Zeus

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Zeus
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• Indo-European
• Greek - ZEUS
• Old Indic - DEVAH
• Latin - DEUS
• Germanic - TEUS

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AigioxiosAegis-Bearing
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• Come try it gods then all of you will know.
  Hang a gold cord down from heaven, and all you
  gods and goddesses take hold of it. But you could
  not pull Zeus, the counsellor most high, down
  from heaven to the ground, however long and hard
  you laboured. But whatever I had a mind to pull
  in earnest, I could haul you up, earth and sea
  and all then I could hitch the cord round a
  peak of Olympos, so that everything was then left
  hanging in mid-air. That is how superior I am to
  gods and men.
• Iliad, Book 8

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Zeus Eleutherios Zeus the Liberator
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• Thanks to Zeus we are victorious and thanks to
  Terror and thanks to Heracles and thanks to
  Apollo and thanks to Poseidon and thanks to the
  Tyndaridai and thanks to Athena and thanks to
  Malophoros and thanks to the All Vanquishing and
  thanks to other gods, but thanks to Zeus most of
  all.
• 5th century B.C. Inscription

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• Why hurry Hera? That is a journey going to
  visit Oceanus and Tethys you can make tomorrow.
  Now come, lets go to bed, lets lose ourselves
  in love! Never has such a lust for goddess or
  mortal woman flooded my pounding heart and
  overwhelmed me so. Not even then, when I made
  love to Ixions wife who bore me Pirithous, rival
  to all the gods in wisdom. Not when I loved
  Acrisius daughter Danae-marvelous ankles-and
  Perseus sprang to life and excelled all men
  alive not when I stormed Europa, far-famed
  Phoenix daughter who bore me Minos and
  Rhadamanthus grand as gods. Not even Semele, not
  even Alcmena queen of Thebes who bore me a son,
  that lionheart, that Heracles, and Semele bore
  Dionysus, ecstasy, joy to mankind-not when I
  loved Demeter, queen of the lustrous braidsnot
  when I bedded Leto ripe for glory-not even you!!
  That was nothing to how I hunger for you
  now-irresistible longing lays me low!
• Iliad, Book 14

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Zeus and Ganymedes
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• Flaxen-haired Ganymede was seized by resourceful
  Zeus because of his beauty, so that he should be
  among the immortals and serve drink to the gods
  in Zeus house, a wonder to see esteemed by all
  the immortals as he draws the red nectar from the
  golden bowl. As for Tros, nagging grief possessed
  his heart he did not know which way the
  miraculous whirlwind had snatched up his dear
  son, and he went on lamenting him day after day.
  Zeus took pity on him, and to compensate for his
  son he gave him prancing horses, of the breed
  that carry the immortals those he gave him to
  keep, and on Zeus instructions the go-between,
  the Argus-slayer Hermes explained everything, how
  Ganymede was immortal and unaging just like the
  gods. When he heard Zeus message, he stopped
  lamenting, and was glad in his heart, and in
  gladness he took to riding with the storm-footed
  horses.
• Hymn to Aphrodite lines 202ff.

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Zeus and Danae
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ML pp.547-8
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Zeus and Europa
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• He is white as the untrampled snow before the
  south wind turns it into slush. The muscles stand
  out bulging on his neck, and the dewlap dangles
  on his ample chest his horns are crooked, but
  appear handmade, and flawless as a pair of
  matching gems. His brow is quite unthreatening,
  his eye excites no terror, and his countenance is
  calm. The daughter of King Agenor admires him,
  astonished by the presence of peacefulness and
  beauty in the beast yet even though he seems a
  gentle creature, at first she fears to get too
  close to him, but soon approaching, reaches out
  her hand and pushes flowers into his white mouth.
  The lover, quite beside himself, rejoices, and as
  a preview of delights to come, kisses her
  fingers, getting so excited that he can scarcely
  keep from doing it!
• Ovid, Metamorphoses pp.85-7
• See also ML pp.401-3.

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Zeus and Io
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• Her rival given up to her at last Juno feared
  Jove had more such tricks in mind, and couldnt
  feel entirely secure until shed placed this
  heifer in the care of Argus, the watchman with a
  hundred eyes in strict rotation his eyes slept
  in pairs, while those that were not sleeping
  stayed on guard. No matter where he stood, he
  looked at Io, even when he had turned his back on
  her.
• Ovid, Metamorphoses pp.38-43
• See ML pp.95-98

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Sarpedon - Zeus Son

• Sarpedon leapt from his chariot fully armed and
  hit the ground and Patroclus straight across, as
  soon as he saw him, leapt from his car too. As a
  pair of crook-clawed, hook-beaked vultures swoop
  to fight, screaming above some jagged rock-so
  with their battle cries they rushed each other
  there. And Zeus the son of Cronus with Cronus
  twisting ways, filling with pity now to see the
  two great fighters said to Hera, his sister and
  his wife, my cruel fate my Sarpedon, the man I
  love the most, my own son-doomed to die at the
  hands of Menoetius son Patroclus. My heart is
  torn in two as I try to weigh all this. Shall I
  pluck him up, now, while hes still alive and set
  him down in the rich green land of Lycia, far
  from the war at Troy and all its tears? Or beat
  him down at Patroclus hand at last? Iliad,
  Book 16

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Zeus of Justice

• Of Zeus I will make my song, of the best and
  greatest of gods, The far-seeing sovereign from
  whom fulfilment comes. It is he Who to Themis
  murmurs wise words while inclining towards him
  she sits. Be gracious, Kronos greatest, most
  glorious, far-seeing son.
• Homeric Hymn 23

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Zeus of Victory

• Mother of the gold-crowned Games, Olympia, queen
  of truth, Where diviners interpret burnt
  offerings and test the bright thunderer Zeus If
  he has any word about men, who long in their
  hearts to win great glory And a respite after
  toil. In return for reverence, mens prayers are
  fulfilled. O shady sanctuary of Pisa, by the
  wooded banks of Alpheios, Welcome this company
  and wearing of garlands. Great is his glory
  forever Whom your glittering prize rewards. To
  each man come different goods, and many are the
  paths of success, When the gods lend aid. And
  Alkimedon by Kronion, Zeus made an Olympian
  conquerer. He was lovely to see, and his deeds
  Did not dishonour his beauty, When he won in the
  wrestling and proclaimed his fatherland,
  long-oared Aigina. There Saviour Themis is
  honoured, At the side of Zeus, the strangers
  god.
• Pindar, Olympian Ode 8