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Zeus Facts

Zeus Facts
Zeus is an ancient Greek mythical god. He was the son of Rhea and Cronus, and was the youngest child of six. Zeus' father Cronus knew that he would eventually be overthrown by his son, so when Zeus was born he intended to swallow him whole. Rhea, Zeus' mother handed Cronus a blanket wrapped with a rock after Zeus was born fooling Cronus into thinking it was Zeus. Cronus swallowed the rock. Once Zeus grew up he forced Cronus to throw up the stone and his siblings. Zeus also released Cronus' brothers from a dungeon and in return he was given the thunderbolt as his weapon. Zeus and his brothers overthrew Cronus and he became the supreme god of Olympus, and the king of all gods and men.
Interesting Zeus Facts:
Zeus was raised by Gaia, Adamanthea, and a goat named Amalthea after his mother saved his life and sent him away to protect him.
Zeus' siblings were Hades, Poseidon, Demeter, Hera and Hestia.
Zeus' parents Rhea and Cronus were human-shaped giants called Titans.
Zeus' weapon was a thunderbolt that he could throw at anything or anyone when he wished.
Zeus' symbols were the thunderbolt, eagle, bull and the oak.
He was one of six children, and later married his sister Hera.
When Zeus and his brothers overthrew Cronus, they each became rulers. Zeus became the ruler of the sky and air; Hades became ruler of the dead; Poseidon became ruler of water.
Zeus married his sister Hera but also had children with many other women.
His children with Hera were Ares (the god of war), Hebe and Eileithyia (the goddess of childbirth).
Zeus lived on Mount Olympus and ruled the gods of Olympus and mortal men.
Zeus had the ability to mimic people's voices.
Zeus was able to shape shift, which means he was able to transform himself to look like an animal or another person.
When angered, Zeus could turn a person into an animal.
Zeus' horse was called Pegasus. Pegasus carried his thunderbolts. Zeus taught an eagle to retrieve the thunderbolts after he had thrown them.
Jupiter is the Roman equivalent of Zeus.
The ancient Olympics were held each year to honor Zeus.
Zeus' powerful shield was called the Aegis.
Zeus believed in the importance of keeping one's word and would punish anyone who lied or deceived others in business.
Zeus is believed to have been married three times. His wives were Metis, Themis, and Hera.
Zeus was also father to Ares, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Aphrodite, Dionysus, Hebe, Hermes, Heracles, Helen of Troy, Hephaestus, Perseus, Minos, the Muses, and the Graces.
Although Zeus lived on Mount Olympus he liked to visit earth. He had many children who had mortal mothers and him as their father.
Zeus was immortal but had the ability to affect the lives of mortal people.
Zeus had twin children named Apollo and Artemis with Leto.
Zeus had a child with his sister Demeter named Persephone.
Zeus was a Greek god and could not die because he was immortal. Once Christianity became popular, the myths of the Greek gods died off and people no longer believed them to be true.


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