[Screenshot to avoid being directly confrontational to someone who probably didn't mean any real harm.]
Despite the fact that I don't think this person meant any real harm, I'm still going to respond to it, because this misconception seems to plague the mainstream Tumblr communities, witchblr, pagans in general, and even (some) Hellenic polytheists themselves. I don't mean any real or legitimate hate or judgement to people who think this—hell, I used to think this, but seeing as I've gone on whole tirades on the whole ‘Demeter was secretly an abusive mom this whole time’ thing, I can also do it to clear up, to the best of my abilities, these common misconceptions with Zeus Himself, as well as His relationship with Hera and women in general.
This is a very spur of the moment post, so it may not be comprehensive or structured (I'll write up something more cohesive later, perhaps tomorrow) but I'm aiming to be as factually correct as possible, in the face of misunderstandings.
So, most Tumblr users are more familiar with the Judeo-Christian version of religion—there's canonical text that were written through prophets divinely inspired by God Himself. Everything in these texts are meant to be taken as truth, the word of God, and strictly adhered to. Though there is variations on interpretions of the scriptures, and not every Christian/Jew/Muslim follows everything they read explicitly, or even think you would need to in order to get to paradise, it's sort of the common thought here.
Things we read, from Homer, like the Iliad, for example, are not scripture. They're mythology. Mythology is not, in anyway, related to scripture. They're not the same thing.
The Homeric and Orphic Hymns are more like scripture—and they're mostly prayers, for ceremonial or personal usage, exalting the Gods. They very rarely talk about many of the myths we hear, popularized by mainstream media.
That being said, it isn't like there isn't any value to the myths—they're a peek into how the ancient Greeks viewed their Gods and practiced their religion; as well as their culture, their morals, their beliefs. And it does hold some bearing in cult matters as well.
Myths are more of teaching lessons about values and principles that the Greeks thought were important, to symbolize something about the God the myth individually dealt with, or to serve as entertainment. Actual scripture was rarely written down, and passed from generation to generation orally, and much of it was kept secret, a la the Mysteries.
So what does that mean for Zeus then—or any of the Gods, really? How is one supposed to get a grasp on the Divine if we can't trust these myths as be all, end all sources?
Their cults, their epithets, their hymns—that's the way to truly learn who a God is.
Zeus was worshipped as a moral, righteous God—He's the god of justice, the home, a protector, a counselor, wise and all-knowing. He's not the king of the Heavens because He can shoot lightning bolts from his hands. It's because He's a leader, and the best for the job. His cults reflected much of this; and were thusly prohibited from harming strangers, guests, beggars and suppliants, who were all firmly under Zeus's protection, and He would punish those who broke these paths (Ancient Greek Cults, Jennifer Larson).
Julian, the Emperor of Rome, in a letter to the High-priest of Galatia, wrote: “How can anyone, while worshipping Zeus the God of Companions, sees their neighbours in need and does not give them a penny—how can they think they are worshipping Zeus properly?”
Okay, so Zeus promoted so basic human decency to His cults. So what? That doesn't change anything, especially in relation to Hera, or women in general.
"Teleia (of the rite, related to ritual, perfect): Hera Teleia (of the Rite) and Zeus Teleios (of the Rite) used to be honored in marriages, as overseers of marriage. Marriage is a rite (telos)."
Zeus Teleios is a God of the Rite, and marriage is a rite. He and Hera Teleia rule over marriage together, as the patriarch and matriarch of marriage. To the Greeks, who saw the divinity as the prime example of perfection, would it make sense for then to glorify a dysfunctional marriage between the Lord and His wife, Queen of the Heavens? Outside of entertainment, fables mean to teach lessons, no. Of course not. Hera and Zeus were meant to be the shining example of marriage to the rest of the world. They both presided over marital rite together, even if it is more specifically Hera's domain.
Zeus was also widely worshipped as a protector of the home and hearth, a bringer of wealth. He's a Father-God, and this is an important aspect of Zeus's identity. Shrines to Him were built in cupboards, for His relationship to domestic life. A prime example of a patriarch—who sired man great and noble children and was a good husband to His wife.
That's another thing the myths are trying to emphasize—not the way He sires His children, but the fact that He has so many, and most of them turned out to be heroes and kings. It's attesting to Him as a paternal figure, and that's what the take-away is supposed to be. Not that Zeus cheated on His wife repeatedly.
(Also, He's never had sex with animals—though He has, in mythology, transformed into animals in order to pursue love interests).
So, that's my little spiel on the Sky Father, and though it's not amazing, I've just wanted to get this out there.
I love Zeus so much—it breaks my heart to see Him reduced to such a base, and horribly inaccurate, image—in large part, due to Christianization and popular culture (not trying to knock either, though they're definitely the cause).
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