ゼウス

ゼウス（ΖΕΥΣ, Ζεύς, Zeus）は、ギリシア神話の主神たる全知全能の存在。ローマ神話のジュピター（ユーピテル）、中国神話の天帝、キリスト教やイスラーム等の唯一神と同様な、「至上神（supreme god）（スプリームゴッド）」の典型。一般的に「至上神」または「最高神」は、創造的能力や人格的性質を持ち、全知全能だとされている。

ゼウスは宇宙や天候を支配する天空神であり、人類と神々双方の秩序を守護・支配する神々の王である。宇宙を破壊できるほど強力な雷を武器とし、多神教の中にあっても唯一神的な性格を帯びるほどに絶対的で強大な力を持つ。ゼウス（Ζεύς、British English：zju:s、American English：zu:s）は、古代ギリシアの宗教における天空神・雷神で、オリンポス山に神々の王として君臨している。彼の名前は、ローマ神話に登場するユーピテルの第一元素と同義である。その神話と能力は、ユーピテル、ペルクナス、ペールン、インドラ、ディヤウス、ゾイツといった印欧語の神々と、同一ではないにせよ、似ているところがある。

ゼウスはクロノスとレアーの子供で、兄弟の中で最も若く生まれたが、他の兄弟はクロノスの胃から吐き出される必要があったため、長男とされることもあった。多くの伝承では、彼はヘーラーと結婚し、ヘーラーとの間にアレース、エイレイシア、ヒビ、ヘパイストスを生んだとされている。ドドナの神託で、彼の妃はディオーネとされ、『イーリアス』ではディオーネがアフロディテを生んだとされている。『神統記』によれば、ゼウスの最初の妻はメーティスで、その間にアテーナーが生まれた。ゼウスはまた、エロティックな逃避行で悪名高い人物であった。その結果、アポローン、アルテミス、ヘルメース、ペルセポネー、ディオニューソス、ペルセウス、ヘーラクレース、トロイのヘレン、ミノス、ミューズなど、多くの神や英雄の子孫が生まれました。

彼は神々の長であり、他の神々に役割を与える全能の父として尊敬されていた。"彼の実子でない神々も彼を父と呼び、すべての神々が彼の前で立ち上がる "とされていた。パウサニアスは「ゼウスが天の王であることは、すべての人に共通する表現である」と述べている。ゼウスのシンボルは、雷鳴、鷲、雄牛、樫である。インド・ヨーロッパ語族の伝統を受け継ぐだけでなく、古典的な「雲を集める者」（ギリシャ語：Νεφεληγερέτα, Nephelēgereta）は、笏など古代近東の文化に由来する図像的特徴も持っている。ゼウスは、立っている姿、右手に雷鳴を掲げて前進している姿、座って威厳を保っている姿の3つのポーズで描かれることが多い。ギリシャでは、左利きの人は不吉だと信じられていたため、雷は神の右手だけが持つことが非常に重要だった。

名前

The god's name in the nominative is テンプレート:Lang (Zeús). It is inflected as follows: vocative: テンプレート:Lang (テンプレート:Lang); accusative: テンプレート:Lang (テンプレート:Lang); genitive: テンプレート:Lang (テンプレート:Lang); dative: テンプレート:Lang (テンプレート:Lang). Diogenes Laërtius quotes Pherecydes of Syros as spelling the name テンプレート:Lang.

Zeus is the Greek continuation of *[[Dyeus|テンプレート:PIE]], the name of the Proto-Indo-European god of the daytime sky, also called *テンプレート:PIE ("Sky Father"). The god is known under this name in the Rigveda (Vedic Sanskrit Dyaus/Dyaus Pita), Latin (compare Jupiter, from Iuppiter, deriving from the Proto-Indo-European vocative *テンプレート:PIE), deriving from the root *dyeu- ("to shine", and in its many derivatives, "sky, heaven, god"). Albanian テンプレート:Lang is also a cognate of Zeus. In both the Greek and Albanian forms the original cluster *di̯ underwent affrication to *dz. Zeus is the only deity in the Olympic pantheon whose name has such a transparent Indo-European etymology.

The earliest attested forms of the name are the Mycenaean Greek テンプレート:Lang, di-we and テンプレート:Lang, di-wo, written in the Linear B syllabic script.

Plato, in his Cratylus, gives a folk etymology of Zeus meaning "cause of life always to all things", because of puns between alternate titles of Zeus (Zen and Dia) with the Greek words for life and "because of". This etymology, along with Plato's entire method of deriving etymologies, is not supported by modern scholarship.

Diodorus Siculus wrote that Zeus was also called Zen, because the humans believed that he was the cause of life (zen). While Lactantius wrote that he was called Zeus and Zen, not because he is the giver of life, but because he was the first who lived of the children of Cronus.

Mythology

Birth

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"Cave of Zeus", Mount Ida, Crete

In Hesiod's Theogony (c. 730 – 700 BC), Cronus, after castrating his father Uranus, becomes the supreme ruler of the cosmos, and weds his sister Rhea, by whom he begets three daughters and three sons: Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, Poseidon, and lastly, "wise" Zeus, the youngest of the six. He swallows each child as soon as they are born, having received a prophecy from his parents, Gaia and Uranus, that one of his own children is destined to one day overthrow him as he overthrew his father. This causes Rhea "unceasing grief", and upon becoming pregnant with her sixth child, Zeus, she approaches her parents, Gaia and Uranus, seeking a plan to save her child and bring retribution to Cronus. Following her parents' instructions, she travels to Lyctus in Crete, where she gives birth to Zeus, handing the newborn child over to Gaia for her to raise, and Gaia takes him to a cave on Mount Aegaeon. Rhea then gives to Cronus, in the place of a child, a stone wrapped in swaddling clothes, which he promptly swallows, unaware that it isn't his son.

While Hesiod gives Lyctus as Zeus's birthplace, he is the only source to do so, and other authors give different locations. The poet Eumelos of Corinth (8th century BC), according to John the Lydian, considered Zeus to have been born in Lydia, while the Alexandrian poet Callimachus (c. 310 – c. 240 BC), in his Hymn to Zeus, says that he was born in Arcadia. Diodorus Siculus (fl. 1st century BC) seems at one point to give Mount Ida as his birthplace, but later states he is born in Dicte, and the mythographer Apollodorus (first or second century AD) similarly says he was born in a cave in Dicte.

Infancy

While the Theogony says nothing of Zeus's upbringing other than that he grew up swiftly, other sources provide more detailed accounts.

According to Apollodorus, Rhea, after giving birth to Zeus in a cave in Dicte, gives him to the nymphs Adrasteia and Ida, daughters of Melisseus, to nurse. They feed him on the milk of the she-goat Amalthea, while the Kouretes guard the cave and beat their spears on their shields so that Cronus cannot hear the infant's crying. Diodorus Siculus provides a similar account, saying that, after giving birth, Rhea travels to Mount Ida and gives the newborn Zeus to the Kouretes, who then takes him to some nymphs (not named), who raised him on a mixture of honey and milk from the goat Amalthea. He also refers to the Kouretes "rais[ing] a great alarum", and in doing so deceiving Cronus, and relates that when the Kouretes were carrying the newborn Zeus that the umbilical cord fell away at the river Triton.

Hyginus, in his Fabulae, relates a version in which Cronus casts Poseidon into the sea and Hades to the Underworld instead of swallowing them. When Zeus is born, Hera (also not swallowed), asks Rhea to give her the young Zeus, and Rhea gives Cronus a stone to swallow. Hera gives him to Amalthea, who hangs his cradle from a tree, where he isn't in heaven, on earth or in the sea, meaning that when Cronus later goes looking for Zeus, he is unable to find him. Hyginus also says that Ida, Althaea, and Adrasteia, usually considered the children of Oceanus, are sometimes called the daughters of Melisseus and the nurses of Zeus.

According to a fragment of Epimenides, the nymphs Helike and Kynosura are the young Zeus's nurses. Cronus travels to Crete to look for Zeus, who, to conceal his presence, transforms himself into a snake and his two nurses into bears. According to Musaeus, after Zeus is born, Rhea gives him to Themis. Themis in turn gives him to Amalthea, who owns a she-goat, which nurses the young Zeus.

Antoninus Liberalis, in his Metamorphoses, says that Rhea gives birth to Zeus in a sacred cave in Crete, full of sacred bees, which become the nurses of the infant. While the cave is considered forbidden ground for both mortals and gods, a group of thieves seek to steal honey from it. Upon laying eyes on the swaddling clothes of Zeus, their bronze armour "split[s] away from their bodies", and Zeus would have killed them had it not been for the intervention of the Moirai and Themis; he instead transforms them into various species of birds.

Ascension to Power

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1st century BC statue of Zeus

According to the Theogony, after Zeus reaches manhood, Cronus is made to disgorge the five children and the stone "by the stratagems of Gaia, but also by the skills and strength of Zeus", presumably in reverse order, vomiting out the stone first, then each of the five children in the opposite order to swallowing. Zeus then sets up the stone at Delphi, so that it may act as "a sign thenceforth and a marvel to mortal men". Zeus next frees the Cyclopes, who, in return, and out of gratitude, give him his thunderbolt, which had previously been hidden by Gaia. Then begins the Titanomachy, the war between the Olympians, led by Zeus, and the Titans, led by Cronus, for control of the universe, with Zeus and the Olympians fighting from Mount Olympus, and the Titans fighting from Mount Othrys. The battle lasts for ten years with no clear victor emerging, until, upon Gaia's advice, Zeus releases the Hundred-Handers, who (similarly to the Cyclopes) were imprisoned beneath the Earth's surface. He gives them nectar and ambrosia and revives their spirits, and they agree to aid him in the war. Zeus then launches his final attack on the Titans, hurling bolts of lightning upon them while the Hundred-Handers attack with barrages of rocks, and the Titans are finally defeated, with Zeus banishing them to Tartarus and assigning the Hundred-Handers the task of acting as their warders.

