"No one is free except Zeus." [Cratos to Hephaestus. Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound 50]

Zeus was allotted the dominion of the sky, having waged war against Cronos and the TITANS [see also Titanomachy]. This supreme god surpasses all others in spirit, wisdom, and justice, and prevails upon good men by persuasion, intimidating the evil by punishment. Zeus, some say, caused the Trojan War, so that the load of death might empty the world. Zeus got the thunderbolt, his ultimate weapon, from the CYCLOPES, and an eagle brings back the thunderbolts which he has flung.

Birth and clandestine infancy

Both Gaia and Uranus foretold Cronos that he would be dethroned by his own son. To avoid this sad fate, he used to swallow his children at birth. This bizarre behaviour, however, enraged his wife Rhea 1, who being pregnant with Zeus, went to Crete and gave him birth in a cave of Dicte.

NYMPHS fed the child on the milk of the goat Amalthea while the CURETES in arms guarded the child in the cave, clashing their spears on their shields, in order to prevent Cronos to hear his voice. In the meantime, Rhea 1 wrapped a stone in clothes and gave it to Cronos to swallow, as if it were the newborn child. This is how Cronos, the second ruler of the universe, was deceived.

Amalthea and other nurses

Amalthea, some say, was one of ZEUS' NURSES. She was a naiad, famous in the Cretan Mount Ida, who nursed Zeus when the newborn god had to be concealed and protected from his father Cronos, who, out of fear for being dethroned by his own son (as it had been predicted), devoured his offspring. Amalthea hung Zeus in a cradle from a tree, so that he could be found neither in heaven nor on earth nor in the sea, and gathering youths, she gave them brazen shields and spears, and ask them to go around the tree making noise lest the cries of little Zeus be heard. These youths are called CURETES by some whereas others called them CORYBANTES.

It has also been said that the nymph Amalthea owned a bull's horn which could supply food and drink in abundance. However, some affirm that Amalthea owned a wonderful she-goat who suckled the god, and that one day the goat broke one of her beautiful horns. The nymph Amalthea then picked it up, and wrapping it in fresh herbs, took it full of fruit to the lips of the newborn god. Because of this, on becoming ruler of heaven, Zeus transformed both his nurse and the horn of plenty into stars.

Yet some assert that Zeus was given to the care of Adrastia 1 and Ide 3, daughters of King Melisseus 1 in Crete, who laid him in a cradle of gold, and since they had not milk for the child, they furnished him a goat, whose name was Amalthea. But others affirm that Amalthea was the nymph who owned the goat that nursed Zeus.

The Messenians affirm that it was Neda, the eldest of the NYMPHS, who reared Zeus secretly; but many others are said to have nursed Zeus as well.

Zeus becomes ruler of Heaven

When Zeus was grown up, he asked Metis 1 to help him against his father, and she gave Cronos a drug that forced him to disgorge first the stone and then the children whom he had swallowed. And with the aid of his brothers and sisters, Zeus waged war against Cronos and the TITANS, and being victorious, Zeus became the ruler of Heaven [see also Titanomachy].

Metis 1

Metis 1 turned into many shapes to avoid Zeus' embraces, but she nevertheless became his first wife. Gaia had prophesied that after giving birth to the maiden who was in her womb, Metis 1 would bear a son who would be the lord of heaven. Fearing the prophecy, Zeus swallowed Metis 1. And when the time came for the birth to take place, Prometheus 1, or else Hephaestus smote the head of Zeus with an axe, and Athena, fully armed, leapt up from the top of his head at the river Triton.

Conflict with Prometheus 1

Prometheus 1 gave mankind fire, which, unknown to Zeus, he had hidden in a stalk of fennel. But having learned about the theft, Zeus had him nailed in Mount Caucasus, where every day an eagle swooped on him and devoured the lobes of his liver, which grew by night.

Impious Lycaon 2

It is told that Zeus, desirous of putting the impiety of King Lycaon 2 of Arcadia and his sons to the test, came to them in the likeness of a day-labourer. Having slaughtered a male child, they mixed his bowels with the sacrifices, and set them before him. Zeus in disgust killed him and his sons. Because of their impiety, it is said, there occurred The Flood in the age of Deucalion 1. Zeus transformed Lycaon 2 into a wolf, or blasted him and his sons with a thunderbolt.

