Titles of the Greek God Zeus

Branwen66
The Greek god Zeus-Father Zeus to the Greeks, Jupiter (< Zeus pater) to the Romans, and Dyaus-pitar (heavenly father) to the ancient Indians-was the most powerful and revered god of the Olympian pantheon. Zeus wore so many hats, one wonders how he managed to keep track of all his divine responsibilities. His worshipers had to come up with hundreds of epithets (titles) to express the vast array of the god's skills, roles, and functions.

Here is a taste:

Apomuios (< Greek apo- ,away from, and muia, fly): Zeus Apomuios was the averter of flies. The ancient Greeks invoked the "fly-dispersing" Zeus to drive flies away, especially during a sacrifice. (Cf. Muiagros)

Astrapaios (< Greek astrape, lightning): Zeus Astrapaios was the weather god who wielded lightning. (Cf. Keraunios)

Herkeios (< Greek herkos, courtyard): Zeus Herkeios was the household god who protected the family and the sanctity of family ties. His statue and altar stood inside the house courtyard. (Cf. Ktesios)

Hikesios (< Greek hiketes, supplicant): Zeus Hikesios was the protector of supplicants, especially those seeking sanctuary.

Horkios (< Greek horkos, oath): Zeus Horkios was the protector of oaths. He made sure oaths were honored, and punished perjurers.

Huetios (< Greek huein, it rains): Zeus Huetios was the rain- and storm-god, the bringer of (usually heavy) rain. (Cf. Ombrios)

Ikmaios (< Greek ikmas, moisture): Zeus Ikmaios was the weather god who brought the morning dew.

Keraunios (< Greek keraunos, thunderbolt): Zeus Keraunios was the weather god who wielded thunder and lightning. (Cf. Astrapaios)

Ktesios (< Greek ktasthai, to possess): Zeus Ktesios (literally: Zeus the acquirer) was the household god who protected property. (Cf. Herkeios)

Maimaktes (< Greek maimassein, to burst forth): Zeus Maimaktes was the god of blustery winds and boisterous storms. He was worshiped in early winter, during the festival of Maimakteria, held in the fifth Attic month, the month Maimakteriōn (roughly corresponding to the first half of November through early December).

Morios (< Greek meiresthai, to receive as one's portion): Zeus Morios was the guardian of the moriai elaiai (literally: partitive olive trees), which were the sacred olive trees dedicated to goddess Athena. These sacred trees were called moriai because they were believed to have been propagated (parted, so to speak) from the very first olive-stock that Athena created and subsequently donated to the city of Athens.

Muiagros (< Greek muia, fly, and agreuein, to hunt, to catch): Zeus Muiagros, the fly-catcher, was essentially synonymous with Zeus Apomuios (q.v.), the fly-averter: Essentially, he was a glorified fly-swatter, especially during important sacrifices that involved a lot of sacrificial meat.

Nephelegeretes (< Greek nephele, cloud, and ageirein, to gather): Zeus Nephelegeretes was the cloud-gatherer, i.e. the god of thunderstorms.

Ombrios (< Greek ombros, rain): Zeus Ombrios was the bringer of (usually lasting) rain. (Cf. Huetios)

Phuxios (< Greek phugas, fugitive, exile, refugee): Zeus Phuxios, the god of escape, was the helper and protector of fugitives.

Stratios (< Greek stratos, (encamped) army): Zeus Stratios was the leader and protector of armies. (Ares/Mars, the war god par excellence, shared this title with Zeus.)

Xenios (< Greek xenos, guest, stranger): Zeus Xenios, the protector of strangers, was the patron god of hospitality. He demanded that guests be treated with respect, and punished those who violated the code of hospitality.

Zugios (< Greek zugon or zugos, yoke): Zeus Zugios was the patron god of marriage. (Zeus' wife, Hera, shared this title as Hera Zugia.)

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_mythology

http://www.pantheon.org/areas/mythology/europe/greek/articles.html
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper

Published by Branwen66

In omnibus requiem quaesivi, et nusquam invenii nisi in angulo cum libro. (Thomas à Kempis)  View profile

35 Comments

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  • Linda M. McCloud3/20/2010

    Interesting. Thanks.

  • Amanda C. Strosahl11/5/2009

    I loved mythology in school but I am so glad we didn't get tested on this one!

  • carol gibson10/17/2009

    Came back for a reference. Thanks.

  • Marie Lowe9/27/2009

    There was a time when I tried to learn what I could about this stuff, didn't retain much of it tough.

  • megan omalley9/17/2009

    This is great! I teach mythology so I am always interested in Zeus!

  • Siew Cheng Hoe8/5/2009

    very interesting! he will have many credit cards of different names if he live in modern world.

  • Nita Mukherjee8/5/2009

    This is so interesting; I love mythology! Thanks for your kind comment on my article!

  • Jessica Rowe8/5/2009

    Great article, I do a lot of writing on Greek Mythology as well, mostly on other sites. this one was a good idea!! Cheers

  • Katie8/5/2009

    I remember doing a report on Greek gods and godesses in my English class. Great article!

  • Jill P. Viers8/4/2009

    Wow! This is really neat to learn about.

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