#god zeus

[hera-hell]

Random doodles of Hera and Zeus ●3● pt.2

[mistermaenad]

*goes for a walk and it starts sprinkling*

Me, joking: Bring it on, Zeus, I can take it

*gets a tornado watch on my phone*

Me: Hey, I'd like to apologize real quick

[katerinaaqu]

Hello! Quick question:

Was Zeus ever described as canonically dark-haired, or is he gray-haired after all? Are there any widespread descriptions of the appearances of the Pantheon members, like Apollo being golden-haired in nearly every detection?

Zeus in Homer is described having "dark brows" κυανές ὀφρύες and the word "cyan" was used as substitute for very dark or black color when it comes to hair. Now to my knowledge Zeus is mostly depicted with dark hair and beard in ancient art. For instance the famous terracotta sculpture with Zeus and Ganymede

where you can see some remains of the color of his beard being dark

The hierogamia fresco in Pompeii

or this in Herculaneum

In most pottery art pieces he is depicted with the classical black added pigment to his hair

but there are some depictions of the archaic times that have Zeus with added reddish pigmentation to the beard

but that is also a common technique for black-figure sometimes.

Now white pigmentation doesn't tend to survive because in pottery is being placed after baking and it tends to flake off but since Poseidon is also known for being a dark-haired god, Zeus being his brother would be expected to have similar characteristics I suppose. Even later years neoclassical art depicts Zeus the majority of time with black or dark hair

I would say the white-haired Zeus is more to the modern day realm than ancient art and it could be because people got inspired by clouds or something or even by christian art of God being depicted with white beard and all.

I would say veeeeeery gray or black hair would be more accurate for Zeus according to ancient art but I would expect it has variations in modern day art

As for the last part I would say it is a very wide question. I mean we do know some standard epithets of gods such as;

Hera; white-armed (so a woman of pale skin) and cow-eyed (large, beautiful and potentially brown eyes)

Poseidon; dark/black haired, usually long-haired and almost all the time bearded with his hair being held in hairdos on occasion

Athena; very light blue-gray eyed but her hair color is not always mentioned for instance. I remember at least one source that names her "blonde" (but probably that has the general essence of "fair hair" so it could range from anything between blonde till light brown)

Persephone is mentioned in one source being dark eyed and in another golden of hair (see my answer here and in these depictions one can see Hades/Pluto have a similar color palette with her so reddish hair? Maybe?)

Both Apollo and Artemis are often described as "fair-haired" and usually depicted with uncut/long hair

Aphrodite oftentimes is called "golden" which could indicate "golden" hair aka blonde but is rather ambiguous. Most of the time of course she is depicted with long hair either in a hairdo or loose

and so on and so forth. Some gods are more ambiguous for instance Dionysus is mentioned as "golden-haired" in Hesiod while in Homeric hymn 7 he is described with black or very dark hair and I believe so does Nonnus so maybe just maybe Hesiod was thinking of a god who's hair was shining goldish sheen but is up for interpretation etc.

I guess there is not 100% similar iconography everywhere and at every era so it is a wide subject. Most of the time you expect the goddesses to be pale of features because they represent the beauty standard of their times for instance but their hair color might not even be mentioned in every source.

[owlyofathens]

I mostly worship Zeus Aethiops (Aka zeus the black) and i got so used to seeing with dark or tanned skin that whenever i see arts of him being this typical representation of white skin and white hair with blue eyes it’s like ahhhh jumpscare 💔💔

Sorry guys for me Zeus will always be black (or tanned) and with black hair. Sometimes i do actually see him with white hair though, these to represents the clouds. But in skin color for me he will always have melanin, unless its Albin Zeus but he still has like some mediterranean - black characteristics yknow

[legendaryfugitives]

Athena’s Exes

So, I recently noticed people agreeing that Goddess Athena is Asexual, but from mythological sources like the stories about Pallas, there are hints that she was not aromantic. During a long research spree and reading other people's opinions, I've noticed she'll be considered a Biromantic Sapiosexual Asexual. AKA, not into the, how do I say this in PG language, bedroom stuff due to being a Parthenos, but shows romantic interest to anyone with brains. These are just notes I made while researching this topic. I encourage you all to do your own research. I'm willing to make a part two post of links if anyone needs them. Warning! Greek Mythology is known for incest included in their stories. You've been warned! Please let me know if there is anyone else I missed so I can update this post. Hephestus will not be included since Athena was not in love with him in any way. Now, let's move on to my notes of a few examples.

