Son Of Zeus And Hera example essay topic

Religion in just about every culture has always played an important part in the lives of mankind. It is interesting, however, to look back into time and see a past civilization's religious beliefs and practices. In some instances, we can see how our own customs in our present religion date back many centuries, even though both belief systems could be structurally different. One ancient culture that seems to draw a lot of interest in these latter days is that of the Greeks. The literary records, artwork, and folklore have stood the test of time and help us to see into the everyday lives of these people. We can see how religion was a very important part of their lives.

The ancient Greeks were polytheistic, which meant they believed in many gods and goddesses. They believed these deities ruled over their lives and could shower them with fortune or misfortune according to their own actions. They showed homage to the gods through sacrifice, other rituals, and festivals in their honor. The deities of the ancient Greeks, a central part of their religion, are divided into three groups, the Titans, the Olympian gods, and the lesser or demi-gods. The Titans are also known as the elder gods.

They ruled the earth before the Olympian gods and goddesses overthrew them. The Titans were the twelve children of Uranus (Sky) and Gaia (Earth). Cronus was the youngest and the boldest of the twelve children. His mother, Gaia, talked Cronus into overthrowing his father. She was in great sorrow because Uranus had imprisoned her other children, the Cyclopes and Hecatoncheires (Hundred-handed), in Tartarus. He agreed to help his mother so he castrated his father with a sickle and threw his genitals into the sea (Burkert 297).

Cronus then became the ruler of the Titans. Cronus was the sky god and also the god of agriculture and fertility. He married his sister, Rhea, and was the father of Hestia, Poseidon, Hades, Demeter, Hera and Zeus. Cronus created mankind during his reign, and the era was called "the Golden Age". It was a very peaceful and prosperous era.

Time passed and Cronus never released his brethren from their imprisonment in Tartarus. His mother grew upset and foretold of the day when one of Cronus' own children would overthrow his power. Cronus was very frightened that he'd lose his position, so when his children were born he swallowed them immediately. Rhea managed to trick her husband by giving him a large stone covered in swaddling cloth, instead of her last child, Zeus. Cronus swallowed the stone.

Rhea then secretly sent her son to Crete, where he was brought up (Burkert 298). When Zeus reached adulthood and was ready to attack his father, Rhea secretly gave Cronus a potion that made him disgorge his other children. Zeus released the captive Cyclopes and Hecatoncheires and they fought on his side. In the battle Cronus was de-throned by his son Zeus. Most of the Titans who fought with Cronus against Zeus were punished by being banished to Tartarus. One of the Titans had a more severe punishment from Zeus than the others.

Since Cronus was advanced in his years, he didn't actually lead the attack. Atlas lead the Titan's in battle against the younger generation. When they lost, Zeus singled out Atlas and forced him to hold the heavens on his back. Although Cronus was the most powerful Titan during his reign, Prometheus was the wisest. When Zeus was going into battle against his father, Prometheus and his brother Epimetheus deserted the Titans and fought on Zeus's ide. Prometheus' name means "forethought", and he also had the ability to foretell the future.

Prometheus and his brother were delegated by Zeus to create man. Prometheus is also known as the protector and benefactor of man. He gave mankind a number of gifts including fire. He also tricked Zeus into allowing man to keep the best part of the animals sacrificed to the gods and to give the gods the worst parts (Ling 24). For this Zeus punished Prometheus by having him chained to a rock with an eagle tearing out his liver. He was to be left there for all eternity or until he agreed to disclose to Zeus which of Zeus' children would try to replace him.

Overthrowing one's father for the throne seemed to run in the family and Zeus did not want history to repeat itself. He was eventually rescued by Hercules without giving in to Zeus (Ling 24). Prometheus' brother Epimetheus' name means "after thought". He was generally regarded as a slow and dim-witted deity, as compared to his brother who was considered a champion of mankind and a thoughtful rebel. Epimetheus' wife was Pandora, with whom he was believed to have fathered some of the first humans. Zeus had Pandora created as a punishment for Epimetheus instead of chaining him to a mountain like his brighter brother.

Epimetheus fell in love with Pandora despite his brother's warning to never accept a gift from the gods. What he didn't realize was Zeus had given Pandora a box containing all the goods and evils of the world (Ling 25). He was tempted to open the box and finally when he couldn't resist, he lifted the lid and it let out all the evils into mankind's existence. However, all the goodness returned to the gods. Pandora, realizing what was happening, was able to close the box just in time to trap hope inside. The Olympian "pantheon" gods and goddesses are the most well-known of the three groups and also the most powerful over the lives of humans.

