But he can bide his time and cooperate, as he has good strategy skills and will not engage in power struggles he cannot win. Besides dispensing justicehe had a strong connection with his daughter Dike (Justice)Zeus was the protector of cities, the home, property, strangers, guests, and supplicants. Make sure you put information in your own words when you use it in a report, or if you are writing a paper you can cite me as a source. Hermes, Greek god, son of Zeus and the Pleiad Maia; often identified with the Roman Mercury and with Casmilus or Cadmilus, one of the Cabeiri. If you like these versions of the myths and want to learn more about the ancient Greeks themselves, Hamilton also published a book titled The Greek Way that will give you a sense of what the people who created these myths were like. Zeus took the sky to rule, Poseidon received the sea, and Hades got the underworld. Hera asked how she knew the father was Zeus, and Semele had no proof. Their efforts to sabotage one another was the Greeks explanation for the natural phenomena of the world and the complexity of human affairs. One night as Hera slumbered, Zeus made love to one of the Pleiades, Maia, who gave birth to the tricky messenger of the gods, Hermes. His liaison with Metis, of course, produced the warrior goddess of wisdom and courage, Athena. Zeus finally became enamored of the goddess who was to become his permanent wife Hera. People should never let themselves think they matter personally to a Zeus, because they do not. After all, how could humans possibly live free of strife and conflict if the very gods who pulled the puppet strings were themselves constantly fighting? He had five older siblings, three sisters and two brothers, whom were swallowed by Cronus because he feared his children would grow to be more powerful than he. Are you sure you want to remove #bookConfirmation# He is cut off from his heart and unable to communicate or connect with others. His name is probably derived from herma (see herm), the Greek word for a heap of stones, such as was used in the country to indicate boundaries or as a landmark. Zeus grew up quickly and forced his father to vomit up each of his siblings. Zeuss siblings (Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades and Poseidon) became the first gods of the Greek Pantheon. Another factor that may affect the release date. If youre not familiar with Greek gods at all, this is the perfect place to start your mythological journey into the world of Olympus. Zeus thinks vulnerability or a show of emotions is stupid and weak. Zeus is father of gods and men. It is tempting to say that his primary occupation is that of seducer. Remains of the Temple of Zeus in Athens by TravelCoffeeBook. 100% accurate depiction of Zeus' marriage. He has made it to the top if he is welcome in the company of other men who have reached this pinnacle of success. However, polygamy was foreign to the Greeks and unacceptable, so they had to make him promiscuous. Need more help with this topic? The other members of the pantheon resided there with Zeus and were subject to his will. A health crisis of a loved one may also be the thing that wakes him up to realize how precious some people are to him. Hephaestus was known as the God of Fire. So if you want to understand Greek mythology, you should start by getting to know Zeus. As youll see in the myths below, Zeus pursued every woman he found attractiveeven though he was married!and often ruined their lives in the process. She has been featured by NPR and National Geographic for her ancient history expertise. Life in the sky can cause one to lose touch with the Earth and the people on it, so although Zeus had a good overview, he could see the forest, but not the trees. It took no great foresight to see that their marriage was bound to be quarrelsome and unhappy, given Zeus's lust and Hera's jealousy. The Greek god Zeus is the top Olympian god in the Greek pantheon. He views his children as extensions of himself, and expects his wife to handle all the childcare and household activities, while he remains involved as little as possible. Since Zeus is so concerned with achieving power, other facets of his personality often become stunted. Zeus men often are unaware they have issues until a major life crisis makes it impossible for them to ignore it any longer. Gill, N.S. He is bright, but not overly intellectual or introspective, making him an emotionally shallow person. He has little capacity for intimacy, so cannot express himself well even with those whom he cares about most. Some were founders of cities or countries, like Epaphus, who founded Memphis; Arcas, who became king of Arcadia; Lacedaemon, the king of Lacedaemon and founder of Sparta. What Can I Say Instead Of "Passionate About" In A Cover Letter? Zeus freed his brothers, Poseidon and Hades, then he and others helped overthrow Cronus and the Titans, who ruled from Mount Olympus after a ten year battle. In the Roman pantheon, Zeus