Apollodorus provides a similar account, saying that, when Zeus reaches adulthood, he enlists the help of the Oceanid Metis, who gives Cronus an emetic, forcing to him to disgorge the stone and Zeus's five siblings. Zeus then fights a similar ten-year war against the Titans, until, upon the prophesying of Gaia, he releases the Cyclopes and Hundred-Handers from Tartarus, first slaying their warder, Campe. The Cyclopes give him his thunderbolt, Poseidon his trident and Hades his helmet of invisibility, and the Titans are defeated and the Hundred-Handers made their guards.

According to the Iliad, after the battle with the Titans, Zeus shares the world with his brothers, Poseidon and Hades, by drawing lots: Zeus receives the sky, Poseidon the sea, and Hades the underworld, with the earth and Olympus remaining common ground.

Challenges to Power

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Zeus (centre-left) battles against Porphyrion (far-right), detail of the Gigantomachy frieze from the Pergamon Altar, Pergamon Museum, Berlin.

Upon assuming his place as king of the cosmos, Zeus' rule is quickly challenged. The first of these challenges to his power comes from the Giants, who fight the Olympian gods in a battle known as the Gigantomachy. According to Hesiod, the Giants are the offspring of Gaia, born from the drops of blood that fell on the ground when Cronus castrated his father Uranus; there is, however, no mention of a battle between the gods and the Giants in the Theogony. It is Apollodorus who provides the most complete account of the Gigantomachy. He says that Gaia, out of anger at how Zeus had imprisoned her children, the Titans, bore the Giants to Uranus. There comes to the gods a prophecy that the Giants cannot be defeated by the gods on their own, but can be defeated only with the help of a mortal; Gaia, upon hearing of this, seeks a special pharmakon (herb) that will prevent the Giants from being killed. Zeus, however, orders Eos (Dawn), Selene (Moon) and Helios (Sun) to stop shining, and harvests all of the herb himself, before having Athena summon Heracles. In the conflict, Porphyrion, one of the most powerful of the Giants, launches an attack upon Heracles and Hera; Zeus, however, causes Porphyrion to become lustful for Hera, and when he is just about to violate her, Zeus strikes him with his thunderbolt, before Heracles deals the fatal blow with an arrow.

In the Theogony, after Zeus defeats the Titans and banishes them to Tartarus, his rule is challenged by the monster Typhon, a giant serpentine creature who battles Zeus for control of the cosmos. According to Hesiod, Typhon is the offspring of Gaia and Tartarus, described as having a hundred snaky fire-breathing heads. Hesiod says he "would have come to reign over mortals and immortals" had it not been for Zeus noticing the monster and dispatching with him quickly: the two of them meet in a cataclysmic battle, before Zeus defeats him easily with his thunderbolt, and the creature is hurled down to Tartarus. Epimenides presents a different version, in which Typhon makes his way into Zeus's palace while he is sleeping, only for Zeus to wake and kill the monster with a thunderbolt. Aeschylus and Pindar give somewhat similar accounts to Hesiod, in that Zeus overcomes Typhon with relative ease, defeating him with his thunderbolt. Apollodorus, in contrast, provides a more complex narrative. Typhon is, similarly to in Hesiod, the child of Gaia and Tartarus, produced out of anger at Zeus's defeat of the Giants. The monster attacks heaven, and all of the gods, out of fear, transform into animals and flee to Egypt, except for Zeus, who attacks the monster with his thunderbolt and sickle. Typhon is wounded and retreats to Mount Kasios in Syria, where Zeus grapples with him, giving the monster a chance to wrap him in his coils, and rip out the sinews from his hands and feet. Disabled, Zeus is taken by Typhon to the Corycian Cave in Cilicia, where he is guarded by the "she-dragon" Delphyne. Hermes and Aegipan, however, steal back Zeus's sinews, and refit them, reviving him and allowing him to return to the battle, pursuing Typhon, who flees to Mount Nysa; there, Typhon is given "ephemeral fruits" by the Moirai, which reduce his strength. The monster then flees to Thrace, where he hurls mountains at Zeus, which are sent back at him by the god's thunderbolts, before, while fleeing to Sicily, Zeus launches Mount Etna upon him, finally ending him. Nonnus, who gives the most longest and most detailed account from antiquity, presents a narrative similar to Apollodorus, with differences such as that it is instead Cadmus and Pan who recovers Zeus's sinews, by luring Typhon with music and then tricking him.

In the Iliad, Homer tells of another attempted overthrow, in which Hera, Poseidon, and Athena conspire to overpower Zeus and tie him in bonds. It is only because of the Nereid Thetis, who summons Briareus, one of the Hecatoncheires, to Olympus, that the other Olympians abandon their plans (out of fear for Briareus).

Seven wives of Zeus

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Jupiter, disguised as a shepherd, tempts Mnemosyne by Jacob de Wit (1727)

According to Hesiod, Zeus had seven wives. His first wife was the Oceanid Metis, whom he swallowed on the advice of Gaia and Uranus, so that no son of his by Metis would overthrow him, as had been foretold. Later, their daughter Athena would be born from the forehead of Zeus.

Zeus's next marriage was to his aunt and advisor Themis, who bore the Horae (Seasons) and the Moirai (Fates). Zeus then married the Oceanid Eurynome, who bore the three Charites (Graces).

Zeus's fourth wife was his sister, Demeter, who bore Persephone. The fifth wife of Zeus was his aunt, the Titan Mnemosyne, whom he seduced in the form of a mortal shepherd. Zeus and Mnemosyne had the nine Muses. His sixth wife was the Titan Leto, who gave birth to Apollo and Artemis on the island of Delos.

Zeus's seventh and final wife was his older sister Hera.

Zeus and Hera

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Wedding of Zeus and Hera on an antique fresco from Pompeii

Zeus was the brother and consort of Hera. According to Pausanias, Zeus had turned himself into a cuckoo to woo Hera. By Hera, Zeus sired Ares, Hebe, Eileithyia and Hephaestus, though some accounts say that Hera produced these offspring alone. Some also include Eris, Enyo and Angelos as their daughters. In the section of the Iliad known to scholars as the Deception of Zeus, the two of them are described as having begun their sexual relationship without their parents knowing about it.

According to a scholion on Theocritus' Idylls, when Hera was heading toward Mount Thornax alone, Zeus created a terrible storm and transformed himself into a cuckoo bird who flew down and sat on her lap. When Hera saw the cuckoo, she felt pity for him and covered him with her cloak. Zeus then transformed back and took hold of her; because she was refusing to sleep with him due to their mother, he promised to marry her. In one account Hera refused to marry Zeus and hid in a cave to avoid him; an earthborn man named Achilles convinced her to give him a chance, and thus the two had their first sexual intercourse. Zeus then promised Achilles that every person who bore his name shall become famous.

A variation goes that Hera had been reared by a nymph named Macris on the island of Euboea, but Zeus stole her away, where Mt. Cithaeron, in the words of Plutarch, "afforded them a shady recess". When Macris came to look for her ward, the mountain-god Cithaeron drove her away, saying that Zeus was taking his pleasure there with Leto.

According to Callimachus, their wedding feast lasted three thousand years. The Apples of the Hesperides that Heracles was tasked by Eurystheus to take were a wedding gift by Gaia to the couple.

Zeus mated with several nymphs and was seen as the father of many mythical mortal progenitors of Hellenic dynasties. Aside from his seven wives, relationships with immortals included Dione and Maia. Among mortals were Semele, Io, Europa and Leda (for more details, see below) and with the young Ganymede (although he was mortal Zeus granted him eternal youth and immortality).

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Zeus carrying away Ganymede (Late Archaic terracotta, 480-470 BC)

Many myths render Hera as jealous of his affairs and a consistent enemy of Zeus' mistresses and their children by him. For a time, a nymph named Echo had the job of distracting Hera from his affairs by talking incessantly, and when Hera discovered the deception, she cursed Echo to repeat the words of others.

According to Diodorus Siculus, Alcmene, the mother of Heracles, was the very last mortal woman Zeus ever slept with; following the birth of Heracles, he ceased to beget humans altogether, and fathered no more children.

Prometheus and conflicts with humans

When the gods met at Mecone to discuss which portions they will receive after a sacrifice, the titan Prometheus decided to trick Zeus so that humans receive the better portions. He sacrificed a large ox, and divided it into two piles. In one pile he put all the meat and most of the fat, covering it with the ox's grotesque stomach, while in the other pile, he dressed up the bones with fat. Prometheus then invited Zeus to choose; Zeus chose the pile of bones. This set a precedent for sacrifices, where humans will keep the fat for themselves and burn the bones for the gods.

Zeus, enraged at Prometheus's deception, prohibited the use of fire by humans. Prometheus, however, stole fire from Olympus in a fennel stalk and gave it to humans. This further enraged Zeus, who punished Prometheus by binding him to a cliff, where an eagle constantly ate Prometheus's liver, which regenerated every night. Prometheus was eventually freed from his misery by Heracles.

Now Zeus, angry at humans, decides to give humanity a punishing gift to compensate for the boon they had been given. He commands Hephaestus to mold from earth the first woman, a "beautiful evil" whose descendants would torment the human race. After Hephaestus does so, several other gods contribute to her creation. Hermes names the woman 'Pandora'.

Pandora was given in marriage to Prometheus's brother Epimetheus. Zeus gave her a jar which contained many evils. Pandora opened the jar and released all the evils, which made mankind miserable. Only hope remained inside the jar.

When Zeus was atop Mount Olympus he was appalled by human sacrifice and other signs of human decadence. He decided to wipe out mankind and flooded the world with the help of his brother Poseidon. After the flood, only Deucalion and Pyrrha remained. This flood narrative is a common motif in mythology.

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The Chariot of Zeus, from an 1879 Stories from the Greek Tragedians by Alfred Church.

In the Iliad

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Jupiter and Juno on Mount Ida by James Barry, 1773 (City Art Galleries, Sheffield.)

