Zeus
The God of Sky, Thunder, and King of all Gods
His Birth
Zeus was the sixth child born. Rhea wanted to save this child so she tricked Cronus by giving him a rock wrapped in a blanket to swallow. After he swallowed it Rhea sent Zeus off to the secret island of Crete. There, nymphs influenced Zeus, while Cretan soldiers chanted songs and slammed their swords together to hide Zeus’s cries.
Sculpture Depicting Rhea Giving Cronus the Rock
God of the Sky
Zeus wielding his aegis and lighting bolt
Most Prized Statue
Zeus’ most loved statue, made by a famous Athenian sculptor Phidias, was forty feet tall and was located at the temple of Zeus at Olympia. It was assembled from ivory and gold, and was made to such perfection it was looked upon as one of the seven wonders of the world. It symbolized a god, seated on a throne, holding in his right hand a life size portrait of Nike (The god of Victory), and in his left hand a royal sceptre.