Zeus

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ETYMOLOGY AND OTHER NAMES

Derived from Greek, the name Zeus means “god,” and from Latin, “demon” or “evil god.” Some experts claim that it’s of Indo-European derivation, meaning “god-father,” or that it expresses the concepts of sky and light.

In his Black Athena: The Afroasiatic Roots of Classical Civilization, Martin Bernal quotes Walter Burkert (Greek Religion), as saying:

Zeus is the only name of a Greek god which is entirely transparent etymologically, and which indeed has long been paraded as a model case of Indo-European philology. The same name appears in the Indic sky god Dyaus pita, in the Roman Diespiter Juppiter, in the Germanic Tues-day, and the root is found in the Latin deus, god, dies, day and in the Greek eudia, fair weather. Zeus is therefore the Sky Father, the luminous day sky.…Only for Greeks and Romans is the Sky Father the highest god, and he is so primarily as a rain and storm god: Zeus is much more a weather god than the etymology would suggest. ^[1]

Zeus has many different names, which isn’t unusual for the Greek gods of mythology. He’s known as:

Chronius – god of earth and fertility
Epiphanes – magnificent one
Chthonios – earthy
Eluetherious – guardian of freedom
Gamelios – god of marriage (which is somewhat ironic)
Herkeios – guardian of the home
Katachthonios – under the earth
Ktesios – protector of property
Meilichios – kindly
Plousios – bringer of wealth
Polieus – overseer or god of civic virtues
Soter – father or savior
Zen – (in poetry) life

BRIEF HISTORY

In Greek mythology, Zeus was the supreme god; in The Iliad Homer writes that he was the king of gods.^[1] A sky god, Zeus controlled lightening and used the bolts as weapons; he also controlled thunder and the weather. The poet Theocritus wrote, “Sometimes Zeus is clear, sometimes he rains.”^[1] He was the god of law, order, and fate, and according to Homer, he punished criminals and avenged victims. ^[1]

Zeus’ parents were Kronos, a Titan, and Rhea, who were brother and sister. Kronos knew that he was destined to be overthrown by one of his children, so as soon as they were born, he swallowed them whole. When Zeus was born, Rhea hid him from Kronos and presented him instead with a rock disguised as a baby, which he immediately swallowed. When he was grown, Zeus kicked Kronos so hard, that he vomited his other children (fully-grown), and led by Zeus, they revolted against him and overthrew him.

In their gratitude, Zeus’ siblings – Demeter, Hades, Hera, Hestia, and Poseidon – made him leader, and he and his brothers divided the universe between them. Zeus got the heavens, Poseidon the sea, and Hades the underworld.

Though he was a god, Zeus shared many of the flaws of mortal man, especially lust and infidelity. He had seven wives and many mates – goddesses and mortals alike; some seduced, some raped – by whom he fathered a number of gods and men. Tradition generally recognizes his sister, Hera, as his wife.