The Iliad is an ancient Greek epic poem attributed to Homer about the Trojan war and the battle over the City of Troy, in which Zeus plays a major part.

Scenes in which Zeus appears include:

• Book 2: Zeus sends Agamemnon a dream and is able to partially control his decisions because of the effects of the dream
• Book 4: Zeus promises Hera to ultimately destroy the City of Troy at the end of the war
• Book 7: Zeus and Poseidon ruin the Achaeans fortress
• Book 8: Zeus prohibits the other Gods from fighting each other and has to return to Mount Ida where he can think over his decision that the Greeks will lose the war
• Book 14: Zeus is seduced by Hera and becomes distracted while she helps out the Greeks
• Book 15: Zeus wakes up and realizes that his own brother, Poseidon has been aiding the Greeks, while also sending Hector and Apollo to help fight the Trojans ensuring that the City of Troy will fall
• Book 16: Zeus is upset that he couldn't help save Sarpedon's life because it would then contradict his previous decisions
• Book 17: Zeus is emotionally hurt by the fate of Hector
• Book 20: Zeus lets the other Gods lend aid to their respective sides in the war
• Book 24: Zeus demands that Achilles release the corpse of Hector to be buried honourably

Other myths

Zeus slept with his great-granddaughter, Alcmene, disguised as her husband Amphitryon. This resulted in the birth of Heracles, who would be tormented by Zeus's wife Hera for the rest of his life. After his death, Heracles's mortal parts were incinerated and he joined the gods on Olympus. He married Zeus and Hera's daughter, Hebe, and had two sons with her, Alexiares and Anicetus.

When Hades requested to marry Zeus's daughter, Persephone, Zeus approved and advised Hades to abduct Persephone, as her mother Demeter wouldn't allow her to marry Hades.

Zeus fell in love with Semele, the daughter of Cadmus and Harmonia, and started an affair with her. Hera discovered his affair when Semele later became pregnant, and persuaded Semele to sleep with Zeus in his true form. When Zeus showed his true form to Semele, his lightning and thunderbolts burned her to death. Zeus saved the fetus by stitching it into his thigh, and the fetus would be born as Dionysus.

In the Orphic "Rhapsodic Theogony" (first century BC/AD), Zeus wanted to marry his mother Rhea. After Rhea refused to marry him, Zeus turned into a snake and raped her. Rhea became pregnant and gave birth to Persephone. Zeus in the form of a snake would mate with his daughter Persephone, which resulted in the birth of Dionysus.

Zeus granted Callirrhoe's prayer that her sons by Alcmaeon, Acarnan and Amphoterus, grow quickly so that they might be able to avenge the death of their father by the hands of Phegeus and his two sons.

Both Zeus and Poseidon wooed Thetis, daughter of Nereus. But when Themis (or Prometheus) prophesied that the son born of Thetis would be mightier than his father, Thetis was married off to the mortal Peleus.

Zeus was afraid that his grandson Asclepius would teach resurrection to humans, so he killed Asclepius with his thunderbolt. This angered Asclepius's father, Apollo, who in turn killed the Cyclopes who had fashioned the thunderbolts of Zeus. Angered at this, Zeus would have imprisoned Apollo in Tartarus. However, at the request of Apollo's mother, Leto, Zeus instead ordered Apollo to serve as a slave to King Admetus of Pherae for a year. According to Diodorus Siculus, Zeus killed Asclepius because of complains from Hades, who was worried that the number of people in the underworld was diminishing because of Asclepius's resurrections.

The winged horse Pegasus carried the thunderbolts of Zeus.

Zeus took pity on Ixion, a man who was guilty of murdering his father-in-law, by purifying him and bringing him to Olympus. However, Ixion started to lust after Hera. Hera complained about this to her husband, and Zeus decided to test Ixion. Zeus fashioned a cloud that resembles Hera (Nephele) and laid the cloud-Hera in Ixion's bed. Ixion coupled with Nephele, resulting in the birth of Centaurus. Zeus punished Ixion for lusting after Hera by tying him to a wheel that spins forever.

Once, Helios the sun god gave his chariot to his inexperienced son Phaethon to drive. Phaethon could not control his father's steeds so he ended up taking the chariot too high, freezing the earth, or too low, burning everything to the ground. The earth itself prayed to Zeus, and in order to prevent further disaster, Zeus hurled a thunderbolt at Phaethon, killing him and saving the world from further harm. In a satirical work, Dialogues of the Gods by Lucian, Zeus berates Helios for allowing such thing to happen; he returns the damaged chariot to him and warns him that if he dares do that again, he will strike him with one of this thunderbolts.

Transformation of Zeus

Love interest	Disguises
Aegina	an eagle or a flame of fire
Alcmene	Amphitryon
Antiope	a satyr
Asopis	a flame of fire
Callisto	Artemis or Apollo
Cassiopeia	Phoenix
Danaë	shower of gold
Europa	a bull
Eurymedusa	ant
Ganymede	an eagle
Hera	a cuckoo
Lamia	a lapwing
Leda	a swan
Mnemosyne	a shepherd
Nemesis	a goose
Persephone	a serpent
Rhea	a serpent
Semele	a fire
Thalia	a vulture

Children

Offspring and mothers (Hesiod)

Offspring	Mother
Heracles	Alcmene
Persephone	Demeter
Charites (Aglaea, Euphrosyne, Thalia)	Eurynome
Ares, Eileithyia, Hebe	Hera
Apollo, Artemis	Leto
Hermes	Maia
Athena	Metis
Muses (Calliope, Clio, Euterpe, Erato, Melpomene, Polyhymnia, Terpsichore, Thalia, Urania)	Mnemosyne
Dionysus	Semele
Horae (Dike, Eirene, Eunomia), Moirai (Atropos, Clotho, Lachesis)	Themis

Offspring and mothers (Other sources) Table 1

Offspring	Mother
Aegipan	Aega, Aix or Boetis
Tyche	Aphrodite
Hecate, Heracles	Asteria
Acragas	Asterope
Corybantes	Calliope
Coria (Athene)	Coryphe
Dionysus	Demeter
Aphrodite	Dione
Charites (Aglaea, Euphrosyne, Thalia)	Euanthe or Eunomia or Eurydome or Eurymedusa
Asopus	Eurynome
Dodon	Europa
Agdistis, Manes, Cyprian Centaurs	Gaia
Angelos, Arge, Eleutheria, Enyo, Eris, Hephaestus	Hera
Pan	Hybris
Helen of Troy	Nemesis
Melinoë, Zagreus, Dionysus	Persephone
Persephone	Rhea
Dionysus, Ersa, Nemea, Nemean Lion, Pandia	Selene
Persephone	Styx
Palici	Thalia
Aeacus, Damocrateia	Aegina
Amphion, Zethus	Antiope
Targitaos	Borysthenis
Arcas	Callisto
Britomartis	Carme
Dardanus, Emathion, Iasion or Eetion, Harmonia	Electra
Myrmidon	Eurymedousa
Cronius, Spartaios, Cytus	Himalia
Colaxes	Hora
Cres	Idaea
Epaphus, Keroessa	Io
Sarpedon, Argus	Lardane
Saon	Nymphe
Meliteus	Othreis

Offspring and mothers (Other sources) Table 2

Offspring	Mother
Tantalus	Plouto
Lacedaemon	Taygete
Archas	Themisto
Carius	Torrhebia
Megarus	Nymph Sithnid
Olenus	Anaxithea
Aethlius or Endymion	Calyce
Milye, Solymus	Chaldene
Perseus	Danaë
Pirithous	Dia
Tityos	Elara
Minos, Rhadamanthus, Sarpedon,	Europa
Arcesius	Euryodeia
Orchomenus	Hermippe
Agamedes	Iocaste
Thebe, Deucalion	Iodame
Acheilus	Lamia
Libyan Sibyl (Herophile)	Lamia (daughter of Poseidon)
Sarpedon	Laodamia
Helen of Troy, Pollux	Leda
Heracles	Lysithoe
Locrus	Maera
Argus, Pelasgus	Niobe
Graecus, Latinus	Pandora
Achaeus	Phthia
Aethlius, Aetolus, Opus	Protogeneia
Hellen	Pyrrha
Aegyptus, Heracles	Thebe
Magnes, Makednos	Thyia
Aletheia, Ate, Nysean, Caerus, Eubuleus, Litae, various nymphs, Phasis, Calabrus, Geraestus, Taenarus, Corinthus, Crinacus	unknown mothers
Orion	No mother

Roles and epithets

ファイル:Bust of Zeus.jpg

Roman marble colossal head of Zeus, 2nd century AD (British Museum)

Zeus played a dominant role, presiding over the Greek Olympian pantheon. He fathered many of the heroes and was featured in many of their local cults. Though the Homeric "cloud collector" was the god of the sky and thunder like his Near-Eastern counterparts, he was also the supreme cultural artifact; in some senses, he was the embodiment of Greek religious beliefs and the archetypal Greek deity.

Aside from local epithets that simply designated the deity as doing something random at some particular place, the epithets or titles applied to Zeus emphasized different aspects of his wide-ranging authority:

• Zeus Aegiduchos or Aegiochos: Usually taken as Zeus as the bearer of the Aegis, the divine shield with the head of Medusa across it, although others derive it from "goat" (テンプレート:Lang) and okhē (テンプレート:Lang) in reference to Zeus' nurse, the divine goat Amalthea.
• Zeus Agoraeus (Αγοραιος): Zeus as patron of the marketplace (agora) and punisher of dishonest traders.
• Zeus Areius (Αρειος): either "warlike" or "the atoning one".
• Zeus Eleutherios (Ἐλευθέριος): "Zeus the freedom giver" a cult worshiped in Athens
• Zeus Horkios: Zeus as keeper of oaths. Exposed liars were made to dedicate a votive statue to Zeus, often at the sanctuary at Olympia
• Zeus Olympios (Ολύμπιος): Zeus as king of the gods and patron of the Panhellenic Games at Olympia
• Zeus Panhellenios ("Zeus of All the Greeks"): worshipped at Aeacus's temple on Aegina
• Zeus Xenios (Ξένιος), Philoxenon, or Hospites: Zeus as the patron of hospitality (xenia) and guests, avenger of wrongs done to strangers

ファイル:Otricoli Zeus - 1889 drawing.jpg

A bust of Zeus.