The Flood of Deucalion 1

When Zeus then decided to destroy the men of the Bronze Age, he poured heavy rain and flooded the world so that all men were destroyed, except a few [see The Flood].

Amour impossible

Zeus also loved the nereid Thetis, but Themis prophesied that her son would be mightier than his father, and he withdrew. Zeus then bade his grandson Peleus to marry her, and in time Achilles was born, who was indeed mightier than his father.

Ate thrown away

Ate, who is Delusion and Ruinous Conduct, was held responsible by Zeus for the blindness with which he took a solemn oath, and in his rage he seized her by her hair, and whirling her round his head cast her down to the world, swearing that she should never set foot in Olympus again. [This oath refers to the birth of Heracles 1; see Alcmena below. For Ate see ABSTRACTIONS.]

Hephaestus expelled

Zeus cast Hephaestus out of heaven, because he came to the rescue of Hera once she had a fight with her husband. Hephaestus fell on Lemnos, and for that reason he is lamed of his legs.

Ganymedes in exchange for beautiful horses

For the sake of Ganymedes' beauty, Zeus caught him up on an eagle, and ever since he is the cupbearer of the gods in heaven. In compensation for the rape of Ganymedes, Zeus gave some fine mares to King Laomedon 1 of Troy.

Sun sets in the East by the will of Zeus

At the time when the brothers Atreus and Thyestes 1 disputed about the kingdom of Mycenae, Zeus sent Hermes to Atreus to make him stipulate with Thyestes 1 that Atreus should be king if the sun should go backwards; and when Thyestes 1, believing it impossible, agreed, the sun set in the east. Thus Atreus got the kingdom.

Another miracle performed by Zeus

Callirrhoe 2 requested of Zeus that the sons she had by Alcmaeon 1 might be full-grown in order to avenge their father's murder, and they suddenly became grown-up [see also Robe & Necklace of Harmonia 1].

Zeus takes part in the birth of Orion

Hyrieus was childless and asked the gods Zeus, Hermes, and Poseidon, who came to visit him, for children, and they urinated in the hide of the sacrificed bull, buried it in the earth and from it Orion was born.

CYPRIAN CENTAURS

Some say that this horned generation of CENTAURS came to be because Zeus chased Aphrodite but could not catch her. In the pursuit the god dropped his seed on the ground, and these CYPRIAN CENTAURS grew out of the earth. [See also the regular CENTAURS]

Immortality in exchange for maidenhood

Juturna became a goddess of lakes and rivers in return for the maidenhood Zeus ravished. But the naiad Lara, also called Tacita, who could not hold her tongue, reported to Hera that Zeus loved Juturna. For this, Zeus wrenched from her the indiscreet tongue, and told Hermes to take her to Hades as she was to become an infernal nymph.

Because of an opinion one kind of vision turns into another

Tiresias was blinded by Hera for saying that women enjoy the pleasures of love ten times more than men, but was given by Zeus the art of soothsaying which he kept even in the Underworld.

Ixion deluded

Ixion was in love with Hera and attempted to rape her, but Zeus then made the Cloud Resembling Hera (Nephele 1) to delude him [see CENTAURS]. For this attempt Ixion is punished in the Underworld [see also Immortals].

Love and sleep may distract the gods

When once Hera, for the sake of helping the Achaeans in the Trojan War, wished to keep Zeus away from the battles, she received Aphrodite's magic belt from this goddess, and with its help and her own charms she was able to distract her husband. Later on, with the help of Hypnos (Sleep), whom she bribed, Zeus was conveniently put to sleep. Hypnos dared this deed in spite of his fears. For some time ago he had performed, also at Hera's request, a similar task; and Zeus, who then woke up in anger and sought him everywhere, would have hurled him from heaven into the deep, had not her mother Nyx (Night) saved him.

Attacks against the rule of Zeus

The ALOADS

The rule of Zeus was not beyond threat:

Ephialtes 2 and Otus 1, two giants called the ALOADS tried to unseat Zeus from his throne. The ALOADS grew every year a cubit in breadth and a fathom in height; and when they were nine years old, being nine cubits broad and nine fathoms high, they resolved to fight against the gods. They then set Ossa on Olympus, and having set Pelion on Ossa they threatened by means of these mountains to ascend up to heaven. They also declared that by filling up the sea with the mountains they would make it dry land, and the land they would make sea.