Pallas, The Lost BFF

When Athena first burst out of her father's head, Zeus, she was taken in by Triton, her cousin and son of Poseidon. Triton also had a Nymph daughter named Pallas. The sources are borderline on how Athena and Pallas viewed each other. Some say they were sisterly best friends, and some say they were more than friends. What the sources have in common is that the two girls practice sparring and compete together.

Fate: During a sparring contest or a friendly sparring practice match Zeus attended or happened to be watching, Athena and Pallas’s fight got heated. Scared for Athena's life, he used his aegis to distract Pallas. Unfortunately, this caused Athena to accidentally impale and kill her best friend. To make it up to Athena, Zeus gave her his aegis, which we see Athena wear to this day. Athena later created the palladium, a statue that looked like Pallas, and Athena took the name Pallas as her epithet.

Prometheus, Thief God of Fire and Hearts

There are a few theories about these two. Especially since Athena helped Prometheus steal the fire. There was one story in which Prometheus had a crush on Athena, which is why he was punished. And believe me, Prometheus and Athena were not on my Bingo Card this year. However, it makes sense since the two have a lot in common, they have worked together many times, and both played a role in creating a new version of humans. Another variation of Athena's birth myth is Prometheus freeing Athena instead of Hephaestus, or he does help out in the process of freeing Athena from Zeus's head. Yes, you may say, “But didn’t accident resources say Prometheus was married and had a son?” Remember, these stories have changed and merged over time with different variants. Some sadly lost to time. Ultimately, we are left with our imaginations when approaching these stories as long as the original culture is respected. But it does make things complicated. Prometheus and his wife, Pronoea or Hesione, never got married or divorced. Be free to come up with theories, everyone.

Fate: After getting caught afterward, Prometheus was punished by getting chained to a rock, and his liver was eaten by an eagle. Then, Prometheus's liver regrows overnight, but his torcher continues each day until he is finally freed. But unfortunately for the rebel titan, it ended his relationship with Athena. To make things worse, Athena was part of making Pandora, so Athena was punished at the end of the day, too.

Myrmex, Maiden Heartbreaker

In an insect origin story, Myrmex was a young Attican maiden who became the goddess' favorite. She was known for her cleverness and her chastity, a significant reason why Athena had a love for the maiden. Athena showed humans how to sow their fields when she created the plow. However, Myrmex was greedy on the inside. Myrmex went behind Athena’s back, stole some sheaves, and claimed she invented the plow to the public in conman fashion.

Fate: Heartbroken, Athena turned Myrmex into an ant, cursing her for stealing other's grain forever. So, talk about the worst breakup of the year there. The lesson is don't break the heart of someone who cares for you, romantically or platonically, because the betrayed will get petty revenge.

Phereclus (or Phereclos), the Shipbuilder of Tragic Dreams

Although one line mentions this, the Illiad mentions a Trojan shipbuilder, Phereclus (or Phereclos), who once made well-balanced ships. According to the different translations of Book V, Athena had “a special love for him,” “for Pallas Athene loved him above all men,” or “Pallas Minerva had dearly loved him.” Either he was her protégé, there was something more, or both.

Fate: According to Book V of the Illiad, Phereclus was killed by Meriones since it was one of Phereclus’s ships that Paris used to kidnap Helen. And if you read it, it’s pretty graphic. People can form their theories on the subject despite just that one line.

Hercle (aka Etruscan version of Heracles/Hercules), A Lover in Question

Disclaimer! This is from the Etruscan sources. I do not ship Hercle/Heracles/Hercules with Menrva/Athena/Minerva. Please do not attack me, people! In the Etruscan religion, Athena was not viewed as a Parthenos. Some sources hint at the two being romantically involved despite being siblings or half-siblings. Even having a blood or adopted kid together named Epiur??? But the two Gods were probably Epiur's protectors instead. Hercle and Menrva were Gods of protecting children back then to the Etruscans. Epiur is still a big mystery, so people, please do your research!

Fate: If we go with Hercle's Greek Version, Heracles had a crazy death, but he became a God, and then he ended up marrying his other half-sister, Hebe, the daughter of the Goddess who was out for revenge on Heracles, Hera. Yeah, this family tree is messed up for the wrong reasons, and I don't want to elaborate further.