Additional names and epithets for Zeus are also:

A

• Abrettenus (Ἀβρεττηνός) or Abretanus: surname of Zeus in Mysia
• Achad: one of his names in Syria.
• Acraeus (Ακραίος): his name at Smyrna. Acraea and Acraeus are also attributes given to various goddesses and gods whose temples were situated upon hills, such as Zeus, Hera, Aphrodite, Pallas, Artemis, and others
• Acrettenus: his name in Mysia.
• Adad: one of his names in Syria.
• Zeus Adados: A Hellenization of the Canaanite Hadad and Assyrian Adad, particularly his solar cult at Heliopolis
• Adultus: from his being invoked by adults, on their marriage.
• Aleios (Ἄλειος), from "Helios" and perhaps connected to water as well.
• Amboulios (Αμβουλιος, "Counsellor") or Latinized Ambulius
• Apemius (Apemios, Απημιος): Zeus as the averter of ills
• Apomyius (Απομυιος): Zeus as one who dispels flies
• Aphesios (Αφεσιος; "Releasing (Rain)")
• Argikeravnos (ἀργικέραυνος; "of the flashing bolt").
• Astrapios (ἀστραπαῖός; "Lightninger"): Zeus as a weather god
• Atabyrius (Ἀταβύριος): he was worshipped in Rhodes and took his name from the Mount Atabyrus on the island
• Aithrios (Αἴθριος, "of the Clear Sky").
• Aitherios (Αἰθέριος, "of Aether").

B

• Basileus (Βασιλευς, "King, Chief, Ruler")
• Bottiaeus/ Bottaios (Βοττιαίος, "of the Bottiaei"): Worshipped at Antioch Libanius wrote that Alexander the Great founded the temple of Zeus Bottiaios, in the place where later the city of Antioch was built.
• Zeus Bouleus/ Boulaios (Βουλαίος, "of the Council"): Worshipped at Dodona, the earliest oracle, along with Zeus Naos
• Brontios and Brontaios (Βρονταῖος, "Thunderer"): Zeus as a weather god

C

• Cenaean (Kenaios/ Kenaius, Κηναῖος): a surname of Zeus, derived from cape Cenaeum
• Chthonios (Χθόνιος, "of the earth or underworld")

D

• Diktaios (Δικταιος): Zeus as lord of the Dikte mountain range, worshipped from Mycenaean times on Crete
• Dodonian/ Dodonaios (Δωδωναῖος): meaning of Dodona
• Dylsios (Δύλσιος)

E

• Eilapinastes (Εἰλαπιναστής, "Feaster"). He was worshipped in Cyprus.
• Epikarpios (ἐπικάρπιος, "of the fruits").
• Eleutherios (Ἐλευθέριος, "of freedom"). At Athens after the Battle of Plataea, Athenians built the Stoa of Zeus Eleutherios. Some writers said that was called "of freedom" because free men built the portico near his shrine, while others because Athenians escaped subjection to the power of Persia and they were free.
• Epidôtês/ Epidotes (Επιδωτης; "Giver of Good"): an epithet of Zeus at Mantineia and Sparta
• Euênemos/ Euanemos (Ευηνεμος; "of Fair Winds", "Giver of Favourable Wind") or Latinized Evenemus/ Evanemus

G

• Genethlios (Γενέθλιός; "of birth").
• Zeus Georgos (Ζεὺς Γεωργός, "Zeus the Farmer"): Zeus as god of crops and the harvest, worshipped in Athens

H

• Zeus Helioupolites ("Heliopolite" or "Heliopolitan Zeus"): A Hellenization of the Canaanite Baʿal (probably Hadad) worshipped as a sun god at Heliopolis (modern Baalbek) in Syria
• Herkeios (Ἑρκειος, "of the Courtyard") or Latinized Herceius
• Hecalesius, a festival named Hecalesia (Εκαλήσια) was celebrated at Athens in honour of Zeus Hecalesius and Hecale.
• Hetareios (Ἑταιρεῖος, "of fellowship"): According to the Suda, Zeus was called this among the Cretans.
• Hikesios (Ἱκεσιος; "of Suppliants") or Latinized Hicesius
• Homognios (ὁμόγνιος; "of kindred")
• Hyetios (Ὑετιος; "of the Rain")
• Hypatos (Ὑπατος, "Supreme, Most High")
• Hypsistos (Ὕψιστος, "Supreme, Most High")

I

• Idaeus or Idaios (Ἰδαῖος), of mount Ida. Either Mount Ida in Crete or Mount Ida in the ancient Troad
• Ikmaios (Ικμαιος; "of Moisture") or Latinized Icmaeus
• Ithomatas (Ιθωμάτας), an annual festival celebrated at Ithome for Zeus Ithomatas.

K

• Zeus Kasios ("Zeus of Mount Kasios" the modern Jebel Aqra) or Latinized Casius: a surname of Zeus, the name may have derived from either sources, one derived from Casion, near Pelusium in Egypt. Another derived from Mount Kasios (Casius), which is the modern Jebel Aqra, is worshipped at a site on the Syrian–Turkish border, a Hellenization of the Canaanite mountain and weather god Baal Zephon
• Kataibates (Καταιβάτης, "descending") or Latinized Cataebates, because he was sending-down thunderbolts or because he was descending to earth due to his love of women.
• Katharsios (Καθάρσιος, "purifying").
• Keraunios (Κεραυνιος; "of the Thunderbolt") or Latinized Ceraunius
• Klarios (Κλαριος; "of the Lots") or Latinized Clarius
• Konios (Κονιος; "of the Dust") or Latinized Conius
• Koryphaios (Κορυφαιος, "Chief, Leader") or Latinized Coryphaeus
• Kosmêtês (Κοσμητης; "Orderer") or Latinized Cosmetes
• Ktesios (Κτησιος, "of the House, Property") or Latinized Ctesius

L

• Zeus Labrandos (Λαβρανδευς; "Furious, Raging", "Zeus of Labraunda"): Worshiped at Caria, depicted with a double-edged axe (labrys), a Hellenization of the Hurrian weather god Teshub
• Laphystius ("of Laphystium"), Laphystium was a mountain in Boeotia on which there was a temple to Zeus.
• Limenoskopos (Λιμενοσκοπος; "Watcher of Sea-Havens") or Latinized Limenoscopus occurs as a surname of several deities, Zeus, Artemis, Aphrodite, Priapus and Pan
• Lepsinos, there is a temple of Zeus Lepsinos at Euromus.
• Leukaios (Λευκαῖος Ζεύς; "Zeus of the white poplar")

M

• Maimaktês (Μαιμακτης; "Boisterous", "the Stormy") or Latinized Maemactes, a surname of Zeus, derived from the Attic calendar month name 'Maimakterion' (Μαιμακτηριών, Latinized Maemacterion) and which that month the Maimakteria was celebrated at Athens
• Zeus Meilichios/ Meilikhios (Μειλίχιος; "Zeus the Easily-Entreated") There was a sanctuary south of the Ilissos river at Athens.
• Mêkhaneus (Μηχανευς; "Contriver") or Latinized Mechaneus
• Moiragetes (Μοιραγέτης; "Leader of the Fates", "Guide or Leade of Fate"): Pausanias wrote that this was a surname of Zeus and Apollo at Delphi, because Zeus knew the affairs of men, all that the Fates give them and all that is not destined for them.

N

• Zeus Naos: Worshipped at Dodona, the earliest oracle, along with Zeus Bouleus

O

• Ombrios (Ομβριος; "of the Rain", "Rain-Giver")
• Ouranios (Οὐράνιος, "Heavenly").
• Ourios (Οὐριος, "of Favourable Wind"). Ancient writers wrote about a sanctuary at the opening of the Black Sea dedicated to the Zeus Ourios (ἱερὸν τοῦ Διὸς τοῦ Οὐρίου). In addition, on the island of Delos a dedication to Zeus Ourios was found. The dedication was made by a citizen of Ascalon, named Damon son of Demetrius, who escaped from pirates.

P

• Palaimnios (Παλαμναῖος; "of Vengeance")
• Panamaros (Πανάμαρος; "of the city of Panamara"): there was an important sanctuary of Zeus Panamaros at the city of Panamara in Caria
• Pankrates (Πανκρατής; "the almighty")
• Patrios (Πάτριος; "paternal")
• Phratrios (Φράτριος), as patron of a phratry
• Philios (Φιλιος; "of Friendship") or Latinized Philius
• Phyxios (Φυξιος; "of Refuge") or Latinized Phyxius
• Plousios (Πλουσιος; "of Wealth") or Latinized Plusius
• Polieus (Πολιεὺς; "from cities (poleis").

S

• Skotitas (Σκοτιτας; "Dark, Murky") or Latinized Scotitas
• Sêmaleos (Σημαλεος; "Giver of Signs") or Latinized Semaleus:
• Sosipolis (Σωσίπολις; "City saviour"): There was a temple of Zeus Sosipolis at Magnesia on the Maeander
• Splanchnotomus ("Entrails cutter"), he was worshipped in Cyprus.
• Stratios (Στράτιος; "Of armies").

T

• Zeus Tallaios ("Solar Zeus"): Worshipped on Crete
• Teleios (Τελειος; "of Marriage Rites") or Latinized Teleus
• Theos Agathos (Θεος Αγαθος; "the Good God") or Latinized Theus Agathus
• Tropaioukhos/ Tropaiuchos (τροπαιοῦχος, "Guardian of Trophies"): after the Battle of the 300 Champions, Othryades, dedicated the trophy to "Zeus, Guardian of Trophies" .

