ZEUSKing of the gods

Zeus’s Lovers

Despite being married to Hera Zeus had many lovers and fathered many children.

Many of the children from these affairs became heroes and rulers.

Hera sometimes tried to punish the women or their children.

Zeus protected them from the worst of her anger.

Io

When Zeus fell in love with Io he turned her into a white cow to protect her from his wife.

Hera found out and tethered Io Leaving her 100 eyed servant Argus, on guard.

Zeus sent Hermes to soothe Argus to sleep by playing his Lyre. One by one, Argus closed all his eyes.

Hermes swiftly struck off his head and freed Io.

Hera was furious and sent a gadfly to sting her rival.

The insect chased Io all the way to Egypt. Here she became a woman again and

priestess of the egyptian god, Isis.

Europa

Princess Europa of Tyre was on a beach when Zeus appeared, disguised as a white Bull.

She was afraid at first as the bull so handsome and gentle that she soon started to play and garlanded him with flowers. She even got on his back to go for a ride.

At that moment, the bull plunged into the sea and carried her off to Crete, where she lived and had three sons with Zeus.

Later, Europa married the king of Crete who made her eldest son, Minos, his heir.

Danae

King Arisius was warned by an oracle that he would be killed by his grandson.

He locked his daughter, Danae, in a tower so she could never marry and have children.

He could not keep her from Zeus, though.

He entered her prison in a shower of golden rain and she had a son Perseus. (we will learn more about Perseus later)

So what about Acrisius and the prophecy? None too happy, but unwilling to provoke

the wrath of the gods by killing his offspring, Acrisius cast the two into the sea in a wooden chest.

The sea was calmed by Poseidon and at the request of Zeus the pair survived.

They washed ashore on the island of Seriphos, where the brother of King Polydectes - raised the boy to manhood.

The Prophecy was fulfilled as an athletic games were being held.

By chance, an aging Acrisius was there and Perseus accidentally struck him on the head with his javelin (or discus), fulfilling the prophecy.

Alcmene

Alcmene was already married when Zeus fell in love with her.

She refused to betray her husband, so the God played a trick on her.

Zeus disguised himself as Alcmene’s husband and went to her just as her husband was due back from war.

She greeted Zeus fondly---and had a shock when her real husband arrived home the next day!

The couple guessed the truth, but could do nothing about it.

Alcmene had Zeus’s son and called him Heracles.

Heracles means “Glory of Hera” and they called him this to appease Zeus’s wife.

This did not work and Hera made Heracles life extremely difficult.

Leda

Leda was queen of Sparta, married to king Tyndareus.

One day, she was bathing in a stream when a handsome swan swam up.

The swan was Zeus in disguise.

He became Leda’s lover and she produced a beautiful blue egg.

The egg hatched and produced four children. Two belonged to Zeus and Two to her

husband.

The children born were Helen the most beautiful woman on Earth. (who we will learn more about later in the Trojan war) and the Hero Polydeuces (who appears on “The Argo” with Jason and the argonauts), Castor and Clytemnestra.

Thetis

Thetis was a nereid, a sea goddess who could change shape at will.

It was predicted that her son would be greater than its father.

Zeus was in love with her but could not risk having such a son.

He decided she must marry a mortal, Peleus, although he knew she would resist.

Peleus found Thetis on the seashore and seized her.

She changed shape from woman, to fire, water, lion, serpent and cuttlefish, but Peleus held on.

His courage impressed Thetis and she agreed to marry him.

All the gods came to the wedding except Eris, the goddess of spite. (she got her revenge later!)