That's it for now! Criticism is welcome if I get something wrong and need to fix it. I'm willing to post the links if anyone is curious about these details. Studying Athena's past friends or possible past lovers was an interesting rabbit hole to explore. If I inspired you in any way, please use these ideas as long as you respect original sources and know Athena is a Parthenos. Thanks for coming to my TedTalk of Athena's Exes for now!

Edit: To Epic the Musical fans, be free to use this for any of your theories because these losses may have affected Athena.

[allureauctioneersnyc]

Ancient Greece 2nd Century BCE Trichalkon Of A Drachm Bronze Coin With God Zeus And Goddess Hera, Perrhaiboi or Perrhaebi, Thessaly

Find Us Here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AllureAuctioneers

Struck Late 2nd to early 1st century B.C. Issuer, Perrhaiboi or Perrhaebi, Thessaly, Ancient Greece. Standard circulation coin. Years 125 BC to 75 BC. Value Trichalkon (1/16). Currency: Drachm. Composition Bronze. Weight around 7.00 grams approximate. Diameter 20.0 mm. Shape Round but irregular. Technique Hammered. Laureate and bearded head of Zeus right. Script in Greek. Mint place Perrhaebia, Thessaly, Greece. // Hera, diademed and draped, seated right on backless throne, holding a long scepter with her right and resting her left on her knee. The Perrhaebi were an ancient Greek people who lived in northern Thessaly. They took part in the Trojan War under Guneus and also fought in the Battle of Thermopylae. Their capital was Phalanna, and their most significant town, or polis, was Oloosson. Through most of their history they were overshadowed and controlled by Thessaly, although they had two votes at the Delphic Amphictyony. Philip II of Macedon freed the Perrhaebi from Thessaly and took their kingdom for Macedonian control, under which it remained until Roman conquest in 196. They were listed in Xerxe's vast army by Herodotus. A coin of the Perrhaebi depicted a man restraining a bull on one side and a horse on the other. // Disclaimer: Read The Description And Watch Carefully The Images Provided. Ask Any Questions Before You Place A Purchase. We Do Our Best For Identifying And Describing The Items, However We Are No Experts In Every Field. We Offer In House Shipping But You Are Free To Arrange Your Own Shipping Method. If You Are The Winning Bidder You Are Agreeing To All Our Terms Including The Acceptance That All Sales Are Final. Allure Auctioneers Is A Project ByBoboNYC Inc, Manhattan NYC, 2026. We Stand Against The Use Of Artificial Intelligence AI Tools On Ecommerce. Be Human!

[blueraven0]

Hello, Avians!

Many of you told me that I should post the stories I write on janitor on Tumblr as well. Since both the Ares and Poseidon stories weren't really that long, I decided to start with the Zeus one. Those who haven't seen it, enjoy! And those who have, enjoy again lol

⚡︎ Divine punishment ⚡︎

No trigger warnings.

Word count: ~2k

Fluff/angst. That's all I ever write about, isn't it?

Includes: Greedy human father who thinks he's better than Lord Zeus himself, and we all know how that always ends. Reader being saved by Lord Zeus. Pretty much it if you don't want spoilers.

I've been thinking what title to use other than USER because that's not for Tumblr standards. Perhaps AVIAN? Would be fitting for the community and also clear that it's not a name. Let's go with that and you let me know if it's ok with y'all. We can work things out as we go.

I have no idea what I'm doing but I was told to include some headers? Hope this is fine.

Avian knelt in the empty steep field of Mountain Olympus, a look of despair in their wide open eyes as they observed just how much their hands were shaking. There were no traces. No bones, no ashes. Everything and everyone, wiped out in a second, that decided the fate of their own family. Of what was left of it, at least. Now... There truly was nothing. Only a distant echo of their father's voice, a sentence so cruel that even the sea rose in protest.

"You dare to defy me?! I am your FATHER, an elder you should look up to!" The man roared, rage scrunching his features into a disarray of disgust and discomfort from the sudden lack of control. "When I was your age, I was long married to your mother with a child on the way. You only sit here, leaching off of my gold, and you have the audacity to raise your voice at me?!" He slammed his fist on the table, rattling each and every item resting atop it. "Your mother would have been enraged just as much as me if she knew how little intellect you've inherited from her." His voice rumbled in his chest with pure resentment, that clearly has been boiling inside his heart for decades.