is known as Jupiter. Zeus does favors for people, but a time comes when he calls in a favor. Some may recall this archetype from The Godfather trilogy or the Sopranos TV show. Later, while Europa and her girl companions were frolicking by the sea, Zeus was smitten with the princess and changed himself into a marvelous bull of great handsomeness. He remains neutral most of the time, allowing his son Sarpedon to die and glorifying his favorite, Hector. Here are some examples: Its easy to think of Zeus as an old god that doesnt have much of an impact on our lives today. Hera calmly asked Zeus if she could have this animal, and Zeus gave it to her, reluctant to go into an explanation. These twelve gods ruled over everything on earth and directly intervened in the affairs of mortals. His mother was the Theban princess, Semele. It's a fantasy/paranormal and I was able to pitch it to a well respected publisher at a writers conference. Hera then decided to marry him to cover her shame, and the two had a resplendent wedding worthy of the gods. Yet Zeus spared her unborn infant, sewing it up inside his thigh until it was able to emerge as the god Dionysus. The Zeus type wants to keep extending the boundaries of his kingdom, to keep growing his economic power, real estate, and prestige. In order to achieve his amorous designs, Zeus frequently assumed animal forms, such as that of a cuckoo when he ravished Hera, a swan when he ravished Leda, or a bull when he carried off Europa. And one was a monster of depravity: Tantalus, who served up his son Pelops as food to the gods. In art work depicting Zeus, the king of the gods often appears in altered form. The cornucopia or (goat) horn of plenty comes from the story of his Zeus' infancy when he was nursed by Amalthea.. Here are the alternative phrases we'll be looking at: Relentless. It was really interesting for me to read about Greek Myth from the view of a psychologist. Zeus met wise Metis when he was older, and she helped Zeus give Cronus an emetic, causing him to vomit up his children, and the stone. Jean Bakula (author) from New Jersey on July 21, 2011: Thank you for taking the time to read about Zeus. Zeus was known as the God of Justice who would enact justice upon those who have wronged others. Order online. The choice of a wife who will aid his climb up the social ladder may be a calculated one, or an unconscious one. Rhea was pretty sick of Cronus eating all her children, so when Zeus was born, she wrapped up a stone in baby clothes and fed that to Cronus instead of little Zeus. Then the bull charged into the sea, and on the sea journey Europa and Zeus were accompanied by strange sea creatures: Nereids, Tritons, and Poseidon himself. This archetype can be expressed when a man is born into a family of wealth and power, such as the Kennedys or both Presidents Bush in the U.S. The lack of introspection and emotional distance makes it so Zeus does not realize how cut off he is from others, then he understands something is seriously wrong. Poor Io was famous for her long persecution at the hands of Hera. As the chief Greek deity, Zeus is considered the ruler, protector, and father of all gods and humans. Fooled, Hera took the bird to her bosom to comfort it. So how did Zeus wife, Hera, feel about all this? But he still has the authority in the family. Ganymede replaced Hebe as cupbearer for the gods after Hercules married her. Zeus was the youngest child of Cronus and Rhea. Here are some 15 quick facts about Zeus. Zeus is the king of the Greek gods, which makes him one of the most important members of the Greek Pantheon. Humans were greedy and disloyal to the gods, and Zeus got so sick of them that he decided to just wipe them all out with a massive flood. With a pedigree like that, you know he was born for power. The next time Zeus visited the girl he was so delighted with her that he promised her anything she wanted. Zeus never cared much for his two legitimate sons, Ares and Hephaestus. Zeus name seems to date all the way back to Indo-European roots (the ancient language family from which most Western languages descend). Its hard not to feel sympathetic to Zeus wife, Hera. Prometheus pointed out that her sufferings were far from over, but that after long journeying she would reach the Nile, be changed back into human shape, give birth to Epaphus, the son of Zeus, and receive many honors. Zeus' offspring includedMoirai, Horae, Muses, Persephone, Dionysus, Heracles, Apollo, Artemis, Ares, Hebe, Hermes, Athena, and Aphrodite. Zeus was always in conflict with Prometheus, the last of the Titans, because he created humanity with the help of Athena. Zeus is a sky god who controls lightning and thunder and will often use it as a weapon and if you talking about Percy Jackson he's trying to get back in control of the light bolt that the dude stole. