Ancient Greek and Roman Myths Notes

Zeus was the greatest god of the Greek pantheon. In many latest versions of the myths the principle god of Roman mythology Jupiter was associated with Zeus.
Zeus belonged to the first generation of Olympians. His father, Titan Cronus, ate all his children, because of the prediction that one of them would overthrow him. Rhea, Cronus’ wife, though could not have saved her first five children, managed to hide Zeus and instead of him gave Cronus a stone to swallow. She kept Zeus in a hiding place, where Nymphs took care of him. His nurse was the Nymph (or goat) Amalthea, who suckled him.
Nicolas Poussin. The Infant Jupiter Nurtured by the Goat Amalthea.
When Zeus reached adulthood he fought his father, the latter vomited all the swallowed children, Zeus’ sisters and brothers: Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Poseidon, and Hades. Together they captured the power. Zeus became the King of the Olympians, and married his sister Hera, who gave birth to Ares and Hephaestus. Beside his wife, he had many mistresses, both mortal and immortal, by whom he had numerous children, some of them also became Olympians: Apollo and Artemis, Athena, Dionysus.
See: François Boucher. Jupiter and Callisto.
Caravaggio Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto.
Correggio Zeus and Io.
Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres. Jupiter and Thetis. Jupiter and Antiope.
Paolo Veronese. Jupiter Expelling the Vices.
Jean-Antoine Watteau. Jupiter and Antiope.