"Zeus," Museum of Olympia, Greece.
Click on image for full size
Image courtesy of Corel Corporation.

Zeus

In Greek mythology, Zeus (Jupiter in Roman mythology) 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 Cronus.

Zeus granted Poseidon (Neptune in Roman mythology) dominion over the Sea, and his other brother Hades (Pluto in Roman mythology) dominion over the underworld. Zeus's wife was Hera.

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 in a revolt against their father and became the king of the gods. He married the Titan Rhea. They had a total...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. He had a very bad temper. The symbol of Poseidon's power was the three pronged...more

Neptune

Neptune was the name that ancient Romans gave to the Greek god of the sea and earthquakes, Poseidon. Neptune was depicted as a bearded man with long hair, holding a trident and accompanied by dolphins...more

Pluto

Pluto was the god of the underworld. One day, while he was riding through the field of battle, the goddess Venus had her companion, Cupid, playfully shoot an arrow into the heart of Pluto. Struck by Cupid's...more

Leda and the Constellation Cygnus

For the ancient Greeks, the constellation Cygnus, which means "swan", was related to the myth of Zeus and Leda, the queen of Sparta. The queen of Sparta was so beautiful that Zeus wanted her. After numerous...more

Hermes

Hermes was the messenger-god of Zeus, and was the god of games, of business, and of story telling. He was the offspring of the god Zeus and the goddess Maia. Maia herself was the daughter of the titan...more

Leda

For the ancient Greeks, the constellation Cygnus, which means "swan", was related to the myth of Zeus(for Romans, Jupiter) and Leda, the queen of Sparta. The queen of Sparta was so pretty that Zeus fell...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