Family and Upbringing
Cronus sired several children but swallowed them all as soon as they were born, since he learned from Gaia (Mother Earth) and Uranus (Father Sky) that he was destined to be overthrown by his own son. When Zeus (the youngest) was about to be born, Rhea sought Gaia to devise a plan to save him. Rhea soon gave birth to Zeus in Crete, handing Cronus a rock wrapped in swaddling clothes, which he promptly swallowed.
However, there are several sources indicate varying versions of the story of Zeus’ upbringing:
· He was raised by Gaia.
· He was raised by a goat named Amalthea, while Kouretes (soldiers or smaller gods) danced, shouted and clashed their spears against their shields so that Cronus would not hear the baby's cry.
· He was raised by a nymph named Adamanthea. Since Cronus ruled over the Earth, the heavens and the sea, she hid him by dangling him on a rope from a tree so he was suspended between earth, sea and sky and thus, invisible to his father.
· He was raised by a nymph named Cynosura. In gratitude, Zeus placed her among the stars.
· He was raised by Melissa, who nursed him with goat's-milk and honey.
· He was raised by a shepherd family under the promise that their sheep would be saved from wolves.
However, there are several sources indicate varying versions of the story of Zeus’ upbringing:
· He was raised by Gaia.
· He was raised by a goat named Amalthea, while Kouretes (soldiers or smaller gods) danced, shouted and clashed their spears against their shields so that Cronus would not hear the baby's cry.
· He was raised by a nymph named Adamanthea. Since Cronus ruled over the Earth, the heavens and the sea, she hid him by dangling him on a rope from a tree so he was suspended between earth, sea and sky and thus, invisible to his father.
· He was raised by a nymph named Cynosura. In gratitude, Zeus placed her among the stars.
· He was raised by Melissa, who nursed him with goat's-milk and honey.
· He was raised by a shepherd family under the promise that their sheep would be saved from wolves.
Adulthood
Picture of Cronus
After reaching manhood, Zeus forced Cronus to disgorge first the stone then his siblings in reverse order of swallowing. Then Zeus released the brothers of Cronus – the Gigantes, the Hecatonchires and the Cyclopes, from their dungeon in Tartarus. As a token of their appreciation, the Cyclopes gave him thunder and the thunderbolt, or lightning. Together with his brothers and sisters, the Gigantes, Hecatonchires and Cyclopes, Zeus overthrew Cronus and the other Titans, in the combat called the Titanomachy (War of the Titans).
After the battle with the Titans, Zeus shared the world with his elder brothers, Poseidon and Hades, by drawing lots: Zeus got the sky and air, Poseidon the waters, and Hades the world of the dead (the underworld). According to their capabilities, Poseidon was the "earth-shaker" (the god of earthquakes) and Hades claimed the humans that died
After the battle with the Titans, Zeus shared the world with his elder brothers, Poseidon and Hades, by drawing lots: Zeus got the sky and air, Poseidon the waters, and Hades the world of the dead (the underworld). According to their capabilities, Poseidon was the "earth-shaker" (the god of earthquakes) and Hades claimed the humans that died