Greek Myth ~ Zeus (Part 2)

Carrying on from my previous Zeus post, I continue my research into the legends behind the God of all Gods.

Zeus Part 1
Zeus Part 3

Zeus

Father of Gods & Mortals ~ Continued… 

Oracle at Dodona

In North-West Greece was a sanctuary dedicated to Zeus, a clue to its existence was found in Homer’s poem Ilaid, written around 750 BC.  The poem describes the priests that slept on the sanctuary ground, with unwashed feet.  The focal point of the sanctuary was an ancient Oak tree.  Pilgrims believed that Zeus communicated with them through the rustling leaves of this Oak tree.  A small sheet of lead was also found at the sanctuary from the people of Corfu, a question inscribed on it asked Zeus which God or hero they should offer sacrifices so that they could govern the land in the best way.

Tartarus

People that died who had lived bad lives were sent to Tartarus, a place of hardship and punishment.  Zeus sent the Titans here once he had defeated them.

Dividing the Worlds: Hades Rebellion

Zeus, Hades and Poseidon were siblings.  When the time came to divide the world between these Gods, Zeus took the best part: the sky, Poseidon had the next best thing: the seas, and Hades was left with the worse part of all: all that lay under the earth (the Underworld).  Hades retaliated poorly, he wanted Persephone (daughter of Demeter) to be his wife and to rule the land of the dead as Queen of the Underworld.  Demeter feared for Persephone, and removed her from Greece and took her to Sicily in hope that Hades would not find her. 

While Persephone was gathering flowers one day, she was in awe of a bloom she had never seen before.  She went to pick this particular flower and the Earth crumbled beneath Her feet.  As the ground opened up, Hades appeared and pulled her down into the Underworld to become his wife.

When Demeter could not find her daughter and during her mad search the crops and fields on Earth failed and people starved.  Helios (Sun God) told Demeter that he witnessed Hades taking Persephone, her anger brewed towards the other Olympian deities for letting such a terrible thing come to pass.  She asked Zeus, Persephone’s father, to help find their daughter.  Zeus attempted to comfort Demeter but she refused to calm, she raged that Earth would continue to suffer without food until Persephone returned to her.

Zeus sent Hermes (messenger) to Hades and ordered that Persephone be returned, and if she did not then the Gods would be no more.  Hermes agreed on one condition, he told Demeter that he was return Persephone if she had not eaten any food of the dead whilst in the Underworld.  On arrival, Hades agreed that Persephone could return to her mother, assuming that she had not eating the food.  Unfortunately, the gardener came forth and mentioned Persephone eating seven seeds from a pomegranate.

Demeter was furious and continued to let the crops fail and the people starved.  The Olympian deities were worried and knew that something must be done.  They agreed that Persephone must live in the Underworld for four months each year as Queen, and spend the rest of the year with Demeter.

Theogony

(Excerpts)

“…the loud-crashing Earth-Shaker,

and wise Zeus, father of the Gods and men,

by whose thunder the wide Earth is Shaken.”

“Zeus made an evil thing for men as the price of fire.

He made woman to be an evil to man,

with a nature to do harm.”

Hesiod (700 BC)

Thunder

Zeus has come to visit me

There’s thunder in the sky

I will not hide under a tree

But on the lightning fly...

...Read more here

+AcanthaRayne

☮ ❤ & ツ