Lovers of Zeus 1

Throughout Greek mythology, the sky god, Zeus, was associated with many women. He was continuously married to the goddess Hera, but continued to cheat on her many more times.

Zeus’s first wife was Metis, the wisest of the gods, and mother of Athena. When she was pregnant, Zeus received a prophecy about his future children. He was told that his son would overthrow him, and his daughter would be of equal power. He swallowed his wife preventing the children’s birth. One day, Zeus was faced with a terrible headache and had his skull cut open by Hephaestus. When his skull was cut, his daughter, Athena protruded from his head dressed completely in armor. Because Athena was born from Zeus’s head and was the daughter of Metis, she was very intelligent. She was the favorite of all of Zeus’s children. Metis continued to give Zeus advice from inside his body.

Other children Zeus had were The Three Fates with Themis. The Three Fates were responsible for the life of a mortal. The first of the Fates had to measure the thread representing a mortal’s life. The second Fate spun the thread, and the third one cut the thread, ending the mortal’s life.

Zeus was also the father of the Nine Muses. They were responsible for the alphabet, poetry, art, and music. Their mother was Mnemosyne.

Zeus was the father of the goddesses who gave beauty to mortal women, the Graces. There were three Graces named Aglaea, Euphrosyne, and Thalia. Their names meant radiance, merriment, and good cheer.

The next of Zeus’s lovers was Dione, the mother of Aphrodite. In some myths, Uranus’s (the grandfather of Zeus) severed parts produced a white foam in the sea and Aphrodite emerged fully mature. Desire was her servant and Eros (love) was her companion. Aphrodite is the goddess of love.