Download Zeus Speech

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.