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. hbspt.cta.load(360031, '4efd5fbd-40d7-4b12-8674-6c4f312edd05', {}); Have any questions about this article or other topics? A person with Zeus characteristics exudes control, reason, will, and the ability to take decisive actions. Zeus was the most powerful God of Greek Mythology and of Mt. Nike's Origin. Most of them turned out OK, but had a few issues. Well, his parents were both Titans, who ruled the earth prior to the Olympian pantheon. Now you know why there are so many Greek statues of Zeus! Zeus can quickly cut his losses and move on. Apollo, byname Phoebus, in Greco - Roman mythology, a deity of manifold function and meaning, one of the most widely revered and influential of all the ancient Greek and Roman gods. It's on display at the Burdur Museum in Turkey. Zeus mated with many mortals and goddesses but is married to his sister Hera (Juno). Well, then this 700-page 1955 tome is the book for you. Still in the form of a heifer, Io ran madly from country to country, tormented by the stinging insect. Notable among his offspring were the twins Apollo and Artemis, by the Titaness Leto; Helen and the Dioscuri, by Leda of Sparta; Persephone, by the goddess Demeter; Athena, born from his head after he had swallowed the Titaness Metis; Hephaestus, Hebe, Ares, and Eileithyia, by his wife, Hera; Dionysus, by the goddess Semele; and many others. When Hera took pity on the bird and held it to her breast, Zeus resumed his true form and ravished her. In disguise Hermes managed to put Argus to sleep with stories and flute-playing, and then Hermes killed him. A Zeus is a natural leader in high school, usually dating popular girls and becoming sexually active at a young age. Like Zeus, Hades is usually represented as a vigorous bearded man. By swallowing Metis, however, Zeus had gained wisdom as part of his intrinsic nature. The word Zeus later got passed on into the Latin language as Deus, which survives in English in words like deity and divinity. Romance languages, which are the languages that grew out of Latin, still use forms of Zeuss name for the word for god. He was the God of lightning, symbolized by the thunderbolt, which he loved to hurl. The attack left Leda pregnant. They study the battle plans, but its all like a video game to them. If you want it to be more dramatic and one of you can draw well, it could still be a heavy rain with thunderbolts, but show that it's not killing the plants, make them look healthy. From his exalted position atop Mount Olympus Zeus was thought to omnisciently observe the affairs of men, seeing everything, governing all, and rewarding good conduct and punishing evil. Looking for something just as accessible as DAulaires book but a little more grown up? A number of Zeus's affairs resulted in new gods and godesses. This isnt much of a starting place, but it is the most exhaustive (and exhausting) overview of all the myths for a general audience, as well as containing Gravess commentaries about each one. Then he will tease children he perceives as weaker than him in school and at play. Olympus when the boy sided with his mother in a fight, causing him to have a clubfoot. According to the Greek poet Homer, heaven was located on the summit of Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece and the logical home for a weather god. Well, in some stories she was so jealous that she gave birth to Hephaestus (who apparently had no father) as revenge. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points, How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer. I like how you described certain people in today's times with his characteristics. He sees an attractive woman as a perk, or another measure of his success. Hera claimed that Hephaestus was virgin-born. In addition to having the most power, Zeus gained another advantage from his position as, a sky god, since it allowed him free access to any beauty that took his fancy. Gill, N.S. Only after they are gone does he feel the pain of what he missed. He is a baby who shows a strong will right from the beginning. His third wife was Eurynome, an ocean nymph, and she bore the three Graces. In time Europa gave birth to Minos and Rhadamanthus, wise rulers who became judges in the netherworld after death. Zeuss name shares a similar origin with the sky god Dyaus of Hinduism, mentioned in the Rigveda. While he slept, the gods tied him to a chair with a hundred knots and took his lightning bolt from him. Zeus was always looking down on Earth from Olympus, searching for beautiful women. This content is accurate and true to the best of the authors knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional. Apollo. Zeus knelt down and Europa climbed on his back. You know this guy, right? (2020, August 26). Thats because the last seat on Olympus is a bit of a revolving chair. I am being pressured about marketing. The Romans identified her with their own Juno. (Carole Raddato/Flickr). Learn About the Olympian God Zeus. You are mixing several topics, but these subjects do lead to that. Perhaps in retaliation for Zeus's giving birth to