"She would've been enraged to know how her husband treats their only kin." Avian snarled, fed up from the years of abuse of their father's tyranny. "She WOULD'VE been, if not your pathetic attempts to gain a new heir. If not your nagging of needing another child, when she loved the first more than herself. When she loved YOU more than herself. Tell me..." Avian stood tall as they faced their father head on, not planning to back down from what possibly could be their last word they could utter. "Were you happy when you held her hand as she was dying on that bed? Ripped to shreds, stitched even though pointlessly as she already bled her heart out. You knew she couldn't bare it. You KNEW, the medics have told you! And the only thing you BEGGED Lady Hera for was to save that child, not even giving your WIFE a second glance. Look where it got you. No wife, and no child. Because Lady Hera would never grant such a blessing to a scumbag like you-" Before they could even finish, Avian's father struck them with a force so fierce, that they whipped around and fell onto their knees. Shock was not comparable to what Avian felt in that moment, but the time for feelings has passed as quickly as it began, when their father grabbed their hair and yanked it back to face them.

"You have lost your mind, you worthless brat!" He roared, with rage so intense that it could barely fit inside his body. "I have had enough of your parasitic attachment. May you realise your place once taught where it is, by one who won't see you as more than ashes to let the wind scatter." There was no time for reactions or words, not any longer when Avian got dragged outside the palace by their strained locks, knowing what their father's sentence meant.

Divine punishment.

As a group of men gathered at the steilhang of Mountain Olympus with Avian as their capture, the king stood upfront with the confidence that has brought him to his monarchy. "Panggratis! Erigdoupos! Ktesios! Divine father, god of thunder, lord of many!" He called out up into the sky, his arms outstretched upwards. "Grant me your presence, I pray at your altar!"

At first, only wind danced between their lashes, but soon enough the sky churned under a command. Clouds swallowed the blues, now engulfed in greys, and thunder rang like a distant melody. Avian's heart raced. This was it. As their eyes landed on the imposing figure of the thunder wielder himself, who's emerged like a golden trophy that shone amongst the pitiful bronze medals, they knew the clock began ticking down.

Zeus gazed down at the mortals, and it was so vile, that it spoke enough of his displeasure. "You have called upon me." His deep voice carried through the long distance with no resistance. "At the wrong time." He added, quieter this time, as if it was just to mumble under his nose. "So speak, quickly, and then return to your land. For this is my home you've invaded, under no invitation."

The king stared wide eyed at the God of thunder, for two different reasons. One, for the obvious shock of seeing his imposing figure in person. And two, for the god was...wearing a face mask? ...is that what he meant by calling him at the wrong time? "Ah, Lord Zeus-" He stuttered, baffled by the situation. "I have called upon you to ask for a favour. You see... My child has been defiant, at point of no return. And so I thought, as king and father, you must understand the significance of punishing such an incompetent kin. We both know that rules are to be followed, and if not, consequences are in order. Severe ones. And so, I come upon your door to ask-" A sound of a crunch interrupted the monologue, and the mortal king strained his eyes to observe the sky. While he was pouring his heart out, Zeus seemed to be munching on the cucumber slices that he had been using on his eyelids just before being summoned. Avian's father stared at him dumbfounded. Was this not a serious situation? Was his complaint invalid? "Ah, uhm..." He stuttered before clearing his throat to continue. "And so... I come upon your door to ask, grant me a divine intervention. I shall give you my spawn as an offering, and you shall do with them as you please." The tyrant bowed, presumingly to show his respect.

Zeus simply swallowed the cucumber while his brows were furrowed in thought. "You have summoned me to teach YOUR child a lesson? To take them from your hand with no guarantee of safety?" He asked with a hint of disappointment. "You call yourself a father? Defiant or not, tis your responsibility. Your heart and your soul in that vessel, that you so carelessly throw into the void just for a moment of solitude. Should you have thought sooner than bringing them here, and gifting them your left hand while they have their own." He grimaced as his eyes scanned the mortal man's face, clearly not pleased about the arrangement. "Take them away. And do not return, my favour is what you think too little of."

