Zeus Speech Zahn Haslam Year 10

In the ancient Greek religion, Zeus is the "Father of Gods and men" who rules the Olympians of Mount Olympus as a father rules the family. In Greek mythology, he is the god of sky, lightening, thunder, law, order and justice.

Zeus is the youngest child of Cronus and Rhea. Zeus is married to Hera and together they produced fifteen godly and heroic children, including Athena, Apollo and Hermes. He is represented by symbols including the thunderbolt, eagle, bull, and oak.

Zeus is often presented by Greek artists in one of two poses: standing, stepping forward, with a thunderbolt raised in his right hand, or seated in majesty.

Cronus and Rhea produced six children before giving birth to Zeus. Cronus swallowed all six children in fear of being overcome by his own son as he had overthrown his own father. However, Rhea went to Gaia and they planned a way to trick Cronus. After giving birth to Zeus in Crete, she handed Cronus a rock wrapped in infant clothes, which he promptly swallowed.

Rhea then hid Zeus in a cave on Mount Ida in Crete. There are different versions of who then raised Zeus to manhood, some say he was raised by Gaia, other stories suggest he was raised by a goat named Amalthea, or raised by Melissa, who nursed him with goat's-milk and honey, even by a shepherd family under the promise that their sheep would be saved from wolves.

After reaching manhood, Zeus found Cronus and forced him to regurgitate first, the stone Rhea gave him, then his six siblings in reverse order of swallowing. This caused uproar between the siblings and their father. Zeus then released his uncles, the Gigantes, Hecatonchires and the Cyclopes from their dungeon in Tartarus. In appreciation for setting them free, the Cyclopes gave Zeus the thunderbolt or lightening which Gaia had hid. A huge battle then erupted between Zeus, his siblings and uncles against Cronus and the Titans. Cronus and the Titans were defeated and Zeus and his siblings shared the world. Zeus received the gift of sky and air.

Zeus plays a minor role In the text ‘The Odessey’ by Garreth Hinds, however the book opens with Zues, his wife Hera and some of their children debating the fate of the hero Odysseus. Zues’ daughter Athena shows great favour for Odysseus and pleads with her father to set him free and guide him on his journey home

Zues is portrayed as a powerful figure and is seated in his majestic image, complete with crown, upon a raised throne. Obviously king of the gods. Zues’ main role in the Odyssey is his display of mercy towards Odysseues. In the opening scene, after some discussion about whether Odysseues deserves to be trapped on the Island of Ogygia by the nymph Calypso, Zues is questioned about his feelings against Odysseus. After consideration Zues admits ‘I bear him no grudge,’ however he is aware of the hatred felt towards Odysseus by Poseidon, for blinding his son Polyphemus the Cyclops.

Zues then agrees with the pleas from Athena that, Odysseus has suffered enough and based on the will of all other Gods, besides Poseidon, orders Hermes his son, to inform Calypso that Oddyesus be set free and sent on his Journey home. Calypso unhappily accepted Zeus’ orders and gave wood to Odysseus so that he could build a raft and return home. Obviously Poseidon was furious with Zeus’ for helping Odysseus, he sent a terrible storm to destroy Odysseus’s raft. Odysseus was saved by the sea goddess Leucotha. She gave him her veil that kept him afloat until he reached the shores of Phaecia.