Greek and Roman MythologyGreek and Roman Mythology

Twelve Olympians-Twelve Olympians-ZeusZeus

Olympian gods and goddesses

Zeus (Jupiter)

• the King of the Gods, the Lord of Sky• Father of Gods and men• Rain-god, Cloud-gatherer• weapon: thunderbolt• His breastplate was the aegis, awful to behold; his

bird was the eagle, his tree the oak. His oracle was Dodona in the land of oak trees. The god’s will was revealed by the rustling of the oak leaves which the priests interpreted.

Zeus (Jupiter)

Affairs of Zeus

• Io She was changed into a white heifer.• Europa Zeus as a bull• Leda Zeus as a swan (Pollux and Helen)• Callisto She was changed into a bear. (Arcas)• Danaë Zeus as a shower of gold (Perseus)• Alcmena Zeus as the form of her husband,

Amphitryon (Hercules)

Zeus and Io

Europa and the bull

Leda and the swan

Leda’s Daughter - Helen

Callisto and Zeus

Callisto and Arcas - The Great Bear (Ursa Major) and

the Lesser Bear (Ursa Minor)

Danaë and Zeus

The Milky Way

Hercules became immortal when Zeus put the infant at the breast of his divine spouse Hera as she slept. It was a sneaky deal. Having suckled the divine milk of the goddess, Hercules became immortal, but ever after he was dogged by the enmity of the goddess, who was irate at the infidelity of her husband Zeus.