Zeus Myth Served Several Functions Essay

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Zeus also acted on principle to create social order at Olympia by waging war on his own father. However, Zeus was just in his treatment of the vanquished Titans, eventually granting their freedom (Morford & Lenardon p. 78). Zeus's story mirrors that of the Greeks in their skillful fashioning of political and social structures out of disparate and geographically distinct peoples.

Zeus can even suggest the evolution from a polytheistic to a monotheistic society. Although monotheism would not become entrenched in Greek consciousness until Christianity, Zeus does become a singular force, "one god" above all others (Morford & Lenardon p. 72). Zeus's "supremacy" paved the way for the future growth of a monotheistic culture and religion throughout ancient Greece and Rome (Morford & Lenardon p. 72). His greatness among all other gods is sometimes symbolized as an aegis: representing Zeus's special power like a crown on a king. Kings, in fact, "come from Zeus," (Morford & Lenardon p. 74). His judicious treatment of the Titans proved that Zeus was a role model for ideal Greek leadership. Likewise, Zeus's fearlessness in waging war with the giants revealed his military prowess.

Myths about Zeus are sometimes used to explain the nature and meaning of human ethnic diversity because the god is the father of all mortals and not just the Greeks.

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For example, creation stories about Zeus refer to races of mortals likened to precious metals such as silver and iron. As Morford & Lenardon point out, the explication of the diversity of humanity corresponds to an analysis of human technological advancements from the age of gold to that of iron. Human social, political, and technological progress is sometimes represented by Zeus's continued battle between order and chaos. Zeus's relationship and struggle with Prometheus also resembles class struggles in human society, if Prometheus represents the will and rights of the people and Zeus represents the will of the ruling classes. Zeus ultimately asserts his power and dominance just as a king would by using military power. Thus Aeschylus depicts Zeus as possessing and wielding "autocratic" power (Morford & Lenardon p. 88). Zeus ultimately learns how to become a benevolent dictator (Morford & Lenardon p. 90).

Zeus's narrative is entwined with all the other gods in the Greek pantheon. His influence and his interference shape many if not most of the stories that guide Greek cultural values. Gender norms, political ideology, and personal psychology are all played out in the story of Zeus, father of mortals and "cloud-gatherer" who controls nature as well (Morford & Lenardon p. 310). Zeus's power is often questioned or challenged but his.....

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