zues

Zues, commonly spelled Zeus in English, is the principal deity in ancient Greek mythology. He is the sky and thunder god, ruler of Mount Olympus, and the king of the Olympian gods. In myth, Zeus overthrew his father Cronus with the help of his siblings and established a new order among the gods.

Zeus is the son of Cronus and Rhea; his brothers are Poseidon and Hades. He is married to Hera, though he fathered numerous children with other goddesses and mortal women. Notable offspring include Athena, Artemis and Apollo (with Leto), Hermes (with Maia), Dionysus (with Semele), Persephone (with Demeter), and heroes such as Heracles and Perseus. Athena is famously said to have sprung from his head, fully grown and armored.

His roles include sky and weather control, law and order, oaths, justice, and protection of guests and strangers. He wields the thunderbolt and is often depicted with eagles and the oak tree as symbols.

Worship of Zeus was widespread, with Olympia as his principal sanctuary and the site of the ancient Olympic Games. The city of Dodona housed one of the oldest oracles of Zeus. In art, literature, and later cultural traditions, Zeus serves as a central figure and archetype of divine authority. The Roman equivalent is Jupiter, and Zeus’s cult and myth influenced later Western religious and literary traditions.