Zeus

Zeus (also identified with the Roman God Jupiter) is one of the major gods in Greek Mythology. He is god of rain, clouds, thunder, the sky, and is king of the gods of Olympus. His weapon is the lightning bolt, which is forged by Hephaestus.

Attributes

Zeus is well known as a fearsome god, with his lightning bolt well-known for its destructive power. He is also noted for his sexual appetite, bringing forth a great number of children with both gods and man. He is often noted as the Father of Gods and the Father of Man.

Family

Zeus is the brother and husband of Hera, and is also brother to Hades, Hestia, and Poseidon. With Hera, his children were Ares, (disputably) Hephaestus, and Hebe. Athena sprung from his forehead, and therefore has no mother. With Leto, he begat Apollo and Artemis. With Maia, daughter of Atlas, he begat Hermes. With Mnemosyne, the Muses were born. Aphrodite is sometimes said to be the daughter of Zeus and Dione, but this is contradicted by accounts where she sprung from the foam of the ocean.

He is the son of Kronus and Rhea.

Symbols

The Oak tree is sacred to Zeus, as are the eagle and the bull, as well as those places or people who have been struck by lightning, his weapon.