X

• Xenios (Ξενιος; "of Hospitality, Strangers") or Latinized Xenius

Z

• Zygius (Ζυγίος): As the presider over marriage. His wife Hera had also the epithet Zygia (Ζυγία). These epithets describing them as presiding over marriage.

Cults of Zeus

ファイル:Marble eagle with open wings, from the sanctuary of Zeus Hypsistos, Archaeological Museum, Dion (7080054119).jpg

Marble eagle from the sanctuary of Zeus Hypsistos, Archaeological Museum of Dion.

Panhellenic cults

ファイル:Statue of Zeus dsc02611-.jpg

Colossal seated Marnas from Gaza portrayed in the style of Zeus. Roman period Marnas was the chief divinity of Gaza (Istanbul Archaeology Museum).

The major center where all Greeks converged to pay honor to their chief god was Olympia. Their quadrennial festival featured the famous Games. There was also an altar to Zeus made not of stone, but of ash, from the accumulated remains of many centuries' worth of animals sacrificed there.

Outside of the major inter-polis sanctuaries, there were no modes of worshipping Zeus precisely shared across the Greek world. Most of the titles listed below, for instance, could be found at any number of Greek temples from Asia Minor to Sicily. Certain modes of ritual were held in common as well: sacrificing a white animal over a raised altar, for instance.

Zeus Velchanos

With one exception, Greeks were unanimous in recognizing the birthplace of Zeus as Crete. Minoan culture contributed many essentials of ancient Greek religion: "by a hundred channels the old civilization emptied itself into the new", Will Durant observed, and Cretan Zeus retained his youthful Minoan features. The local child of the Great Mother, "a small and inferior deity who took the roles of son and consort", whose Minoan name the Greeks Hellenized as Velchanos, was in time assumed as an epithet by Zeus, as transpired at many other sites, and he came to be venerated in Crete as Zeus Velchanos ("boy-Zeus"), often simply the Kouros.

In Crete, Zeus was worshipped at a number of caves at Knossos, Ida and Palaikastro. In the Hellenistic period a small sanctuary dedicated to Zeus Velchanos was founded at the Hagia Triada site of a long-ruined Minoan palace. Broadly contemporary coins from Phaistos show the form under which he was worshiped: a youth sits among the branches of a tree, with a cockerel on his knees. On other Cretan coins Velchanos is represented as an eagle and in association with a goddess celebrating a mystic marriage. Inscriptions at Gortyn and Lyttos record a Velchania festival, showing that Velchanios was still widely venerated in Hellenistic Crete.

The stories of Minos and Epimenides suggest that these caves were once used for incubatory divination by kings and priests. The dramatic setting of Plato's Laws is along the pilgrimage-route to one such site, emphasizing archaic Cretan knowledge. On Crete, Zeus was represented in art as a long-haired youth rather than a mature adult and hymned as ho megas kouros, "the great youth". Ivory statuettes of the "Divine Boy" were unearthed near the Labyrinth at Knossos by Sir Arthur Evans. With the Kouretes, a band of ecstatic armed dancers, he presided over the rigorous military-athletic training and secret rites of the Cretan paideia.

The myth of the death of Cretan Zeus, localised in numerous mountain sites though only mentioned in a comparatively late source, Callimachus, together with the assertion of Antoninus Liberalis that a fire shone forth annually from the birth-cave the infant shared with a mythic swarm of bees, suggests that Velchanos had been an annual vegetative spirit. The Hellenistic writer Euhemerus apparently proposed a theory that Zeus had actually been a great king of Crete and that posthumously, his glory had slowly turned him into a deity. The works of Euhemerus himself have not survived, but Christian patristic writers took up the suggestion.

Zeus Lykaios

ファイル:Stater Zeus Lampsacus CdM.jpg

Laurel-wreathed head of Zeus on a gold stater, Lampsacus, c 360–340 BC (Cabinet des Médailles).

The epithet Zeus Lykaios (Λύκαιος; "wolf-Zeus") is assumed by Zeus only in connection with the archaic festival of the Lykaia on the slopes of Mount Lykaion ("Wolf Mountain"), the tallest peak in rustic Arcadia; Zeus had only a formal connection with the rituals and myths of this primitive rite of passage with an ancient threat of cannibalism and the possibility of a werewolf transformation for the ephebes who were the participants. Near the ancient ash-heap where the sacrifices took place was a forbidden precinct in which, allegedly, no shadows were ever cast.

According to Plato, a particular clan would gather on the mountain to make a sacrifice every nine years to Zeus Lykaios, and a single morsel of human entrails would be intermingled with the animal's. Whoever ate the human flesh was said to turn into a wolf, and could only regain human form if he did not eat again of human flesh until the next nine-year cycle had ended. There were games associated with the Lykaia, removed in the fourth century to the first urbanization of Arcadia, Megalopolis; there the major temple was dedicated to Zeus Lykaios.

There is, however, the crucial detail that Lykaios or Lykeios (epithets of Zeus and Apollo) may derive from Proto-Greek *テンプレート:Lang, "light", a noun still attested in compounds such as テンプレート:Lang, "twilight", テンプレート:Lang, "year" (lit. "light's course") etc. This, Cook argues, brings indeed much new 'light' to the matter as Achaeus, the contemporary tragedian of Sophocles, spoke of Zeus Lykaios as "starry-eyed", and this Zeus Lykaios may just be the Arcadian Zeus, son of Aether, described by Cicero. Again under this new signification may be seen Pausanias' descriptions of Lykosoura being 'the first city that ever the sun beheld', and of the altar of Zeus, at the summit of Mount Lykaion, before which stood two columns bearing gilded eagles and 'facing the sun-rise'. Further Cook sees only the tale of Zeus' sacred precinct at Mount Lykaion allowing no shadows referring to Zeus as 'god of light' (Lykaios).

ファイル:Statue of Zeus.jpg

A statue of Zeus in a drawing.

Additional cults of Zeus

テンプレート:More citations needed section Although etymology indicates that Zeus was originally a sky god, many Greek cities honored a local Zeus who lived underground. Athenians and Sicilians honored Zeus Meilichios (Μειλίχιος; "kindly" or "honeyed") while other cities had Zeus Chthonios ("earthy"), Zeus Katachthonios (Καταχθόνιος; "under-the-earth") and Zeus Plousios ("wealth-bringing"). These deities might be represented as snakes or in human form in visual art, or, for emphasis as both together in one image. They also received offerings of black animal victims sacrificed into sunken pits, as did chthonic deities like Persephone and Demeter, and also the heroes at their tombs. Olympian gods, by contrast, usually received white victims sacrificed upon raised altars.

In some cases, cities were not entirely sure whether the daimon to whom they sacrificed was a hero or an underground Zeus. Thus the shrine at Lebadaea in Boeotia might belong to the hero Trophonius or to Zeus Trephonius ("the nurturing"), depending on whether you believe Pausanias, or Strabo. The hero Amphiaraus was honored as Zeus Amphiaraus at Oropus outside of Thebes, and the Spartans even had a shrine to Zeus Agamemnon. Ancient Molossian kings sacrificed to Zeus Areius (Αρειος). Strabo mention that at Tralles there was the Zeus Larisaeus (Λαρισαιος). In Ithome, they honored the Zeus Ithomatas, they had a sanctuary and a statue of Zeus and also held an annual festival in honour of Zeus which was called Ithomaea (ἰθώμαια).

Hecatomphonia

Hecatomphonia (テンプレート:Lang-grc), meaning killing of a hundred, from ἑκατόν “a hundred” and φονεύω “to kill”. It was a custom of Messenians, at which they offered sacrifice to Zeus when any of them had killed a hundred enemies. Aristomenes have offered three times this sacrifice at the Messenian wars against Sparta.

Non-panhellenic cults

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Roman cast terracotta of ram-horned Jupiter Ammon, 1st century AD (Museo Barracco, Rome).

In addition to the Panhellenic titles and conceptions listed above, local cults maintained their own idiosyncratic ideas about the king of gods and men. With the epithet Zeus Aetnaeus he was worshiped on Mount Aetna, where there was a statue of him, and a local festival called the Aetnaea in his honor. Other examples are listed below. As Zeus Aeneius or Zeus Aenesius (Αινησιος), he was worshiped in the island of Cephalonia, where he had a temple on Mount Aenos.

Oracles of Zeus

Although most oracle sites were usually dedicated to Apollo, the heroes, or various goddesses like Themis, a few oracular sites were dedicated to Zeus. In addition, some foreign oracles, such as Baʿal's at Heliopolis, were associated with Zeus in Greek or Jupiter in Latin.

The Oracle at Dodona

The cult of Zeus at Dodona in Epirus, where there is evidence of religious activity from the second millennium BC onward, centered on a sacred oak. When the Odyssey was composed (circa 750 BC), divination was done there by barefoot priests called Selloi, who lay on the ground and observed the rustling of the leaves and branches. By the time Herodotus wrote about Dodona, female priestesses called peleiades ("doves") had replaced the male priests.

Zeus' consort at Dodona was not Hera, but the goddess Dione — whose name is a feminine form of "Zeus". Her status as a titaness suggests to some that she may have been a more powerful pre-Hellenic deity, and perhaps the original occupant of the oracle.

The Oracle at Siwa

The oracle of Ammon at the Siwa Oasis in the Western Desert of Egypt did not lie within the bounds of the Greek world before Alexander's day, but it already loomed large in the Greek mind during the archaic era: Herodotus mentions consultations with Zeus Ammon in his account of the Persian War. Zeus Ammon was especially favored at Sparta, where a temple to him existed by the time of the Peloponnesian War.

After Alexander made a trek into the desert to consult the oracle at Siwa, the figure arose in the Hellenistic imagination of a Libyan Sibyl.