The Greeks believed that they presided on Mount Olympus, the highest peak in mainland Greece. Just like the twelve Titans there are twelve gods and goddesses, which is interesting because in other religions, some in Asia Minor long before the Greek gods, twelve deities preside as well (Burkert 125). If we look at our own Christian religions, we can take note that there are also twelve apostles, or followers, of Jesus Christ. The most powerful god on Olympus is Zeus. He is considered the lord of the sky, and a rain god. His weapon is a thunderbolt, which he uses to punish those who displease him (Flaceliere 2).

Zeus was worshipped by men to aid them in several different capacities, for example, as "guarantor of the sanctity of oaths and as protector of political freedom" (Ling 149). Zeus gained the highest "seat" by chance at Olympus by drawing lots with his two other brothers, Poseidon and Hades. Poseidon became the god of the sea, winning the second draw. Hades settled for the last position and became the god of the underworld. Zeus, however, did have his shortcomings. Although he had a wife, Hera the goddess of marriage, Zeus had many affairs with earth women and demi-goddesses.

He sired many children, some becoming Olympia deities and others demi-gods. What makes the matter even worse is that Zeus would magically morph into another form to seduce or rape a woman. The most infamous account was when he changed into a beautiful swan and raped the maiden Leda (Burkert 128). Although Zeus was immoral and still highly respected, infidelity among the ancient Greeks was seen as a terrible abomination, especially if committed by a woman against her husband. Women were expected to be more virtuous then men. Hera is the queen of the gods and not only is she the goddess of marriage, but she is also the goddess of married women.

Although she is Zeus' wife, she is also his sister. Kitto says that Hera's marriage was "founded in strife with Zeus and continued in strife" (224). In fact Zeus had courted her unsuccessfully. He decided to trick her by changing into a "disheveled cuckoo".

Hera saw the bird, felt sorry for it, and then picked it up and held it to her breast to warm it. Zeus then took his normal shape and raped her. She married Zeus to cover her shame (Kitto 224). Hera often times is portrayed as a "hen-pecking wife" and stories are full of her bitterness towards Zeus' mistresses and his illegitimate children. I think it is interesting, however, that Hera was the first Greek deity that had a temple erected for her.

In fact, she received her temple in Olympia, long before Zeus did (Burkert 131). Hera actually planed a revolt against her husband. After she convinced many to follow her, she drugged him and then the other gods tied him to a chair. While he was still sleeping from the drug, the gods all quarreled over what the next step would be. Briareus, not one of the gods in the conspiracy, overheard the argument, and untied Zeus while the others continued to bicker.

When the drug wore off, Zeus sprung to his feet and grabbed his lightening bolts. All the gods threw themselves to his knees and begged for forgiveness. He seized Hera and hung her from the sky by gold chains. She cried all night long in agony. Zeus couldn't sleep, so the next morning he agreed to release her only if she promised to never revolt against him again (Kitto 225). Although Hera never planned another rebellion against her husband, she often would try to foil his plans and many times she outwitted him.

Zeus and Hera were definitely not a model of man and wife, even though they were the king and queen of the gods. Poseidon is a very powerful god only second to Zeus. He is the master of the sea, but he is also the ruler of earthquakes, streams, and horses (Ling 109). His weapon is the trident, which can shake the earth and shatter any object. Many sailors would pray to Poseidon before a sea voyage for safety.

He is married to Amphitrite, although for a while he was in love with Demeter, the goddess of corn, grain, and the harvest. Demeter didn't reciprocate the same feelings so instead she thought she'd get rid of him by playing a game. She asked him to make the most beautiful animal the world had ever seen. Being so in love with her, he produced many creatures over time, and eventually made the horse. This animal greatly impressed Demeter, but by that time Poseidon's feelings for her had ebbed and he wanted nothing to do with her (Ling 110). Poseidon is known for his very disagreeable personality.

He disputes with many gods and goddesses when he overlooks boundaries and tries to take over what is rightfully theirs. Hades is the lord of the underworld, who rules over the dead. He is more greedy than his other two brothers. One of his major concerns is increasing his subjects, and he " ll do just about anything to keep his numbers growing. His wife is Persephone, the daughter of Demeter. When Hades first saw Persephone, he decided that he had to have her.

He rode his chariot from the underworld onto the earth, and snatched her away kicking and screaming. When Demeter found out her daughter was missing, she became very upset and unconcerned with the harvest and the fruitfulness of the earth. A widespread famine occured and when news got to Zeus, he wasn't very pleased. Zeus intervened and went to the underworld to order Hades to let Persephone return to earth. Hades agreed, but he gave Persephone a pomegranate which she ate before she left. This meant she had to return to him, at least for a few months out of the year.

