Zeus
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Zeus was an Isu,[1] revered as the Greek god of the sky, thunder and lightning, as well as the king of the gods.
He was older brother of Hades, Poseidon, Demeter, and the husband of Hera.
Biography
During the Isu Era, Zeus was considered the "golden child" amongst his siblings and resided on Mount Olympos. He shared a hostile relationship with his younger brothers Hades and Poseidon, who ruled the realms of the underworld and Atlantis respectively. At one point, a matter led Zeus to personally visit Atlantis and reprimand Poseidon. This incident caused Poseidon to destroy the cycle of his city out of rage and any future mentions of Zeus was considered a taboo.[1]
Legacy and influence
Mythology
In time, Zeus, like many of his fellow Isu, was upheld by humanity as a god. In Greek mythology, Zeus was born as the youngest son of the Titan Kronos and his wife Rhea. In fear of a prophecy foretelling his overthrow by his child, Kronos devoured all of his children, save for Zeus, who was hidden by Rhea.[2]
In time, Zeus fulfilled the prophecy and cast Kronos out, creating a new world order with his siblings and other gods, settling on Mount Olympus with eleven other mightiest deities.[2]
Zeus is infamous for his various relationships with multiple individuals, divine and mortal alike. Via these unions, Zeus is considered to have fathered multiple heroes of Greek mythology, including Herakles, Perseus and Polydeukes as well as Greek deities, including Persephone, Dionysos, Charites, Ares, Eris, Hebe, Hephaistos, Pan, Apollo and Artemis.[2]
Symbols
Zeus' main emblem was lightning bolt, and in the 5th century BCE, a stylized version of it graced the banner of Elis as well as the drachmae. The god was also associated with the eagle, often standing for the god himself, or perched near him.[2]
Influence
During the 5th century BCE, multiple locations related to the stories told of Zeus' life were named after him throughout the Peloponnese and the Aegean Sea.[2]
Several statues of him also graced locations like Mount Ainos on the island of Kephallonia, though most notable among them was the statue made by the Athenian sculptor Phidias in Temple of Zeus within the Sanctuary of Olympia in Elis. The Spartan misthios Kassandra visited a number of them over the course of her journeys.[2]
Trivia
- Jupiter, another Isu, was Zeus' equivalent in Roman mythology. Whether or not they are the same individual is unclear as Assassin's Creed: Odyssey mentions Isu having multiple names as well as separately commenting on Greek mythology's usage of the same name for different individuals.
Gallery
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Kassandra and Barnabas visiting the Statue of Zeus within the Temple of Zeus -
The statue of Zeus on Mount Ainos, Kephallonia -
The emblem of Elis: the stylized lightning bolt of Zeus
Appearances
- Assassin's Creed: Origins (statue only)
- Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (statue only)
- The Fate of Atlantis: Judgment of Atlantis (mentioned only)
References