Ephialtes 2 wooed Hera, and Otus 1 wooed Artemis; and they put Ares in bonds. But when they wished to assault Artemis and she could not resist their strength, Apollo sent a deer between them. So driven mad by anger in trying to kill it with javelins, they killed each other. But others assert that Artemis caused their death; that she changed herself into a deer and leaped between them, and in their eagerness to hit the quarry they threw their darts at each other.

In the Underworld they are punished thus: they are bound by serpents to a column, back to back. Between them is a screech-owl, sitting on the column to which they are bound.

The Revolt of the GIANTS

Also the serpent-footed GIANTS, who had a thousand hands and were matchless in size and invincible in their might, tried to dethrone Zeus. This happened because Gaia was vexed after the OLYMPIANS had defeated the TITANS. She then gave birth to GIANTS so that they would attack heaven. As an oracle had said that none of the GIANTS could perish at the hands of the gods, but that with the help of a mortal they could be killed, the gods summoned Heracles 1 to their aid, and the GIANTS were destroyed [see also Gigantomachy].

Typhon

But then winged Typhon attacked heaven spouting fire from his mouth.

This hybrid monster, whose eyes flashed with fire, had human shape but from the thighs downward he had huge coils of vipers, which when drawn out, reached to his very head and emitted a loud hissing. This came to be because when the OLYMPIANS had overcome the GIANTS, Gaia, still more enraged, had intercourse with Tartarus and gave birth to Typhon, who surpassed all her offspring in both size and strength. Typhon's size was such that he out-topped all the mountains and brushed the stars with his head, his hands reaching out, one to the west and the other to the east, and from them projected a hundred dragons' heads.

Typhon, hurling kindled rocks, attacked heaven with hissings and shouts, spouting a great jet of fire from his mouth. So when the gods saw him rushing at heaven, they made for Egypt in flight. Being pursued they changed their forms into those of animals. However, Zeus pelted Typhon at a distance with thunderbolts, and at close quarters struck him down with an adamantine sickle, and as he fled pursued him closely as far as Mount Casius, which overhangs Syria. But Typhon wrested the sickle from him, severed the sinews of his hands and feet, and lifting him on his shoulders carried him through the sea to Cilicia, and deposited him on arrival in the Corycian cave. Likewise, he put away the sinews there also, hidden in a bearskin, and he set to guard them the she-dragon Delphyne, who was a half-bestial maiden. It was then that Hermes and Aegipan 1 stole the sinews and fitted them unobserved to Zeus. Having recovered his strength, Zeus pelted Typhon with thunderbolts and pursued him to the mountain called Nysa, where the MOERAE beguiled the fugitive. They made him taste of the ephemeral fruits in the persuasion that he would be strengthened thereby. So being again pursued when he started to flee through the Sicilian sea, Zeus cast Mount Etna in Sicily upon him. That is a huge mountain, from which down to this day they say that blasts of fire issue from the thunderbolts that were thrown.

Conspiracy in Olympus

A minor conspiracy once took place in Olympus when Hera, Poseidon, and Athena plotted against Zeus and planned to throw him into chains. It was the nereid Thetis, Achilles' mother, who then saved Zeus by calling to Olympus the Hecatoncheire Briareus, who squatted by Zeus and displaying his force frightened the other gods away.

Aegina, daughter of the river god Asopus, was carried off by Zeus, who had taken the shape of an eagle, to the island then named Oenone but now called Aegina after her. Asopus came to Corinth looking for his daughter and learned from Sisyphus that the ravisher was Zeus. Asopus pursued him, but Zeus, by hurling thunderbolts, sent him away to his own streams. And Sisyphus is ever since being punished in the Underworld for having disclosed Zeus' secret concerning the abduction of Aegina.

Aegina gave birth to Aeacus, who became king of the island of Aegina. But as there were no men, Zeus transformed ANTS into men to populate the island. Aeacus joined Dionysus 2 in his war against India, and as the pious man he was, he delivered Hellas from the dearth through prayers [see also: Psamathe 1 at NEREIDS]. Aeacus keeps, since his death, the keys of Underworld.

Boetis was a she-goat.

Hyg.Fab.155.

Protogenia 1 is a daughter of Deucalion 1.

Aethlius became the first ruler of Elis.

Apd.1.7.2, 1.7.5; Hes.CWE.8; Hyg.Fab.155; Pau.5.1.3, 5.8.2.