Athena. Thats where knowing how to find and understand literary elements comes in. So whats up with the discrepancy? I do believe in the Divine Feminine. I wanted to know if Zeus ever did something bad, Because I go to school at Jorge jr high and we r doing a wanted poster and I choose Zeus and I can't find any thing if u could I would like if u could help me an love the article perfect. They may really want his approval, but it is very likely they will never receive it. He allowed Hades to abduct and rape Persephone, and did not react to her cries for help. The Greek pantheon of gods and goddesses features three waves of leading deities. The Greek word aphros means "foam," and Hesiod relates in his Theogony that Aphrodite was born from the white foam produced by the severed genitals of Uranus (Heaven), after his son Cronus threw them into the sea. Thanks once again. So Hera suggested that Semele ask to see this god in his full glory. They were: Youve probably noticed that were missing one god on our list. Their distance allows them to disregard the thought they are ruining younger men and womens lives. I never thought I would be so interested, but I am. In some versions of Greek mythology, Zeus ate his wife Metis because it was known that their second child would be more powerful than him. I was reading one of her books about Goddesses, and was not so informed about Greek Myth before I read Jean Shinoda Bolen's work. She has been featured by NPR and National Geographic for her ancient history expertise. I completed my first novel a few months ago. Each of these new gods and goddesses were full-fledged Olympians, having had two divine parents. But she could avenge herself on the females with whom Zeus dallied, and she often took full advantage of this. Olympus, so it's appropriate that his name should be given to a bright object that is forever in Jupiter's orbit. Hera learned of this and came to Semele disguised as her nurse. He can size people up quickly, and always has his eye on the big picture. He never passes up an opportunity. The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. He frequently shows up as an eagle, as when he abductedGanymede,or a bull. Olympus were supposed to be under the jurisdiction of all three brothers, but Zeus dominated from his lofty position in the sky and ruled everything. Top career objective. One night as Hera slumbered, Zeus made love to one of the Pleiades, Maia, who gave birth to the tricky messenger of the gods, Hermes. Ganymede had been a mortal prince of Troy when his great beauty caught the eye of Jupiter/Zeus. Jupiter/Zeus sometimes takes on the characteristics of a supreme deity. It is true these offspring can have great abilities from the education and opportunities and connections he can provide. While we can't know what Mount Olympus really looked likewe're pretty confident it wasn't a theme park in Wisconsin! When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Omissions? Ida (where Paris of Troy was later a shepherd and where Zeus had been raised in safety from his father), Zeus paid Ganymede's father with immortal horses. Zeus H. Passionate Cannabis Ambassador, Advocate & Enthusiast Aurora, Colorado, United States. Still inside Zeuss stomach, she furiously made armor and weapons for her unborn child. Despite being the Goddess of Marriage, she was known to be jealous and vengeful towards the many lovers and offspring of her husband Zeus. And to make matters worse, Heras marriage to Zeus was not entirely by choice. One was the wisest law-giver of his age, the first Minos. Poseidon was god of the sea, earthquakes, storms, and horses and is considered one of the most bad-tempered, moody and greedy Olympian gods. Prometheus defied the gods orders and stole fire to give to humankind. For example, in Athens, Zeus was also the god of farming and the harvestand in Crete, Zeus was god of the sun! Zeus was regarded as the sender of thunder and lightning, rain, and winds, and his traditional weapon was the thunderbolt. Its more thorough than Hamiltons and the DAulairess versions, but the prose is a lot more old-fashioned and somewhat difficult for a modern reader to follow. I'm happy you enjoyed the piece. Zeus is the son of the Titans Cronus and Rhea. Theres a chance that the myths weve included below dont sound exactly like the version youve heard. He is also credited as the father of Greek heroes and the ancestor of many other Greeks. If he cheats on her, and she is a Hera type, she may end up as a jealous and insecure woman. