First, I'm not sure if "history" is the right word here,
since we don't really have any historical proof that Zeus existed. As for the mythic
tradition surrounding Zeus, we can say plenty about
that.
Zeus was one of six children of Cronus and Rhea. His
father Cronus swallowed Zeus' other five brothers and sisters, but Zeus escaped that
fate when his mother Rhea gave Cronus a stone wrapped in swaddling clothes instead. Zeus
himself was smuggled away to the island of Crete and hidden until he grew, returned to
Cronus, and tricked him into drinking a potion that caused Cronus to vomit up Zeus'
brothers and sisters.
After this, Zeus and company waged
war against Cronus. This battle became known as the Titanomachy. Eventually, Zeus and
company defeated Cronus and his allies and banished them to the underworld. Zeus then
became ruler of the gods and the sky, in particular.
Zeus
also battled successfully against the monster Typhon and eventually led the other gods
to victory against the Giants.
Zeus married his sister
Hera, but he had numerous sexual affairs with both divinities and mortals and thus
produced countless children. He was the father of several of the other leading
divinities (e.g., Apollo, Athene, Artemis, Hermes, Ares, Dionysus) and many heroes
(e.g., Heracles).
His most famous oracle in Greece was
located at Dodona and his most famous cult-site in Greece was at Olympia, original home
of the Olympic games. The people of Nemea also held some well-known games in his
honor.
The poet of the twenty-third Homeric Hymn sings of
his wisdom:
I
will sing of Zeus, chiefest among the gods and greatest, all-seeing, the lord of all,
the fulfiller who whispers words of wisdom to Themis as she sits leaning towards him. Be
gracious, all-seeing Son of Cronos, most excellent and great! (Translation H.G.
Evelyn-White)
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