When our world is cold and lifeless during winter, this is the time that Persephone is with her husband Hades. When the world is fertile and prosperous, Persephone is back on earth with her mother (Burkert 161). I find it interesting, however, that Hades and Persephone were actually a happy couple under the circumstances. Persephone grew to love Hades and they were very harmonious, unlike Zeus and Hera (Flaciere 104). All the Olympian gods and goddesses are related in some way. Hestia, the goddess of the hearth, is Zeus's sister.

Each city had a public hearth that stood in honor of Hestia. The flame was never allowed to go out. Ares, the god of war, was the son of Zeus and Hera. He was disliked by both of his parents.

On the other hand, however, there is Athena the goddess of wisdom, the city, handicrafts, and agriculture. She sprang from the forehead of Zeus, full-grown and wearing armor (Kitto 289). She is Zeus' favorite child, but she has no mother. Apollo, the sun god, is the product of Zeus' affair with Leto. He is also the god of music and the golden lyre. His twin sister is Artemis, goddess of the wild and protector of the young.

She is also associated with the moon and chastity. Hermes, the son of Zeus and Maia, is the messenger god. He is also the god of thieves and commerce. He is the guide for the dead to go to the underworld. Hephaestus, god of fire and the forge (blacksmithing), is the son of Zeus and Hera. Sometimes, it is said that he was produced by Hera alone.

He is the only god that is physically ugly. His wife is Aphrodite, the goddess of love, desire, and beauty. There are two accounts of her birth. One states that when Cronus castrated Uranus and tossed his severed genitals into the sea, Aphrodite rose from the sea foam on a giant scallop. The other theory is that she is the daughter of Zeus and another mistress, Dione (Ling 139). Outside of the mighty Olympians there are other gods and goddesses who fill important roles.

Asclepius is the god of healing. He is the son of Apollo and the nymph, Coronis. While pregnant with Asclepius, Coronis secretly took a second, mortal lover. When Apollo found out, he sent Artemis to kill her. She was to be burned to death.

While burning on the funeral pyre, Apollo felt pity and rescued the unborn child from the corpse (Flaceliere 89). Asclepius was taught about medicine and healing by the wise centaur, Chiron. Athena gave Asclepius two vials of Gorgon's blood. Blood from the right side of the gorgon revived live, whereas, blood from the left side killed. Zeus felt that the immortality of the Gods was threatened and killed the healer with a thunderbolt.

Apollo could not take revenge on Zeus himself, so he killed the Cyclopes who forged the thunderbolt for Zeus (Flaceliere 89). Another popular god is Dionysus, the God of the Vine. Dionysus was born to Zeus and Semele. Hera, of course being jealous, convinced Semele to ask Zeus if she could see him in all his glory. She burned to death at the sight. Hermes saved the unborn baby, however, and sewed it up inside Zeus' thigh.

Hermes delivered him at full term, but on Hera's orders the Titans ripped the baby to shreds and boiled his remains. Rhea rescued his remains and reconstituted him (Burkert 237). He was eventually given to a king and his wife, who raised him as a girl to better hide his identity. Eventually Hera recognized him, so Zeus changed Dionysus into a ram. Some say that as he became more popular in worship, Hestia gave up her place on Olympus so Dionysus could sit at the right hand of Zeus (Burkert 237). However, for the most part he is not considered one of the twelve Olympian gods.

Another well-known god is Eros, the god of love and desire. There are many different stories as to who his parents are. He most often was found in the company of Aphrodite, and was said to be the son of her and Ares. On the other hand, Eros could be the son of Nyx and Erebus, love born from Night and Death (Ling 128). He is depicted as a young boy with golden wings, who can shoot his arrows at mortals and gods alike to make them fall in love. He carried two sets of arrows which he used depending on the situation.

The golden arrows with dove feather tails were used to bring love, and the arrows of lead with owl feather tails were used to do quite the opposite. In one tale, Aphrodite was upset because Eros remained the size of a child. The wise Goddess of Justice told Aphrodite that Eros needed a brother, for love must be returned if it is to grow. And so Anteros, meaning "returned love" was born, and Eros grew quickly (Ling 47). Anteros, the god and avenger of slighted love, punished those who did not love others and scorned love itself. Eros was married to Psyche and they had a daughter named Voluptas, which means "pleasure".

There are so many other Greek deities that had many worshippers and temples erected in their honor. The ancient Greeks took their religion seriously, and it was very much apart of their daily routine. We are very fortunate that through the centuries information about the ancient Greeks wasn't lost, but always looked upon with respect and interest.