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/profile-of-the-greek-god-zeus-111915. He understands old boy networking, and acquiring money and power is a game he plays well. Know one wants to talk about the stone. Women in Zeus stories lack autonomy, which is a fancy way of saying that they dont have the ability to decide or control what happens to them. Europa was a Princess of Sidon, whose beauty Zeus had spied from Mount Olympusso he decided to seduce her. If Zeus also has a nurturing mother who teaches him manners and social skills, he will grow up with a sense of entitlement, but will have confidence in himself and his place in the world. But if what he wants does move out of his grasp, he can think fast and change directions. Basically, this 1855 collection of Greek mythology is the book that Hamiltons book replaced. But they remain pretty popular. But his heart was saved by Athena, and he (now Dionysus) was resurrected by Zeus through Semele. Not only does his form change, but he could mimic the voice of others as well to add to the deception of his shapeshifting. For many, these versions are the quintessential Greek myths full of the same action, intrigue, and weirdness as the stories we talked about above. Thus, when Zeus changes himself into bestial forms he does so to satisfy his lust. As ruler of heaven Zeus led the gods to victory against the Giants (offspring of Gaea and Tartarus) and successfully crushed several revolts against him by his fellow gods. In some accounts, he was said to be the son of Zeus and Hera; in others, he was the son of Hera alone, conceived in order to get back at Zeus for bringing forth Athena. My objective was to introduce Zeus and explain what kind of god he was. Here are some quick facts. There he was nursed by the nymph (or female goat) Amalthaea and guarded by the Curetes (young warriors), who clashed their weapons to disguise the babys cries. Knowing that he was to be overpowered by his own son, Kronos swallowed each of them at birth. In ancient Greek religion, Zeus is the Chief deity and ruler of all gods and mankind. Hera was so ashamed that she married Zeus rather than admit that she had been raped. John Sarkis from Winter Haven, FL on May 30, 2011: Great hub Jean! He threw Hephaestus from the top of Mt. But however a wife influences him, his power in the marriage will dominate her and they will have a traditional patriarchal marriage revolving around his needs. According to the legend, Zeus avoided being swallowed by Kronos, who had been told that one of . "What You Need to Know About the Greek God Zeus." After Metiss demise, their first child Athena was born when Hephaestus cleaved Zeuss head open and the goddess of war emerged, fully grown and armed. After traveling throughout Greece, Leto finally gave birth painlessly to Artemis, the virgin huntress, on the isle of Ortygia. Here he is surrounded with other men who devoted all their energies to acquiring power, but have remained immature or undeveloped psychologically. An excellent question! The root of both "Zeus" and "Jupiter" is in a proto-Indo-European word for the often personified concepts of "day/light/sky". Upon learning of the abduction . When other people take emotional stances, he is dismissive of them. I hope you enjoyed the read. Humanity developed technology and grew in power until all Zeus could do was to intervene in human affairs. Jean Bakula (author) from New Jersey on May 13, 2013: Jean Bakula (author) from New Jersey on May 03, 2013: Thank you for taking the time to write to me, and I am glad you enjoyed my piece. She learned that all people have several archetypes in their personalities. This was one of the most popular sites in the ancient world and was among the Seven Wonders visited by Greek tourists. If youre just looking for more amazing stories to read, youll love our post on the 127 best books to read before you take the AP English Literature exam. Gill, N.S. Its up to historians to try and make sense of it alland sometimes that means acknowledging the differences. Zeus was regarded as the sender of thunder and lightning, rain, and winds, and his traditional weapon was the thunderbolt. And his two legitimate daughters were almost nonentities. The Passion of Zeus & Phoebe: A True Love Story. The more tough lessons early on, the fewer errors you make later. It is believed that many proto-Indo-European mythologies (e.g., Greek, Hindu, and Norse) have distinct similarities and may share an origin. 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. Prometheus, who happened to be Deucalions father, had convinced him to build and ark and ride out the storm. A cruel and merciless punishment awaited the aspiring lovers of the queen of the gods. Zeus is well-known for having a quick temper, too. 1. Zeus fathers try to mold their children into what they want them to be. Zeus had one foolproof means of seduction: transform into an animal and use that to convince a woman to let down her defenses. Jean Bakula (author) from New Jersey on December 28, 2017: Jean Bakula (author) from New Jersey on January 13, 2015: Jean Bakula (author) from New Jersey on May 14, 2013: You are most welcome. Zeus was considered to be a "good" God but he would be chastised in this day and age. However, the deed was done. Jean. Just as Cronus caught wind that his son was going to overthrow him, Zeus likewise received a similar prophecy that one of his children would usurp