Calyce 1 is a daughter of Aeolus 1.

Hyg.Fab.155.

Agdistis was a demon with two sexual organs, male and female. The gods cut off the male organ and an almond tree grew up from it, the fruit of which was taken by Sangarius' Daughter who became pregnant. Agdistis is born from Zeus' Seed.

Pau.7.17.10.

Antiope 1 was loved by Zeus and gave birth to twins: Amphion 1 and Zethus, who became rulers in Thebes. Zeus took the shape of a Satyr to approach her.

Apd.1.9.10, 3.5.5-6; Eur.Her.29; Hes.CWE.96; Hom.Il.24.602.ff.; Hom.Od.11.283; Hyg.Fab.11; Ov.Met.6.271; Pau.2.21.9, 9.5.8, 9.36.10; Stat.Theb.1.10, 2.455; Strab.8.4.4.

Apd.3.5.5-6; Eur.Her.29; Hom.Od.19.518ff.; Pau.9.5.9.

Because Zeus made love to Leto, she was hunted over the whole earth by Hera, until she came to Delos where she gave birth to Apollo and Artemis.

Zeus seduced Callisto taking the shape of Artemis. Zeus, who did not wished to be detected by Hera transformed her into a bear, but Hera told Artemis to shoot the wild beast. However some say that Artemis shot the bear because Callisto had not kept her promise concerning her maidenhood, and that it was Hera who turned her into a bear. When Callisto died Zeus took the baby Arcas 1 and gave him to Maia for upbringing. Callisto he transformed into the constellation of the Great Bear [Ursa Major]. The district of Arcadia was named after Arcas 1.

Apd.3.8.2, 3.9.1; Hyg.Ast.2.4; Hyg.Fab.224; Nonn.13.296; Pau.5.1.4, 8.4.1-2, 8.9.9, 8.24.1, 10.9.5.

Arcisius is Odysseus' grandfather.

Apd.1.9.16; Hom.Od.16.118; Hyg.Fab.189; Ov.Met.13.143.

For Ilithyia see Other Deities and main text above.

Niobe 1 was the first mortal woman with whom Zeus consorted. She is a daughter of Phoroneus, who is said to be the first man. Argus 5 became king and called the Peloponnesus after himself Argos.

Apd.2.1.1-3; Pau.2.16.1, 2.26.2, 2.25.8.

The inhabitants of the Peloponnesus were called Pelasgians after Pelasgus 1. Otherwise he is remembered as the king of Argos to whom the DANAIDS came.

Aes.Supp.250 and passim; Apd.2.1.1, 3.8.1; DH.1.11.2; Pau.8.22.1.

Eurynome 3, counted among the OCEANIDS, is said to have ruled Olympus together with Ophion 1 until Cronos and Rhea 1 replaced them. Asopus is one of the RIVER GODS.

For Astraea see ABSTRACTIONS.

For Ate see ABSTRACTIONS.

Atymnius 1 is known because the children of Europa fell in love with him.

Apd.3.1.2.

Britomartis (Aphaea, Dictynna, Laphria), fled from King Minos 2 of Crete, leapt into the sea from the top of a cliff and fell into the nets of fishermen, which saved her. She was made a goddess by Artemis.

"Opportunity", called "the youngest child of Zeus".

Pau.5.14.9; Call.6.

Nonn.32.70.

Zeus seduced Io while she held the priesthood of Hera, but being detected by Hera he turned Io into a white cow by a touch and swore that he had not known her (consequently it has been remarked that a lover's oaths do not draw down the anger of the gods).

Epaphus 1 was King of Egypt and founder of the city of Memphis. From him sprang the Libyans and the Ethiopians.

Aes.Supp.48; Apd.2.1.3-4, 2.5.11; Eur.Phoe.676, Hes.CW.40a; Hyg.Fab.149; Nonn.3.284, Strab.10.1.3.

Clarus was a companion of Aeneas in Italy.

Vir.Aen.10.125.

Hora 2's body was half-human and half-snake. Colaxes was a chieftain in the army of Perses 3 during the civil war in Colchis between Perses 3 and Aeetes. He was killed by Jason, Captain of the ARGONAUTS.

Val.6.48ff., 6.651ff.

Corinthus was King of Corinth. After him the Corinthian land is named. As he died childless the Corinthians sent for Medea.

