Greek value system

Greek value system

The birth of Zeus

According to ancient Greek mythology, Zeus was born in Crete to Rhea who was married to Cronos. They gave birth to; Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, and Zeus. Cronos learned that he was to be overcome by his own sons from earth and Heaven. Cronos did not want to let any of his children hold the kingly office, he, therefore, stood guard and swallowed all his children. Rhea full of grief over the death of her children decided to conceal the birth of Zeus and went to her parents to seek help and retribution against Cronos. She was sent her to Lyetus in Crete. Zeus upon birth was received by Earth to nourish and bring him up. She secretly took Zeus to Lyctus and hid him in the cavern under mount Aegeum .When Zeus came of age he overthrew Cronos and he spewed out the first stone he had swallowed. Zeus set this stone in Phytho under the narrow valleys of Parnassus as a symbol and a wonder to mortal men. He freed the brothers of his father and was given thunderbolt and lightning for his kindness[1].

The creation of women

Zeus then made something evil for men in which they would be happy while they were embracing their devastation as punishment to Prometheus[2]. The woman was made so beautiful that men could not resist her. From her, came up the deadly race of women. He made them be an evil to mortal man to pay for the good things they had .Anybody who avoided and the distress that women lives miserable old age.

The children of Zeus

Zeus took Metis as his wife; she was wise among all creatures. Earth and heaven advised him to put Athena to his belly so that no one would rule over the eternal gods in his steadMetis. When she was about to give birth to a son, Zeus deceived Metis and put her in his own belly so that the goddess would plan for him. Zeus married Themis who bore; Horae (hours), Eunomia (order), Dike (justice), Eirene (peace), Moerae (fates), Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos. Zeus later married Eurynome , who three Charites (Graces), Aglaea, Euphrosyne, and Thaleia. Zeus came to Demeter and she bore Persephone who was carried off from her mother by Aidoneas but out of wisdom, Zeus allowed him. Zeus loved Mnemosyne and she brought forth nine gold-crowned Muses. Leto was in love with Zeus and bore Apollo and Artemis. Lastly, Zeus took Hera as his loving wife and they brought forth Hebe, Ares, and Eileithyia. Zeus himself gave rise to Tritogeneia who enjoyed wars and violence. Hera did not agree with Zeus for she was angry after they had quarreled. She brought forth Hephaestus who was highly skilled than all the children of Heaven[3].Metis conceived Pallas Athena. Metis gave birth to Pallas by way of his head and was hidden in Zeus. Athena excelled in strength and came up with a scary weapon of Athena and using it; Zeus gave birth to her adorned in arms of war.

Conclusion

Retribution is an important belief in the Greek value system. For instance; Rhea goes to her parent’s earth and heaven to seek retribution against Cronos for swallowing her children. Zeus overthrows his father and sets free his father’s brothers’ free.

Bibliography

“Internet History Sourcebooks”. 2018. Sourcebooks.Fordham.Edu. https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/ancient/hesiod-theogony-ex.asp.

Publishing, Bloomsbury. 2018. “OCR Classical Civilisation GCSE: Route 2”. Issuu. https://issuu.com/bloomsburyacademic/docs/gcse_route_2.

[1] “Internet History Sourcebooks”. 2018. Sourcebooks.Fordham.Edu. https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/ancient/hesiod-theogony-ex.asp.

[2] “PANDORA – The First Woman Of Greek Mythology”. 2018. Theoi.Com. http://www.theoi.com/Heroine/Pandora.html.

[3] “Greek Mythology | Greekmythology.Com”. 2018. Greekmythology.Com. https://www.greekmythology.com/.