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Questions and Answers
Which of the following gods did not gain mastery over a portion of the world after deposing Cronus?
What was the reason Zeus swallowed Metis?
Who was the mother of the Nine Muses?
What form did Zeus take to defile Demeter?
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Why did Zeus transform into a disheveled cuckoo?
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Why did Hera marry Zeus?
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Which goddess was born to Leto on the island of Ortygia?
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Why did Zeus's true form cause Semele's death?
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What was special about Dionysus's birth?
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What was the result of Zeus's affairs with various consorts?
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Study Notes
Zeus' Wives and Conquests
- Zeus gained mastery of the sky after drawing lots with his brothers, allowing him free access to beauty and the ability to fecundate the earth.
Metis
- Zeus' first wife, Metis (Wisdom), was swallowed by him before giving birth to Athena, as he knew her second child would dethrone him.
- Athena emerged fully armed from Zeus' head after Hephaestus cleaved his forehead open.
- By swallowing Metis, Zeus gained wisdom as part of his intrinsic nature.
Themis, Eurynome, Demeter, Mnemosyne, and Leto
- Themis (Divine Justice), Zeus' second wife, gave birth to the Seasons, Wise Laws, Human Justice, Peace, and The Fates.
- Eurynome, an ocean nymph and Zeus' third wife, bore the three Graces.
- Demeter, Zeus' sister, resisted him, but he defiled her in the form of a bull, resulting in Persephone.
- Mnemosyne (Memory), a Titaness and Zeus' wife, bore the Nine Muses.
- Leto, one of Zeus' consorts, gave birth to Artemis and Apollo after being persecuted by Hera.
Hera
- Zeus fell in love with Hera, but after unsuccessfully courting her, he transformed into a disheveled cuckoo to win her over.
- Hera married Zeus to cover her shame, but their marriage was bound to be quarrelsome and unhappy due to Zeus' lust and Hera's jealousy.
Maia, Dione, and Other Conquests
- Zeus' affairs led to the birth of new gods and goddesses, including Athena, Hermes, Aphrodite, Artemis, and Apollo.
- Dione, a Titaness, bore Aphrodite, and Leto bore Artemis and Apollo.
Semele and Dionysus
- Semele, a Theban princess, gave birth to Dionysus, the vine god of ecstasy, after Zeus visited her in the darkness.
- Hera, disguised as Semele's nurse, discovered Zeus' affair and persuaded Semele to see Zeus in his full glory, causing her death.
- Zeus spared the unborn infant, sewing it up inside his thigh until it emerged as Dionysus, granting him immortality.
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Description
Learn about Zeus' wives, including Metis, and his role as a sky god in Greek mythology. Discover how Zeus gained mastery of the sky and his relationships with other gods.
