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Zeus

In Greek mythology, Zeus was king of the gods, god of thunder and lightning. He was married to Hera, but had many affairs, including one with Leto, a mortal woman, which produced Apollo and Artemis. Persephone was also one of his offspring.

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What is the background information on Zeus from Greek mythology? toggle section
Zeus, in Greek mythology, is the king of the gods and the deity of thunder and lightning. Despite his marriage to Hera, he had multiple affairs, including one with Leto, a mortal, leading to the birth of Apollo and Artemis. Persephone is another of his offspring. In various cultures, Zeus is known by other names such as Jupiter, Amen-Re, Woden, Takami-Musubi, and Saint Klaus (Santa Claus).
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Who were some of Zeus's notable offspring? toggle section
In Greek mythology, Zeus, the god of thunder and lightning, had several offspring. His children include Apollo and Artemis, who were born from his affair with the mortal woman Leto. Persephone is also one of his children. Other notable offspring of Zeus are Aphrodite, Asclepius, Athena, Hephaestus, and Hermes.
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What is Zeus's connection to the god Apollo? toggle section
In Greek mythology, Zeus, the god of thunder and lightning, fathered Apollo through an affair with a mortal woman, Leto. Apollo, also a significant figure in Greek mythology, was associated with advanced aspects of civilization, such as law, philosophy, and the arts. An alternate interpretation suggests Zeus and Apollo were part of a sophisticated alien race that visited Earth in ancient times and were worshipped as gods.
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How is Zeus related to thunder and lightning in Greek mythology? toggle section
Zeus, in Greek mythology, holds the title of king of the gods and is specifically associated with thunder and lightning, symbolizing his supreme authority over all realms.
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Who was Zeus married to in Greek mythology? toggle section
Zeus, the god of thunder and lightning in Greek mythology, was wedded to Hera, the deity of marriage and family. Nevertheless, Zeus was known for his numerous affairs, one of which was with a mortal named Leto.
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Alien origins

In 2267, the USS Enterprise encountered an alien being claiming to be the god Apollo on Pollux IV. Apollo explained that he and Zeus were actually members of a highly sophisticated race of alien beings who had visited Earth in ancient times, allowing themselves to be worshiped as gods.

On Earth, Zeus came to be regarded as the king of the gods, ruling from Mount Olympus, with the power of life and death. He and the other gods had the power to alter themselves and the world around them, and their displeasure was generally fatal. With such abilities, the ancient Greeks with whom they interacted considered them gods and, after a time, the aliens themselves came to think themselves as gods in the same manner. (TOS: "Who Mourns for Adonais?")

When Apollo first described Zeus, he spoke of him as a friend and equal, and as a "fellow traveler". He later contradicted this narrative and stated he was actually Zeus's son, and had been born on Earth due to a union between Zeus and the Human woman Leto. James T. Kirk suspected that neither version was completely true and that Apollo's appearance as a Greek god had been created for the benefit of his Human visitors.

Fate

After being worshiped on Earth, mankind turned away from the Greek gods, forcing Zeus and the other gods to return home to Pollux IV. Once back on Pollux IV, Zeus and the other Greek gods found life lonely and empty without worshipers. Zeus eventually transcended his physical existence, described as "spreading himself thinner and thinner until he was entirely gone". Apollo claimed this was not death, but it seemed clear that those who had departed by this means were beyond returning. (TOS: "Who Mourns for Adonais?")

It is never revealed how long Apollo and the other Greek gods remained on Earth, with Apollo stating only that "it has been five thousand years". The earliest references to Greek mythology (in Geometric period art) historically date from around 900BC, which would have been well after when Apollo states the Greek gods had visited Earth. Dialogue from Captain Kirk speculates that Apollo and his companions were the "basis" for Greek mythology, implying that there was a difference between the time the Greek gods actually lived on Earth and the eventual myths and legends which developed about them over a thousand years later.

In 2382, Lieutenant junior grade Beckett Mariner, after learning that Ensign Olly was a descendant of "the psychokinetic being that presented itself as Zeus" told her mother "didn't Kirk kick their asses? I -- I thought they all went off and became "one with the wind" or whatever." (LD: "Of Gods and Angles")

Legacy

According to Henry Janeway, Zeus watched over travelers. (VOY: "11:59")

Ensign Olly was Zeus' granddaughter. (LD: "Of Gods and Angles")

In actuality, the protection of travelers is usually associated with Hermes.

Appendices

Background information

This character was only mentioned in dialogue.

Apocrypha

Zeus appears in the comic book What Fools These Mortals Be, ruling over a small planet resembling ancient Greece. Contrary to his usual depiction, Zeus is drawn to resemble a beardless, bald man.

In the novel Gods Above it is revealed that Zeus was known by many other names in different cultures, including Jupiter, Amen-Re, Woden, Takami-Musubi and Saint Klaus (Santa Claus). In the 24th century, he prefers to be called "Old Father".

External links