The god, Zeus, as drawn by Rei Inamoto.
Rei Inamoto, Windows to the Universe artist.

Jupiter

In Roman mythology, Jupiter was the king of heaven and Earth and of all the Olympian gods. He was also known as the god of justice. He was named king of the gods in the special meeting that followed his overthrow of the god Saturn and the Titans. In the council of the gods that followed, Jupiter was crowned Lord of Heaven and Earth and of all the gods. He granted Neptune dominion over the Sea, and his other brother Pluto dominion over the underworld.

Jupiter's wife was Juno, who was very jealous of the attention that he paid to other goddesses and women. Jupiter would often disguise himself as a bird or animal in order to sleep with other women. Usually, when Juno found out about the affair, she would severely punish the woman. Although not often written about, Juno possessed great power. Those that made her angry paid the price.

For example, Jupiter fell in love with the lovely Io. Jupiter turned Io into a cow to protect her from Juno. However, when Juno found out about the affair she tied up the cow. When Io escaped, Juno sent a gadfly to constantly sting Io for eternity.

You might also be interested in:

Science, Evolution, and Creationism

How did life evolve on Earth? The answer to this question can help us understand our past and prepare for our future. Although evolution provides credible and reliable answers, polls show that many people turn away from science, seeking other explanations with which they are more comfortable....more

Cronus (Saturn)

In Greek mythology, Cronus was the son of Uranus and Gaea.He lead his brothers and sisters, the Titans, in a revolt against their father and became the king of the gods. He married his sister, the Titan...more

Neptune

Neptune was the name that ancient Romans gave to the Greek god of the sea and earthquakes, Poseidon. He was the brother of Jupiter (Zeus) and of Pluto (Hades). After the defeat of their father Saturn (Cronos),...more

Pluto

Following the defeat of the Titans by the Jovian gods, Pluto obtained the kingdom of the underworld. One day, while he was riding through the field of battle, the goddess Venus had her companion, Cupid,...more

Poseidon

Poseidon was the Greek god of the sea and earthquakes. Poseidon was depicted as a bearded man with long hair, holding a trident and accompanied by dolphins and fish. He had the reputation for having a...more

Hermes and the Birth of Dionysus

Hermes was the prankster of the gods. And yet, in spite of his pranks, he won the affection of all the gods because of his playfulness, innocence, and helpfulness. He was particularly helpful to Zeus,...more

Leda

For the ancient Romans, the constellation Cygnus, which means "swan", was related to the myth of Jupiter and the goddess Nemesis. In order to escape from Jupiter, Nemesis changed herself into many different...more

Callisto and her son Arcas

Callisto was the favorite companion of the goddess Diana. She accompanied Diana on the hunt and attended her at her bath after the hunt. One day the god Jupiter caught a glimpse of the beautiful Callisto...more

Windows to the Universe, a project of the National Earth Science Teachers Association, is sponsored in part is sponsored in part through grants from federal agencies (NASA and NOAA), and partnerships with affiliated organizations, including the American Geophysical Union, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Earth System Information Partnership, the American Meteorological Society, the National Center for Science Education, and TERC. The American Geophysical Union and the American Geosciences Institute are Windows to the Universe Founding Partners. NESTA welcomes new Institutional Affiliates in support of our ongoing programs, as well as collaborations on new projects. Contact NESTA for more information. NASA ESIP NCSE HHMI AGU AGI AMS NOAA