Apd.3.16.2; Pau.2.1.1, 2.3.10.

Calliope is the eldest of the MUSES.

Crinacus is father of Macar 1, King of Lesbos.

Dio.5.81.4.

Dio.5.55.6.

Dio.5.55.6.

Electra 3 is the one of the PLEIADES who does not appear because of the death of Dardanus 1 and the loss of Troy. Dardanus 1 grieved at his brother Iasion's death, left Samothrace and came to the country where the Teucrians dwelt, and called it Dardania.

Apd.3.12.1-2; Col.286; DH.1.50.3, 1.61.2; Dio.4.75.1, 5.48.2; Hyg.Fab.155; Hyg.Ast.2.21; Nonn.3.195; Ov.Fast.4.31, 4.33; QS.2.141, 13.558; Vir.Aen.8.134.

Emathion 4 became King of Samothrace after his brother Dardanus 1.

Nonn.3.186, 13.395.

See Robe & Necklace of Harmonia 1.

Apd.3.4.2, 3.5.4; Dio.5.48.2; Eur.Bacc.1357; Hes.The.975; Nonn.3.375ff., 4.61, 5.101.

For Iasion see Demeter.

Apd.3.12.1; DH.1.61.2-4; Dio.5.48.2; Hes.The.970; Hom.Od.5.125; Hyg.Ast.2.4, 2.22; Hyg.Fab.250, 270; Nonn.48.678; Strab.Fra.7.49.

Zeus fell in love with Semele and consorted with her, but Semele died, some say, because of the jealousy of Hera. However, after Semele's death Zeus carried the unborn child, Dionysus 2, in his thigh.

Polydeuces and Castor 1 are the DIOSCURI. Zeus in the form of a swan consorted with Leda, and on the same night Tyndareus lay with her. Polydeuces and Helen, children of Zeus, were born from an egg laid by Leda and Castor 1 and Clytaemnestra were children of Tyndareus. But some say that Helen was a daughter of Nemesis and Zeus and that a shepherd found the egg and brought it to Leda and when Helen was hatched in due time, Leda suckled and nursed her and brought her up.

See also Olympia, Elis, Aeolus 1, and Selene.

Apd.1.7.5-7; Hes.GE.11; Nonn.7.239, 48.581; Pau.5.1.4.

Pandora 2 is daughter of Deucalion 1 & Pyrrha 1. After Graecus were called Greeks those who followed Hellenic customs.

Hes.CWE.2.

After Latinus 3 the Latins were called.

Hes.CWE.2.

See Leda above in this list.

Hellen 1 named Hellenes those who were called Greeks. He is father of Aeolus 1, Dorus 1 and Xuthus 1.

Apd.1.7.2-3; Dio.4.60.2; Hes.CWE.4; Hyg.Fab.155; Strab.8.7.1, 9.5.6.

Alcmena was the last mortal woman with whom Zeus lay. Zeus took the form of Amphitryon (her husband) to deceive her. When Heracles 1, Zeus' child by her, was about to be born, Zeus declared among the gods that the descendant of Perseus 1 then about to be born would reign over Mycenae, and Hera, out of jealousy, persuaded Ilithyia to retard Alcmena's delivery, and contrived that Eurystheus should be born a seven-month child, and thus he became king of Mycenae.

Heracles 4 was born very much earlier than Heracles 1. Because both bore the same name the deeds of Heracles 4 were transferred to Heracles 1.

Cic.ND.3.42; Dio.5.76.2.

Asteria 1 tried in vain to escape the amorous advances of Zeus and was turned into a quail by him. Heracles 6, chiefly worshipped at Tyre, is father of the Tyrian Nymph Carthago.

Cic.ND.3.42.

Maia is one of the PLEIADES.

For Iarbas see Aeneas and NYMPHS.

Ov.Fast.3.552; Vir.Aen.4.36, 4.198.

Taygete is one of the PLEIADES. She is known for having consecrated to Artemis the Cerynitian Hind with the golden horns that Heracles 1 had to fetch. The country Lacedaemon is called after Lacedaemon. He succeeded Eurotas in the throne of Laconia and Sparta.

Apd.3.10.3; Hyg.Ast.2.21; Pau.3.1.1.

Father of the NYMPHS LAMUSIDES who were to take care of the child Dionysus 2, but were maddened by Hera.

Nonn.9.28ff.

