Zeus appointed himself king of Olympus and lord of the sky. He and his brothers drew a lot to delegate the domains of the universe. He took full control of the heavens, Poseidon the sea and Hades the underworld. His palace was established at Thessaly in Mount Olympus, where the summit penetrated into heaven. He possessed superior power over all, save Destiny and the Fates. Known to the Romans as Jupiter, Zeus was the king of Mount Olympus and the gods; he was the god of the weather, sky, fate, law and order. Zeus earned the epithet “father of gods and men.” His symbols were a thunderbolt, scepter, eagle and bull. He was often depicted as a dark bearded, sturdy man of an older age—a stark contrast to other gods like Apollo and Hermes who are often depicted as beardless young men. This is perhaps intended to emphasize his superior experience and prowess as the patriarch of the deities. As king of the Olympian gods, he would assign each deity to his or her tasks. Zeus was not a tyrant, but a reasonable and fair-minded god—after all, he was the Lord of Justice. With his council, he presided over everything, including the crowning of kings and the policing of law and order. As an omnipotent god who sees and hears the actions and sufferings of all, he punished sinners and avenged those who were wronged. He maintained the sacredness of oath and the rules of hospitality; he also guarded those that supplicated.
The Rise of Undefeated Deity in Mount Olympus: Zeus the Son of Coronus
