The Pride of Zeus

In Greece and Asia Minor around 2000 B.C. there existed a common belief in a group of deities. Of this group of deities were twelve Olympians who were immortal. From that group of Olympians came the most dominant and commanding God known to immortals and mortals alike. That Olympian god was Zeus; the son of Titans Cronus and Rhea. When Zeus had grown to maturity, he waged war against his father with his disgorged brothers and sisters as allies. The battle was of epic proportions, Zeus fighting from Mt. Olympus, Cronus from Mt. Othrys. This is Mark Morford’s interpretation of Zeus’ rise to power, which he’d argue is a story of, “The Hero and the Quest” (Morford, 76). While there is no arguing Zeus’ supremacy, it is easy to argue his intentions. Zeus has been labeled as a selfish God; a God who looks only after his bests interests. There is no arguing Zeus is an egocentric God. But being the most powerful God, it’s difficult to place blame on him. However, there is more to Zeus than his powerful facade. Zeus may always be looking out for his best interests as seen in the poem, Leda and the Swan, but he is aware of the existence of the other Gods and mortals. It is because of this that I believe Zeus not only tries to appease himself, but also every other living soul on Earth at the time, whether they be brothers or sisters, sons and daughters, or Gods and mortals. While others may declare these are patterns of evilness and destructiveness, I believe it’s more than anything the pride of Zeus which justifies his actions.
In Homer’s great Epic, “The Iliad,” the presence of Zeus affected every action taken or avoided in some shape, way, or form. His allowance of other gods intervening in the war at times strengthens the idea that he is all-seeing and all-powerful, due to the fact that the other gods' intervention inevitably led fate back onto its original course. But, we’re talking about Zeus; God of all Gods. He refuses to be undermined, and if ever he needed could

Cited: Homer, and W. H. D. Rouse. The Iliad. New York: Signet Classics, 2007. Print. Hesiod, Catherine Schlegel, Henry Weinfield, and Hesiod. Theogony ; And, Works and Days. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan, 2006. Print. Hesiod. Theogony. Trans. by M.L. West. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008 Morford, Mark P. O., and Robert J. Lenardon. Classical Mythology. New York [etc.: Oxford UP, 2003. Print. Yeats, William B. Leda and the Swan. Print.