See ABSTRACTIONS.

Thyia 2 is a daughter of Deucalion 1 & Pyrrha 1. The district of Macedonia takes its name from Macedon.

Hes.CWE.3.

Magnes 1 was father, among other children, of Polydectes 1, who colonized Seriphus and there became King, fell in love with Danae and sent Perseus 1 to bring the head of Medusa 1.

Apd.1.3.3, 1.7.3, 1.9.6; Hes.CWE.3; Pau.6.21.11.

Manes was the first king of Lydia.

DH.1.27.1-2; Hdt.1.94, 4.45.

Megarus is known for having escaped the Flood in the age of Deucalion 1.

Pau.1.40.1.

For Othris and Meliteus see NYMPHS.

Lib.Met.13.

Zeus fell in love with a Phoenician princess called Europa and having taken the form of a bull, Zeus carried her off and took her across the sea to the island of Crete. She bore sons who became famous both in this world and in the next, for Minos 2 became king of Crete and, since his death, delivers judgement to the dead in Hades, while Rhadamanthys acts as a judge in Hades, along with his brother and Aeacus [see also Crete, Minotaur and Robe & Necklace of Harmonia 1].

See also Underworld.

Apd.2.4.11, 3.1.1-2; Pin.Oly.2.70; Hes.CW.19a; Hom.Od.4.564; Hyg.Fab.155; Lib.Met.33; Pau.7.3.6, 8.53.4-5.

Zeus also changed his form when he consorted with Mnemosyne, assuming that of a shepherd. Mnemosyne (Memory), mother of the MUSES, discovered the uses of the power of reason and gave a designation to every object.

Zeus approached Eurymedusa 2, daughter of Cletor, after having assumed the form of an ant. Their son is the eponym of the Myrmidons, the people living in Thessaly who later followed Achilles to the Trojan War.

Clem.EG.2.34p.

This is a Cloud Resembling Hera fashioned by Zeus to delude Ixion [see also CENTAURS].

Apd.Ep.1.20; Dio.4.12.6, 4.69.5, 4.70.1; Ov.Met.9.123, 12.210, 12.504; Pin.Pyth.2.21ff.

It is said of Pandia that she was exceedingly lovely among the deathless gods.

Hom.Sel.32.15.

For Styx see Underworld.

When Danae's father inquired the oracle, the god said that Danae would give birth to a son who would kill him. Fearing that, he built a brazen chamber under ground and there guarded Danae. But Zeus had intercourse with her in the shape of a stream of gold which poured through the roof into Danae's lap and, in time, Perseus 1, founder of Mycenae, was born.

Phasis 1 is one of the RIVER GODS.

Saon 2 (Samon) was a Samothracian, the first settler of the island, which was called after him and the name of Thrace.

Pau.9.40.2.

Sarpedon 1 became King of Lycia and Zeus granted him life for three generations. Nevertheless he was killed by Patroclus 1 during the Trojan War.

Apd.3.1.1-2; Apd.Ep.3.34ff., 4.6; Dio.5.79.3; Hes.CW.19a; Hom.Il.16.502; Hyg.Fab.112; QS.4.290; Try.25; Vir.Aen.9.697, 10.470.

Laodamia 1 is daughter of Bellerophon.

Sibyl is a surname, but this is the first woman who chanted the oracles at Delphi.

Pau.10.12.1.

Targitaus is considered to be the first of the Scythians.

Hdt.4.5-7.

A companion of Aeneas in Italy.

Vir.Aen.10.125.

Zeus seduced Elare but he hid her under the earth for fear of Hera's jealousy. Tityus, who was of a huge size, is known for having lifted the robe of Leto and attempted to rape her. Leto's children, Apollo and Artemis killed him. He is still being punished in Hades [see Immortals].

Apd.1.4.1; Cal.Ar.110; Hes.CWE.25; Hom.Od.7.324, 11.576; Hyg.Fab.14, 55; Nonn.4.331; Pin.Oly.4.46; Pin.Pyth.4.90; Prop.2.21.31; QS.3.392; Stat.Theb.1.710, 4.538.

One of the RIVER GODS.

For Zagreus see Dionysus 2. Zeus approached Persephone in the form of a spotted snake.

Dio.3.62.6-7, 3.64.1; Hyg.Fab.167; Nonn.5.565, 6.165, 6.169ff.