Zeus and foreign gods

ファイル:Evolution of Zeus Nikephoros on Indo-Greek coinage.jpg

Evolution of Zeus Nikephoros ("Zeus holding Nike") on Indo-Greek coinage: from the Classical motif of Nike handing the wreath of victory to Zeus himself (left, coin of Heliocles I 145-130 BC), then to a baby elephant (middle, coin of Antialcidas 115-95 BC), and then to the Wheel of the Law, symbol of Buddhism (right, coin of Menander II 90–85 BC).

ファイル:Buddha-Vajrapani-Herakles.JPG

Zeus as Vajrapāni, the protector of the Buddha. 2nd century, Greco-Buddhist art.

Zeus was identified with the Roman god Jupiter and associated in the syncretic classical imagination (see interpretatio graeca) with various other deities, such as the Egyptian Ammon and the Etruscan Tinia. He, along with Dionysus, absorbed the role of the chief Phrygian god Sabazios in the syncretic deity known in Rome as Sabazius. The Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes erected a statue of Zeus Olympios in the Judean Temple in Jerusalem. Hellenizing Jews referred to this statue as Baal Shamen (in English, Lord of Heaven). Zeus is also identified with the Hindu deity Indra. Not only they are the king of gods, but their weapon - thunder is similar.

Zeus and the sun

Zeus is occasionally conflated with the Hellenic sun god, Helios, who is sometimes either directly referred to as Zeus' eye, or clearly implied as such. Hesiod, for instance, describes Zeus' eye as effectively the sun. This perception is possibly derived from earlier Proto-Indo-European religion, in which the sun is occasionally envisioned as the eye of *Dyḗus Pḥ_atḗr (see Hvare-khshaeta). Euripides in his now lost tragedy Mysians described Zeus as "sun-eyed", and Helios is said elsewhere to be "the brilliant eye of Zeus, giver of life". In another of Euripides' tragedies, Medea, the chorus refers to Helios as "light born from Zeus."

Although the connection of Helios to Zeus does not seem to have basis in early Greek cult and writings, nevertheless there are many examples of direct identification in later times. The Hellenistic period gave birth to Serapis, a Greco-Egyptian deity conceived as a chthonic avatar of Zeus, whose solar nature is indicated by the sun crown and rays the Greeks depicted him with. Frequent joint dedications to "Zeus-Serapis-Helios" have been found all over the Mediterranean, for example, the Anastasy papyrus (now housed in the British Museum equates Helios to not just Zeus and Serapis but also Mithras, and a series of inscriptions from Trachonitis give evidence of the cult of "Zeus the Unconquered Sun". There is evidence of Zeus being worshipped as a solar god in the Aegean island of Amorgos, based on a lacunose inscription テンプレート:Lang ("Zeus the Sun"), meaning sun elements of Zeus' worship could be as early as the fifth century BC.

The Cretan Zeus Tallaios had solar elements to his cult. "Talos" was the local equivalent of Helios.

Zeus in philosophy

In Neoplatonism, Zeus' relation to the gods familiar from mythology is taught as the Demiurge or Divine Mind, specifically within Plotinus's work the Enneads and the Platonic Theology of Proclus.

Zeus in the Bible

Zeus is mentioned in the New Testament twice, first in Acts 14:8–13: When the people living in Lystra saw the Apostle Paul heal a lame man, they considered Paul and his partner Barnabas to be gods, identifying Paul with Hermes and Barnabas with Zeus, even trying to offer them sacrifices with the crowd. Two ancient inscriptions discovered in 1909 near Lystra testify to the worship of these two gods in that city. One of the inscriptions refers to the "priests of Zeus", and the other mentions "Hermes Most Great" and "Zeus the sun-god".

The second occurrence is in Acts 28:11: the name of the ship in which the prisoner Paul set sail from the island of Malta bore the figurehead "Sons of Zeus" aka Castor and Pollux (Dioscuri).

The deuterocanonical book of 2 Maccabees 6:1, 2 talks of King Antiochus IV (Epiphanes), who in his attempt to stamp out the Jewish religion, directed that the temple at Jerusalem be profaned and rededicated to Zeus (Jupiter Olympius).

Zeus in Gnostic literature

Pistis Sophia, a Gnostic text discovered in 1773 and possibly written between the 3rd and 4th centuries AD alludes to Zeus. He appears there as one of five grand rulers gathered together by a divine figure named Yew.

In modern culture

Film

ファイル:Jason and the Argonauts (1963) Niall MacGinnis.png

Niall MacGinnis as Zeus in Jason and the Argonauts

Zeus was portrayed by Axel Ringvall in Jupiter på jorden, the first known film adaption to feature Zeus; Niall MacGinnis in Jason and the Argonauts and Angus MacFadyen in the 2000 remake; Laurence Olivier in the original Clash of the Titans, and Liam Neeson in the 2010 remake, along with the 2012 sequel Wrath of the Titans; Rip Torn in the Disney animated feature Hercules, Sean Bean in Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010). Russell Crowe portrays a character based on Zeus in Marvel Studios' Thor: Love and Thunder (2022).

TV series

Zeus was portrayed by Anthony Quinn in the 1990s TV series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys; Corey Burton in the TV series Hercules; Hakeem Kae-Kazim in Troy: Fall of a City; and Jason O'Mara in the Netflix animated series Blood of Zeus.

Video games

Zeus has been portrayed by Corey Burton in God of War II, God of War III, God of War: Ascension, PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale & Kingdom Hearts 3 and Eric Newsome in Dota 2. Zeus is also featured in the 2002 Ensemble Studios game Age of Mythology where he is one of 12 gods that can be worshipped by Greek players.

Other

Depictions of Zeus as a bull, the form he took when abducting Europa, are found on the Greek 2-euro coin and on the United Kingdom identity card for visa holders. Mary Beard, professor of Classics at Cambridge University, has criticised this for its apparent celebration of rape. A character based on the god was adapted by Marvel Comics creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, first appearing in 1949.

Gallery

• Marie Pierre Abduction of Europa.JPG

  The abduction of Europa

• Calyx-krater olympian assembly MAN.jpg

  Olympian assembly, from left to right: Apollo, Zeus and Hera

• Schloss Rastatt-Goldener Mann.jpg

  The "Golden Man" Zeus statue

• Getty Villa - Collection (5305219094).jpg

  Enthroned Zeus (Greek, c. 100 BC) - modeled after the Olympian Zeus by Pheidas (c. 430 BC)

• Zeus with Hera.jpg

  Zeus and Hera

• Paris-33 (29998023800).jpg

  Zeus statue

• Poseidon Zeus Marabouparken.JPG

  Zeus/Poseidon statue

See also

• Family tree of the Greek gods
• Agetor
• Ambulia – Spartan epithet used for Athena, Zeus, and Castor and Pollux
• Hetairideia – Thessalian Festival to Zeus
• Temple of Zeus, Olympia
• Zanes of Olympia – Statues of Zeus

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External links

• Greek Mythology Link, Zeus stories of Zeus in myth
• Theoi Project, Zeus summary, stories, classical art
• Theoi Project, Cult Of Zeus cult and statues
• Photo: Pagans Honor Zeus at Ancient Athens Temple from National Geographic

概要

ゼウスはローマ神話ではユーピテル（ジュピター）にあたる。オリュムポスの神々の家族および人類の両方の守護神・支配神であり、神々と人間たちの父と考えられた。

ゼウスは天空神として、全宇宙や雲・雨・雪・雷などの気象を支配していた。キュクロープスの作った雷霆（ケラウノス）を主な武器とする。その威力はオリュンポス最強と謳われるほど強大なもので、この雷霆をゼウスが使えば世界を一撃で熔解させ、全宇宙を焼き尽くすことができる。テューポーンと戦う際には、万物を切り刻む魔法の刃であるアダマスの鎌も武器としていた。雷霆の一撃をも防ぎ、更に敵を石化させるアイギスの肩当て（胸当てや楯という説も）を主な防具とするが、この防具はよく娘のアテーナーに貸し出される。この他にも、「恐怖」という甲冑をギガントマキアーにおいて着用している。

「光輝」と呼ばれる天界の輝きを纏った鎧に山羊革の胸当てをつけ、聖獣は鷲、聖木はオーク。主要な神殿は、オークの木のささやきによって神託を下したエーペイロスの聖地ドードーナ、および4年ごとに彼の栄誉を祝福してオリンピック大祭が開かれたオリュンピアにあった。

系譜

ティーターン神族のクロノスとレアーの末の子（長男の説もある）で、ハーデースとポセイドーンの弟。正妻は姉であるヘーラーであるが、レートーや姉のデーメーテール等の女神をはじめ、多くの人間の女性とも交わり、子をもうけたといわれる。

オリュンポス十二神の中では、メーティスとの間にアテーナー、レートーとの間にアポローンとアルテミス、マイアとの間にヘルメース、ディオーネーとの間にアプロディーテー（ホメーロスより）、ヘーラーとの間にアレース、ヘーパイストス、またテーバイの王女セメレーとの間にディオニューソス、デーメーテール（一説にはステュクス）との間にペルセポネー（あるいはコレー）をもうけた。その他、記憶の女神ムネーモシュネーとの間に9人のムーサたち、海洋の女神エウリュノメーとの間に3人のカリスたち、月の女神セレーネーとの間にパンディーア、ヘルセー、ネメアが誕生した。

また様々な人間の女性との間に、たとえばダナエーとの間にペルセウスを、アルクメーネーとの間にヘーラクレースを、レーダーとの間にディオスクーロイを、アンティオペーとの間にゼートスとアムピーオーンを、エウローペーとの間にミーノースとラダマンテュスとサルペードーンを、カリストーとの間にアルカスを、イーオーとの間にエパポスを、といったように多数の子供たちをもうけたことになっている。これらゼウスの子とされる英雄を半神（ヘロス）といい、古代ギリシアでは下級の神として広く祀られた。これらの伝説は、古代ギリシアの各王家が、自らの祖先をゼウスとするために作り出された系譜とも考えられる。ゼウスが交わったとされる人間の女の中には、もとは地元の地母神であったと考えられるものもいる。女神や人間と交わるときのゼウスはしばしば変化したとされ、ダナエーのときには黄金の雨に、レーダーのときには白鳥に、アンティオペーのときにはサテュロスに、エウローペーのときには白い牡牛に、カリストーのときにはアルテミスに、イーオーのときには雲に変身したといわれる。

