Greek Mythology

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Zeus, in Greek mythology, the god of the sky and ruler of the Olympian gods. Zeus corresponds

to the Roman god Jupiter.Zeus was considered, according to Homer, the father of the gods and

of mortals. He did not create either gods or mortals; he was their father in the sense of being the

protector and ruler both of the Olympian family and of the human race. He was lord of the sky,

the rain god, and the cloud gatherer, who wielded the terrible thunderbolt. His breastplate was

the aegis, his bird the eagle, his tree the oak. Zeus presided over the gods on Mount Olympus in

Thessaly (Thessalia). His principal shrines were at Dodona, in Epirus, the land of the oak trees

and the most ancient shrine, famous for its oracle, and at Olympia, where the Olympian Games

were celebrated in his honor every fourth year. The Nemean games, held at Nemea, northwest

of Árgos, were also dedicated to Zeus. Beginning with the writings of the Greek poet Homer,

Zeus is pictured in two very different ways. He is represented as the god of justice and mercy,

the protector of the weak, and the punisher of the wicked. As husband to his sister Hera, he is

the father of Ares, the god of war; Hebe, the goddess of youth; Hephaestus, the god of fire; and

Eileithyia, the goddess of childbirth. At the same time, Zeus is described as falling in love with

one woman after another and resorting to all kinds of tricks to hide his infidelity from his wife.

Stories of his escapades were numerous in ancient mythology, and many of his offspring were a

result of his love affairs with both goddesses and mortal women. Zeus's image was represented

in sculptural works as a kingly, bearded figure

Hera, in Greek mythology, queen of the gods, the daughter of the Titans Cronus and Rhea, and

the sister and wife of the god Zeus. Hera was the goddess of marriage and the protector of

married women. She was the mother of Ares, god of war; Hephaestus, god of fire; Hebe,

goddess of youth; and Eileithyia, goddess of childbirth. Hera was a jealous wife, who often

persecuted Zeus's mistresses and children. She never forgot an injury and was known for her

vindictive nature. Angry with the Trojan prince Paris for preferring Aphrodite, goddess of love, to

herself, Hera aided the Greeks in the Trojan War and was not appeased until Troy was finally

destroyed. Hera is often identified with the Roman goddess Juno.

Aphrodite, in Greek mythology, the goddess of love and beauty and the counterpart of the

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