him. One morning this lovely daughter of the king of Sidon had a dream in which two continents in female form laid claim to her. Some Zeus men had important relationships while climbing to the top, and are happy to be able to spend time with people they care about. . (Myths are weird.). Metis, however, was not deterred. A successful Zeus works cooperatively with other powerful people. So if you want to understand Greek mythology, you should start by getting to know Zeus. Since Zeus never broke his word, he sadly showed himself forth in his true essence, a burst of glory that utterly destroyed Semele, burning her up. Previous Zeus then became a good military strategist and successful alliance maker. He's also often depicted with the three-headed dog, Cerberus. His family is only part of his ideal though, he does not wish to work for someone else, and will start his own business. Similarly to how he tricked Hera, Zeus transformed himself into a swan that was being pursued by an eagle. 127 best books to read before you take the AP English Literature exam. tysm. That potion made Cronus vomit up all his children! So I'm able to be very enthused, as I am with any good new author I find! He was called the father (i.e., the ruler and protector) of both gods and men. Jean Bakula (author) from New Jersey on February 05, 2019: What did you want to know? Zeus is a sky god with control over weather, especially of rain and lightning. She gave birth to Artemis and Apollo after a good deal of persecution at Hera's hands. He and his two brothers split the rule of the world, with Hades becoming king of the Underworld, Poseidon, king of the sea, and Zeus, king of the heavens. Before Zeus was born, it was prophesied that he would be the most powerful of all gods. The titan had tricked Zeus into taking the non-meat portion of the original sacrifice so that mankind could enjoy the food. What is really great about this version, though, is that for every myth, Bulfinch includes famous poetry that is inspired by it. In order to seduce, he sometimes changed his shape into that of an animal or bird. Gill, N.S. Immediately, Zeus shed his disguise, and tried to seduce her, but Hera prevailed and insisted that he marry her. Galileo discovered the bright moon of Jupiter which we know of as Ganymede. Voted beautiful. Jean Bakula (author) from New Jersey on May 29, 2011: Thank you for taking the time to read. Europa belonged to Asia by birth, but the other continent, which was nameless, said that Zeus would give Europa to her. Some Gods of Olympus like Apollo, Hermes, and Athena are loyal and faithful to Zeus and are usually depicted to have a generally good relationship with him. Nice to see you! He is the child of Kronos and Rhea. But Rhea, his wife, saved the infant Zeus by substituting a stone wrapped in swaddling clothes for Cronus to swallow and hiding Zeus in a cave on Crete. This wasn't limited to shifting his own shape as he could . But Hera was furious and sent a gadfly to chase Io over the earth. To learn more about all of them and their mythological backgrounds, check out this expert overview. SAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination BoardTM. While these are the universal traits assigned to Zeus, certain city states believed that Zeus had additional responsibilities. An example of this is the man who marries the bosss daughter. Fire inside. I think people are interested, the article is 10 years old and gets many views. US-based and family-owned, we offer an industry-leading menu of testing solutions developed with over 40 years of experience. But most Zeus men have no time for their wives once the courtship and honeymoon are over. One could fill several gossip columns with spicy anecdotes about the Greek gods, as though they were immortal versions of the International Set. But his perceptions of his children often are not accurate, and his values and prejudices carry a lot of weight to them. So they threw stones over their shoulders and each stone turned into a person, a man if thrown by Deucalion and a woman if thrown by Pyrrha. His word is his bond, and he expects others to look out for their own interests as he does. Shapeshifting. Growth can only happen after they experience humility and vulnerability. Thanks for writing in. Zeus and his trusted messenger Hermes were sometimes said to travel in human disguise to test the hospitality of mortals. When he impregnated Leda, he appeared as a swan; When he abducted Ganymede, he appeared as an eagle in order to take Ganymede to the home of the gods where he would replace Hebe as cupbearer; and, when Zeus carried off Europa, he appeared as a tempting white bullalthough why the Mediterranean women were so enamored of bulls is beyond the imaginative capacities of this urban-dwellersetting in motion the quest of. His weaknesses include his passion for Persephone (also . Great hub. A sculpture of Zeus called the "Zeus of Otricoli," which is a Roman copy of the original Greek statue.