Zeus's Role In Greek Mythology

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Greek mythology, while polytheistic, has one main ruler of the gods; a god named Zeus. According to many of the faith, Zeus was considered to be wise, strong, and powerful; creating and destroying as the supreme ruler of the world. “He protects supplicants, imposes ties of hospitality, upholds the sanctity of oaths; in a word, he is the defender of all that is right or just in the mores of advanced civilization” (Morford, Lenardon, & Sham, 2014, p. 142). However, despite his greatness, he was one that went against many things that were considered right among humans. One very prevalent example is that of his sexual endeavors. “The gods are often depicted as human in form and character; but although they look and act like humans, very often …show more content…
In it Io dreams of Zeus begging her to come to a meadow so that he may satisfy his longing. After a series of events following she is turned into a cow by Hera as revenge for her husband’s lingering eye. Zeus manages to save her sanity after this encounter and make her pregnant by a single touch. (Arschylus, Prometheus Unbound, Lines: 645-682; MLS, pp. 100-101). This depiction of Zeus is meant to be a more innocent and spiritual event. It was worded in a way to be seen as a gift from a god and a wonderful occasion. However, if one looks at the beginnings of this story “ I, poor wretch, was troubled by these dreams…” (Line 665), it is clear that she was not consenting. “… If [her father] did not comply, the feiry thunderbolt of Zeus would strike and annihilate [the human] race” (line 668). That sentence shows another example of how Io’s story is not one of consent and one that was comprised of threats. However, Archylus chose to finish this story as a spiritual occasion and not one that should have been punished. Authors of the time often rationalized Zeus’ actions and other actions of the gods as their rights as gods and that those who were victims of their actions should be grateful as it was something that was a gift from a …show more content…
Hera, Demeter, Mnemosyme, and Leto are all eaxmples of this and are even only a span of a few lines (Hesiod, lines 901-924).While seemingly insignificant of a detail, it is through this detail that Hesiod rationalizes Zeus’ actions. Love is something that many hold above all else. So it is no surprise that this is the wording used to describe these encounters. When those who read Theogony came across these lines the word love it was read as a reason for his actions. For one cannot argue with a coupling between Zeus and his partner of choice if it was one of love. Zeus’ couplings have been rationalized as moments of religious gifts or acts of love in order to give reason as to why he is unpunished for something that was considered wrong for humans. These couplings were not looked at as something that was wrong merely a god’s right. It was this mentality that allowed for those who were devote to ignore these
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