神話

正妻たち

ゼウスは最終的にはヘーラーと永遠に結ばれるが、それまでに何度か結婚と離婚を繰り返していた。

メーティス

ゼウスの最初の妻は智恵の女神メーティスであった。彼女はオーケアニデスであり、ティーターン神族の一柱であったが、ティーターノマキアーの際にはゼウスに味方していた。ガイアは「ゼウスとメーティスの間に生まれた男神は父を超える」という予言をした。これを恐れてゼウスは妊娠していたメーティスを呑み込み、子供が生まれないようにした。「どんなものにでも変身できるのなら、水に変身してみせよ」というゼウスの挑発に乗ったメーティスが水に変じたところでこれを飲み干したとも、ゼウスから逃れるために様々な動物に変身していたが、蠅に変身したところで呑み込まれたとも言われる。

あるとき、ゼウスは激しい頭痛に襲われた。そこで、ヘーパイストスに命じて頭を斧で叩き割り、直接原因を探ろうとした。すると、ゼウスの頭から武装し成人したアテーナーが飛び出してきた。その衝撃で世界は停止し、天体の運行も止まった。アテーナーがゼウスとメーティスとの子であり、女神であったために、ガイアの予言は効力を失った。こうしてゼウスは王位簒奪の大いなる運命から解放された。呑み込まれたメーティスはゼウスの智恵となり、ゼウスはメーティスの全知を手に入れた。また、メーティスはアテーナーと共に飛び出てきたという説もある。

テミス

メーティスの智恵を吸収したゼウスは、次にウーラノスとガイアの子である、掟の女神テミスと結婚した。テミスとの間に運命の三女神モイライ、季節の女神ホーラー、正義の女神アストライアーをもうけた。モイライは最初は夜の女神ニュクスの娘であったが、ゼウスは上記のように運命を超越し、モイライを自らの子として再誕生させた。結果として運命すらもゼウスに抗えなくなった。

ヘーラー

ゼウスはヘーラーに目を付け、テミスと結婚中であるにもかかわらず結婚の女神ヘーラーに言い寄った。ゼウスはカッコウに化けてヘーラーに近付き犯そうとしたが、ヘーラーはそれでも尚抵抗を止めなかった。ヘーラーは交わることの条件として結婚を提示した。ヘーラーに魅了されていたゼウスは仕方なくテミスと離婚すると、ヘーラーと結婚し、彼女との間にアレース、ヘーパイストス、ヘーベーなどをもうけた。ヘーラーはゼウスの不貞に対して常に目を光らせ、愛人たちやその子供たちに苛烈な罰を与えるようになった。

愛人たち

ゼウスは好色な神であり、しばしばヘーラーの目を盗んでは浮気を繰り返していた。これは、強力な神々や半神半人を生み出し、全宇宙や人間界の基盤を整えるためでもあった。また、古代ギリシアのみならず、地中海世界の王家が自らの祖先をゼウスとする家系を主張したため、ゼウスは浮気を繰り返す神話を多く持つようになった。ゼウスの愛人は数え切れないほどいるが、その中でも特に有名な愛人たちを以下に記述する。下記の他、ラミアー、アイギーナ、カリストー、エラレー、タレイア、アイトネーなど多くの愛人を持ったことで知られる。

イーオー

ゼウスはイーオーという美女と密通していた。これを見抜いたヘーラーはゼウスに詰め寄るが、ゼウスはイーオーを美しい雌牛に変え、雌牛を愛でていただけであるとした。ヘーラーは策を講じ、その雌牛をゼウスから貰うと、百眼の巨人アルゴスを見張りに付けた。この巨人は身体中に百の眼を持ち、眠る時も半分の50の眼は開いたままであったので、空間的にも時間的にも死角が存在しなかった。ゼウスはイーオー救出の任をヘルメースに命じ、ヘルメースは草笛でアルゴスの全ての眼を眠らせると、その首を剣で切り取った。

雌牛は解放されたが、ヘーラーが虻を送り込んだために雌牛は逃げ惑った。虻から逃げるように様々な地を放浪し、最終的にはエジプトに辿り着き、ここで雌牛は元の姿に戻った。ゼウスとの間にできていた子供であるエパポスをエジプトで出産した。イーオーはデーメーテールの像を立て、イーオーとデーメーテール像はエジプト人にイシスと呼ばれるようになった。

レーダー

アイトーリア王テスティオスの娘で、スパルタ王テュンダレオースの妻であったレーダーにもゼウスは恋した。ゼウスは白鳥に変じ、鷹に追われるふりをしてレーダーの腕に隠れた。レーダーは白鳥のことを想ってそれを拒まなかったが、そこで正体を現したゼウスと交わった。レーダーは二つの卵を産み、一つの卵からはヘレネーとクリュタイムネーストラーが、もう一つの卵からはカストールとポリュデウケース（二人合わせてディオスクーロイとも呼ばれた）が生まれた。ヘレネーとポリュデウケースはゼウスとの子であり、クリュタイムネーストラーとカストールがテュンダレオースとの子であった。ヘレネーは絶世の美女となり、トロイア戦争の原因となった。ポリュデウケースは不死身であった。ゼウスはヘレネーの誕生を記念し、宇宙にはくちょう座を創造した。

エウローペー

エウローペーは、テュロスのフェニキア王アゲーノールとテーレパッサの娘で、美しい姫であった。エウローペーに一目ぼれしたゼウスは誘惑するために、白い牡牛へと変身した。エウローペーは侍女と花を摘んでいる時にその牡牛を見付け、従順な様子に気を許して背にまたがった。その途端に牡牛はエウローペーを連れ去った。ゼウスはヨーロッパ中をエウローペーと共に駆け回ったため、その地域はエウローペーから名前を取って「ヨーロッパ」 (Europa) と呼ばれるようになった。最終的にクレタ島へ辿り着いたゼウスは本来の姿をあらわし、エウローペーはクレタ島で最初の妃となった。ゼウスとの息子には、ミーノースやラダマンテュス、サルペードーンがいる。その後、アステリオスが3人の息子たちの義理の父になった。ゼウスは彼女にタロースと必ず獲物をとらえる猟犬となくなる事のない投げ槍の、3つの贈り物を与えた。その後ゼウスは再び白い牡牛へと姿を変え、星空へと上がり、おうし座になった。

ガニュメーデース

ゼウスはガニュメーデースというトロイアの美少年を攫ったことでも知られている。しかし、これは愛人にするためではなく、神々の給仕係にするためであった。オリュンポスの神々に給仕するのは、もとは大神ゼウスとその正妻ヘーラーの娘、青春の女神であるヘーベーの役割であった。ゼウスの子、英雄ヘーラクレースが、死後に神々の列に加えられたとき、ヘーラクレースを憎んでいたヘーラーはようやくヘーラクレースと和解し、その娘ヘーベーが妻として彼に与えられた。このため神々の宴席に給仕するものがなくなった。ゼウスは人間たちの中でもとりわけ美しいガニュメーデースを選び、鷲の姿に変身して彼を攫い、オリュンポスの給仕とした。この仕事のためにガニュメーデースには永遠の若さと不死が与えられた。また代償としてその父に速い神馬（別伝ではヘーパイストスの作った黄金のブドウの木）が与えられた。

天上に輝くみずがめ座は、神々に神酒ネクタールを給仕するガニュメーデースの姿であり、わし座はゼウスが彼を攫うときに変身した鷲の姿である。

全宇宙の支配まで

王位簒奪戦争

ゼウスの生誕に関する古代伝説のひとつによれば、父クロノスはわが子に支配権を奪われる不安にかられ、生まれた子供を次々に飲み込んでしまった。そこでゼウスを生んだとき、母レアーは産着で包んだ石をかわりにクロノスに飲ませることでゼウスを救った。ゼウスはクレータ島のディクテオン洞窟で雌山羊のアマルテイアの乳を飲み、ニュムペーに育てられた。

成人したゼウスは、嘔吐薬によってクロノスに女を含め兄弟たちを吐き出させ、父親に復讐をしたがっている彼らと共に、全宇宙の支配権を巡る戦争であるティーターノマキアーを勃発させた。この時、飲み込まれた順とは逆の順で吐き出されたが、これがポセイドーン等にとって第2の誕生にあたり、よって兄弟の序列が逆転されたともされている。

この大戦においてゼウスは雷霆を投げつけ、宇宙をも揺るがす衝撃波と雷火によってティーターン神族を一網打尽にした。雷光は全空間に漲り、ティーターンたちは瞬く間に目を焼かれて視力を奪われた。雷霆の威力は想像を絶し、見渡す限りの天地を逆転させ、地球や全宇宙、そしてその根源のカオスをも焼き払うほどであった。この猛攻撃の甲斐あってゼウスたちはクロノスなどのティーターン神族を打ち倒し、敗者であるティーターン神族は宇宙の深淵であるタルタロスに封印された。

その後ゼウスとポセイドーンとハーデースは支配地をめぐってくじ引きを行い、それぞれ天界と海界と冥界の主となった。更に、ゼウスはその功績から神々の最高権力者と認められた。しかしその一方、この時のハーデースは冥界の主となったためにオリュンポス十二神から除外されている。

巨人族との戦い

全宇宙の支配権が確立したティーターノマキアー後も、ゼウスの支配を揺るがすような出来事が起こった。ゼウスは全宇宙の支配を護る為に防衛戦を展開しなければならなかった。

その一つが巨人族ギガースとオリュンポスの神々の戦いであるギガントマキアーであり、これはタルタロスに我が子であるティーターン神族を幽閉されたことに怒ったガイアが仕向けた大戦であると言われている。ギガースは山を軽々と持ち上げるほどの腕力を持ち、神々に対しては不死身であったが、人間なら殺すことができ、ゼウスは半神半人である自らの息子ヘーラクレースをオリュンポスに招いて味方にした。

