Inachos flew out of his river bed so fast that the only thing Zeus could do was throw a thunderbolt at him. Ever since this, the river bed of Inachos in Arcadia has remained dry.
 * Zeus, Hera, and Why the Inachos in Arcadia is Dry. **

**Olympians vs. Titans**
Zeus grew up on the island of Crete. When he became a young man, he got a potion that induced vomiting from Titan named Metis. Rhea, Zeus' mother, arranged for him to be his father's cupbearer. He put the potion in his father's drink cause Cronos to throw up his brothers and sisters. His siblings were so grateful that they wanted Zeus to be ruler of the Olympians. Cronos feared the rising power of Zeus. He tried to rally the Titans to join him to defeat Zeus and his siblings. Cronos failed to get the Titans to join him. Two of the Titans, Prometheus and Epimetheus, actually joined sides with the Olympians against their fellow Titans. The war went on for 10 years and neither side was ahead. Gaia advised Zeus to free the Cyclopes and the hundred headed Giants from Tartarus, and make them join his side. Zeus traveled down to Tartarus, and killed the monster that guarded the prisoners, and released them. The Cyclopes and the Giants joined sides with Zeus since he set them free. This added great power to the Olympians. The Cyclopes gave Zeus power over thunder and lightening. Then gave the helm of darkness to Hades and to Poseidon they gave a trident. Hades used the darkness to take Cronos' weapons, and Poseidon came at him with the trident. This distraction let Zeus strike with lightening, and he downed Cronos. With the defeat of Cronos and the added power to the Cyclopes and Giants, the Olympians were able to defeat the Titans. The Titans that participated in the war were imprisoned in Tartarus. Atlas was given a special punishment, he was required to hold up the sky.