Jupiter By Freda and Nirvani

Introduction His Greek name is Zeus. Jupiter was the king of gods, and the god of sky and thunder. He was also known as Jove. Jupiter was the central God of the Capitoline Triad. As the sky god, he was the most frequently used divine witness to oaths. He remained the official deity of the Capitoline Triad throughout the republican and imperial times until he was replaced by Christianity. In any of the statues or pictures you see of Jupiter are either standing with thunderbolt in hand ready to attack or sitting in his throne.

Jupiter’s symbols are the eagle, a shield, thunderbolt and oak tree. His wife and sister was Juno the Goddess of pregnancy and birth. Fathered Minerva, Proserpine, Diana, Apollo, Bacchus and Mercury. He is the son of Saturn and his sister Cybele also from this relationship came Vesta, Juno, Pluto and Neptune. The Romans called him Jupiter Optimus Maximus (All-good All- powerful) Once Hera convinced the other gods to revolt against Jupiter. They tied him up and while deciding what to do with him, Jupiter broke free and threatened to thunderbolt everyone. Hera was hung by chains from Mt Olympus until she agreed to never to revolt again.

Jupiter’s Family Zeus had a number of wives who bore him many children. 1. Metos (wisdom)- was his first wife and she bore Athena. 2. Urania (Themis) - bore Dike, Eirene, Eunomia, Horae, and Fates. 3. Mnemoyne (Titaness) - bore nine children who became the Muses. 4. Latona (Leto) - bore the twins, Appolo and Artemis. 5. Hera - became his permanent companion. Zeus was known for having numerous affairs with mortal women producing even more children including Hercules.

Temple of Jupiter The largest temple in Rome was the one dedicated to Jupiter. It was called Jupiter Optimus Maximus on the Capitoline Hill. Here he was worshipped alongside Juno and Minerva (Capitoline Triad). The temple stood on a high podium with a staircase on the front. On the roof of the temple stood a terracotta statue of a quadriga (a chariot drawn by four horses) with Jupiter himself as the charioteer. It was later replaced by a bronze one in 296 B.C. On festival days his face was painted red. The face is painted red to show triumph. In the Cella (the inner chamber inside a temple) was a favissae (underground passage) where old statues that had fallen from the roof and dedicatory gifts were stored.