ギガースたちは島や山脈といったありとあらゆる地形を引き裂きながら大軍で攻め入ってきたが、迎撃を開始した神々とヘーラクレースによって尽く打ち倒された。ヘーラーに欲情して犯そうとしたギガース・ポルピュリオーンは、彼女を犯す前にゼウスの雷霆によって戦闘不能にされ、最後はヘーラクレースの毒矢によってとどめを刺された。ギガースたちは神々によって島や山脈を叩き付けられて封印され、ヘーラクレースの強弓によって殺戮された。ギガントマキアーはゼウスたちの圧勝に終わった。

最終決戦

ギガントマキアーでゼウスたちを懲らしめられなかったガイアは、タルタロスと交わり、ギリシア神話史上最大にして最強の怪物テューポーンを生み出してオリュンポスを攻撃させた。テューポーンは頭が星々とぶつかってしまうほどの巨体を有しており、両腕を伸ばせば東西の世界の果てにも辿り着いた。神々と同じく不老不死で、肩からは百の蛇の頭が生え、炎を放つ目を持ち、腿から上は人間と同じだが、腿から下は巨大な毒蛇がとぐろを巻いた形をしていた。テューポーンは世界を大炎上させ、天空に突進して宇宙中も暴れ回った。これには神々も驚き、動物に姿を変えてエジプトの方へと逃げてしまった。しかし、ゼウスただ一人だけがその場に踏み止まり、究極の怪物にして怪物の王テューポーンとの壮絶な一騎討ちが始まった。

ゼウスは雷霆とアダマスの鎌でテューポーンを猛攻撃し、テューポーンは万物を燃やし尽くす炎弾と噴流でそれを押し返した。この決戦は天上の宇宙で繰り広げられ、これによって全秩序は混沌と化し、全宇宙は焼き尽くされて崩壊した。両者の実力は拮抗していたが、接近戦に持ち込んだゼウスがテューポーンの怪力に敗れ、そのとぐろによって締め上げられてしまう。テューポーンはゼウスの雷霆とアダマスの鎌を取り上げ、手足の腱を切り落とし、デルポイ近くのコーリュキオンと呼ばれる洞窟へ閉じ込めた。そしてテューポーンはゼウスの腱を熊の皮に隠し、番人として半獣の竜女デルピュネーを置き、自分は傷の治療のために母ガイアの元へ向かった。

ゼウスが囚われたことを知ったヘルメースとパーンはゼウスの救出に向かい、デルピュネーを騙して手足の腱を盗み出し、ゼウスを治療した。力を取り戻したゼウスは再びテューポーンと壮絶な戦いを繰り広げ、深手を負わせて追い詰める。テューポーンはゼウスに勝つために運命の女神モイラたちを脅し、どんな願いも叶うという「勝利の果実」を手に入れたが、その実を食べた途端、テューポーンは力を失ってしまった。実は女神たちがテューポーンに与えたのは、決して望みが叶うことはないという「無常の果実」だったのである。

敗走を続けたテューポーンは悪あがきとして全山脈をゼウスに投げつけようとしたが、雷霆によって簡単に弾き返され、逆に全山脈の下敷きになってしまう。最後はシケリア島まで追い詰められ、エトナ火山を叩き付けられ（シケリア島そのものを叩き付けたとする説もある）、その下に封印された。以来、テューポーンがエトナ山の重圧を逃れようともがくたび、噴火が起こるという。こうしてゼウスはテューポーンとの死闘に勝利し、もはや彼の王権に抗うものは現れなかった。

また、神統記によれば、ゼウスはテューポーンと全宇宙を揺るがす激闘の末に、雷霆の一撃によって世界を尽く溶解させて、そのままテューポーンをタルタロスへと放り込んだのだという。

世界の平定

ガイアがまだ権威を持っていた宇宙の原初期には、森羅万象はオリュンポスの神々に対して反抗的で、全物質が支配から逃れようと暴れ出した。ガイアは地母神と言われているが、その支配領域は大地だけではなく、天をも内包する世界そのものにまで及んでいたからだ。万物の反抗は、何もかも覆してしまうかのような大変動に繋がった。大陸はねじれて震え、山々はばらばらに引き裂かれて岩石や火砕流を吐き出した。河は流れを変え、海は隆起して全ての大陸は海中へと没した。全物質の攻撃により、世界は混沌と化した。

しかし、ゼウスは宇宙を統制し、森羅万象を押さえ込んで混沌とした世界をその意に従わせた。大地はもはや揺らがなくなり、山々も平穏になった。大陸は海中から姿を現し、もう海が暴れることもなくなった。ゼウスは世界を平定し、再び宇宙に調和が訪れた。

人物

ホメーロスの記述にみるゼウスは、2つの異なる姿で描かれている。一方ではゼウスは弱者の守護神、正義と慈悲の神、悪者を罰する神としてあらわされる。しかし同時に、次々と女性に手を出しては子孫を増やし、不貞を妻に知られまいとあらゆる手段を講じる神としても描かれている。混沌を自らの力で撃退・統制し、全宇宙の秩序を創造した神でもあり、その秩序を脅かす者ならば、たとえ同族であっても排除する荒ぶる神でもある。

元来はバルカン半島の北方から来てギリシア語をもたらしたインド・ヨーロッパ語族系征服者の信仰した天空神であったと考えられ、ヘーラーとの結婚や様々な地母神由来の女神や女性との交わりは、非インド・ヨーロッパ語族系先住民族との和合と融合を象徴するものと考えられる。また自分たちの系譜を神々の父までさかのぼりたいという、古代ギリシア人の願望としても説明されることがある。

多くのインド・ヨーロッパ語族系言語を用いる民に共通して信仰された天空神に由来し、その祖形は、ローマ神話におけるユーピテルの原型であるデイオス・パテール、あるいは普通名詞「神」を表すデイオス、デウス、古層のインド神話の天空神ディヤウス、北欧神話のテュールらに垣間見ることができる。

信仰

ゼウス信仰はギリシア全域で行われ、至上最高の原理として仰がれていた。古代ギリシア人たちは一神教に近い帰依と敬虔さをゼウスに捧げ、明らかに他の神々とは一線を画していた。ゼウスは運命すらも超越し、全知全能神に相応しい威厳を放っていた。

古代オリンピック

オリュンピアはゼウスの主な神域であり、そこで4年に1度開催される古代オリンピックはゼウスを讃える全ギリシア的な大祭であった。この開催期間中は、ギリシア人は全員戦争を止め、古代オリンピックに参加するためにオリュンピアへと向かった。この道中はゼウスによって守護されると考えられた。不正を決して行わないという宣誓をゼウス・ホルキオス（誓いのゼウス）に捧げ、選手たちは各種目に分かれて競い合った。古代オリンピックで優勝した者は、神々から寵愛されている者、もしくは神々の血を引く者とされ、祖国では大いに賞賛された。現在は廃墟となってしまっているが、当時はオリュンピアにあるゼウス神殿内部には12mを超える黄金と象牙で出来た巨大なゼウス像が聳え立っていたという。この巨大なゼウス像は世界の七不思議のひとつとしても有名である。

また、マケドニア王国にあるゼウスの神域・ディオンでも、オリュンピア祭が開催された。主催者はヘーラクレースの血筋を持つとされたマケドニア王家であり、これはオリュンピアの古代オリンピックに次いで盛況であった。

ドードーナの神託

エペイロスにあるドードーナには、ギリシア最古の神託所があり、ここでの神託はデルポイに次いで有名であった。ドードーナの神託所にはゼウスが祭られており、神官たちはゼウスの聖木である樫の木を用いて神託を下した。樫の木の葉のざわめきを聞き、ゼウスの神託を解釈するのである。ドードーナの神託所は山奥にあり、交通の便は悪いが、その評判を聞きつけて参拝者が後を絶たなかった。

オリュンピア＝ゼウス神殿

アテーナイには、ゼウスに捧げるための巨大な神殿がローマ帝国のハドリアヌス治下で建造された。元々は紀元前550年頃にペイシストラトスが建造を開始したものであるが、彼の後を継いだヒッピアスが追放されたことで計画は中止となっていた。その後、ハドリヌスが当時の計画を復活させ、完成させた。オリュンピア＝ゼウス神殿と呼ばれ、当時の神殿内部にはオリュンピアのゼウス像のコピーがあったことに由来する。古代世界で最大の神殿であり、柱はコリント式である。

ローマ神話

ゼウスはローマ神話の最高神ユーピテルと同一視された。ローマ帝国は「文化面ではギリシアに征服された」という名言が有名なように、ギリシア神話の神々をローマ神話の神々と同一視してローマ文化に取り入れたため、ギリシア神話とローマ神話の神々の権能はしばしば共通している。ユーピテルは英語読みでジュピターとも言い、木星の名前の由来となった。

ユーピテルはゼウスと同じく雷電を扱い、天空を支配する全能神である。ユーピテル・フェレトリウスという名で一騎討ちを守護する神としても知られ、一騎討ちで敵を倒した将軍は、討ち取った敵の武具を樫の木（ゼウスと同じくユーピテルの聖木）に縛り付け、ユーピテルに捧げた。

エジプト神話

ゼウスはエジプト神話の最高神アメンとも同一視された。アメンは太陽神であったが、神々の王であったことから、ヘーリオスやアポローンではなく、ゼウスのエジプトにおける名称だとギリシア中で認知されていた。エジプト西部砂漠のシワ・オアシスにあるアメン神殿にはペルセウス、ヘーラクレースが訪れ、神託を伺ったとされている。

東方遠征の際にマケドニアのアレクサンドロス大王もアメン神殿を訪れ、神託を伺った。そこで彼はアメンの息子であるという神託を得た。それはゼウスの息子であるということに等しく、アレクサンドロス大王は自らの神性を証明して満足した。

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