The tyrant king gritted his teeth. The rage that filled him teetered on the edge of his tongue as he yelled. "What is of divinity if not to bring justice?! You, who rule above us, don't know of orders?! A father is what I have been destined to be, to teach and shape of my own flesh and spill the blood if one disrespects it! And a father I am the better one! For at least I know how much my own skin I've ripped, to create another!" He snarled, the profanities of which none has ever dreamt of to speak out loud to the God of god's himself. "And my wife, she has granted my wishes, but yours in jealous rage has taken what's been gifted me! As you have treated her like less than a speck on your possessions! Grow an iron grip on those who you cherish, or they shall destroy you just like they've done so with me!"

Silence.

There was nothing, but silence.

"You speak of my wife, while yours is deceased?"

The mortal king trembled at the response. He has spoken out of turn, and now... Now it was too late. "No! N...no... Lord, FATHER! God Zeus..." He could only stumble over his words, thinking of a way out of his now open coffin. "I have spoken too harshly! Your wife... She has granted me my marriage and my first born! For that I am eternally grateful-"

"And what of me? What of my ignorance?"

The man swallowed harshly, his adam's apple bobbing under the pressure. "Tis only a jest, no truth in those words! I beg of you, Ypsizygos-"

"Use my epithets not, I shall grant one's favour."

Avian's father froze at the mention of the favour he has asked, what felt like millennia ago. Was this true? Would the God of the sky take away the pain that's been in his side ever since born, even after his fit of rage? "I... Lord Zeus, I am...eternally grateful." He bowed on his knees, lips almost reaching the ground. "I shall arrange offerings of your liking to rest at your altar in a moment's notice. I beg, forgive my transgressions."

"You shan't bother. There won't be time." With those words, thunder roared so loudly that all the men gathered fell to their knees, gasping for air as fear so deep filled their lungs, that nothing else could fit there. The mortal king looked up, and his face paled at the sight. Lord Zeus, holding a glowing orb of lightning stared down at them all, and suddenly, the man's existence felt miniscule.

"My Lord! Reconsider, I beg of you!" The mortal strained his chords to yell. "Or... Or take my men! Take my child, the lives of which not matter! Do not be blinded by my wrongdoings! I am a needed man! If you take my life, there won't be king!"

"You break your voice for no purpose." Zeus's voice silenced even the birds that escaped into the bushes, and his eyes glew golden. "Your mouth has spread filth in my own garden, and you yourself brought here a seed of your own making, as a weed of which I do not intend to nurture!" The skies darkened further, what seemed beyond possible. "You ask to take the thorn out your side, to find relief of the pain that you have caused yourself? I shall gift it." He raised his hand that held the void of thunder, with an expression deprived of remorse. "You dare to elate your title above me?! You dare to speak of destiny in your example?!" Zeus growled, and his voice merged with the wrath of his element. "You are a father not, for your eyes do not see your kin, but a lamb to be slaughtered. Hence, I remind you. I have brought plenty to rule above you, and you failed to nurture one that you claim to mould. Your own creation surpassed you, but do not cower." The lightning surged down, shaking the ground where the men kneeled, at the God's mercy. "Before, and after your passing...

I will always be King."

Upon a blink of an eye, and a strain of ears, "FATHER-" the last thing that Avian has heard was the agonisingly desperate screams of those who brought them here, calling out to Lord of the sky as their own creator. And then...

Silence.

There was nothing, but silence.

Avian opened their eyes, their whole body shaking and ribs as if broken under the sheer pressure of the fear filling their veins. Their head slowly rose to observe. Is this the Underworld? The fate of a soul taken by force with no place to rest?

"Little lamb."

A deep voice took a hold of Avian's mind, and their shaking body faced the giant man who now leaned against the very earth he destroyed. There was nothing left of anyone. Of anything. Just an empty crater which reached everywhere, but Avian. As Avian's eyes locked with Zeus's, their breath got stuck mid way in their throat. He was so close, so imposing, and yet... So calm. The God stared down at the mortal, his earlier wrath now gone, and replaced by a look of expectation. "Do not fret." He spoke, his chords smoothing out into a comforting rumble. "You've done no wrong." His giant hand reached out to place a single finger atop Avian's head, and he caressed it with gentleness that defied reason. "You shan't ever be a sacrifice. I'll make sure of it."

[lady-of-ways]

I fricken love this song! It’s incredible and heartbreaking!