#myths with zeus

[katerinaaqu]

Okay what's the meaning behind the Ganymede and Zeus myth? Like what's the symbolism of it?

In my opinion for starters it symbolizes the divine meaning of beauty. Ganymedes was known for being incredibly beautiful and caught Zeus's eyes because he was beautiful. The word for "beautiful" in greek at that time was "καλός" (kalόs) giving also the word used for older greek κάλλος (k'allos) which means "beauty". That very same word nowadays in Greek means "good" so literally became a virtue rather than a description of a person so the evolution of our language kinda is a wink at how important beauty and health was in antiquity.

Beauty and health of the body was very important in ancient Greece and were considered divine properties. In fact the ideal man in antiquity, according also to writings like Xenophon was called "Καλός καγαθός" (Beautiful and Virtuous at heart). The aspet of beauty and youth also play their part here speaking on how important youth and strength was for the ancient greeks

Symbolically Ganymedes was chosen and taken by Zeus (aka elevated to divinity) because he had the divine property of beauty and in one way the virtue as well. He was also young and youth and beauty go side by side as well as virtue is by n large linked to the age of youth where people do heroic or honorable acts. (similarly to the legend of the story of Cleobis and Biton, the two brothers that harnesed themselves to their mother's cart, Cydippe the priestess of Hera, and dragged her cart for miles and miles till she got to the temple to offer sacrifices for a elebration. Cydippe watched her sons almost become equivalent to gods in the eyes of her people that day and so she prayed to Hera to let them have a gift suitable for them now that they are at the top of their glory so no evil shall ever overshadow their glory. Hera heard her prayers and her sons went to sleep that day and never woke up. They died in their sleep peacefully in the most glorious moment of their lives and nothing ever overshadowed their name again)

Ganymedes when he is at the peak of his beauty is taken by Zeus and offered immortality; his beauty was immortalized when it was to its peaque. Also the way that he was immortalized was a sign of glory. Glory as I mentioned above is mostly linked in youth so Ganymedes receiving glory and honor as a young man, symbolizes how most of the time people achieve great things in their youth. Literally, for me at least, the myth of Ganymedes is the very representation of the ideal for Greeks Καλός καγαθός. Καλός Ganymedes already was aka "beautiful" so now he also became αγαθός aka "glorious" or "virtuous" and was loved by the gods for it aka by Zeus, the king of gods himself.

On a sadder note I could take another step and speak on how usually deification of humans happens by n large after their death so Ganymedes being lifted to heavens could also be a symbol of how often young men die young but take this with a grain of salt

I hope you got some answers for your question here ^_^

[bambiilooza]

a page of some gods that were requested. this was fun :D

close ups :D

shout out juice, herpes and aioli. you guys were really fun to draw

[gingermintpepper]

I think, perhaps one of the funniest things to come from EPIC popularising the Odyssey is that now a ton of people think Poseidon wanted to kill Odysseus.

In the Odyssey, Poseidon has no intention of killing Odysseus. In fact, part of the whole reason Zeus lets Poseidon do whatever he wants even though he thinks Odysseus is rad and should get to kiss his wife is explicitly because Poseidon had no intentions of killing Odysseus. Poseidon wanted to pay back the suffering/inconvenience blinding Polyphemus would have caused. It's a really abstract thing tbh. How do you pay back someone permanently disabling your son? Poseidon's solution was just to amputate Odysseus from his other half; i.e. Penelope. The end game was never murder, it was always an endurance race.

(Od. Book 1: Zeus reassuring Athena that he is not, in fact, a part of Odysseus Hater-Nation. Trans. Robert Fagles)

Also, for those wondering if there's any sort of in text reason for why Poseidon wasn't around in God Games - at the time in the Odyssey when Athena petitions Zeus to let Odysseus leave Calypso's island, Poseidon was -checks notes- on vacation in Ethiopia. Yep. He left to Ethiopia for a festival and thusly was very much absent for Athena's whole "please let Ody go? Please? 🥺" request.

(Od. Book 1: While Odysseus was suffering, Poseidon went to party in the east)

I am begging y'all to read the Odyssey. It's a comedy for everyone except Odysseus and Penelope who are, in fact, suffering 24/7 365.

[justvea18]

Iris (delivering Hera's divorce papers) meeting Hermes (delivering Zeus' apology letter)

[sloanslone]

Posting these two now because I'm busy with school.... 😭

Poseidon and Zeus rkgk

Designs belong to @nealillustrator 🩵🤍

[l-bubee-l]

Cloudy with a chance of bitch.

—

[msbunnat]

Zeus want a hug from his favorite babies u.u

[ithacanfountain]

this is what actually happened in god games btw

[apolloprophecy]

6 hours… But the big three are done! <3

Next is Apollo, Ares, Dionysus, and Hermes.

[elianzis]

Thunder bringer!

[dream--interrupted]

tfw your boyfriend is dramatic af

[nobodyofithaca]

I'm not immune to Odysseus raising Astyanax/Scamandrius

A mix of me joking to my partner about "what ifs" regarding this alternative and tumblr telepathically knowing to send posts my way regarding the same subject matter lead to this being made.

Athena's goodbye coming sooner than anticipated as well lmao.

The reason why I chose Zeus is because I imagined it takes place during "The Horse and The Infant", with Zeus listing all the reasons Odysseus should NOT take the baby,as Odysseus straps the lil one to himself,nonchalantly.

"He will burn down your house and throne"

"Oh just that? Aight bet,what's a little arson from a little rascal-".

[thequietesthing]

i’m sorry but KAOS is like a greek mythology fanfiction AU on steroids and i love her for it.

[sarnai4]

Zeus (smiling): I brought gifts!

Athena: What?

Zeus: Remember when you said you liked owls? (Hands her an owl hatchling)

Athena (immediately loves her): She's amazing! Thanks!

Zeus: Apollo, I'm pretty sure you said something about swans.

Apollo (gasping as he's given a little swan): So pretty! I love him!

Zeus: Now, Artemis, you like deer, right?

Artemis (excitedly): Yes! (Hugs the little fawn)

Zeus: Onto Hermes. There was a little reptile which reminded me of what you'd said before.

Hermes (grins as he's given a tortoise): Sweet!

Zeus: Hephaestus, you mentioned donkeys a while back.

Hephaestus (jaw dropping at the sight): You noticed that?

Zeus: And Dionysus, I remember you saying that you wanted a goat.

Dionysus (beaming): Aw! She's the cutest!

Zeus (hands on his hips): Well, I think I've done good parenting for one day.

Ares:...

Zeus (leaves)

Ares: :(

Athena (hands him a puppy): I remembered.

Ares (happily cuddles the pup): Thanks!

[angelltheninth]

The Greek Gods Try To Win Your Heart

Pairing: Apollo, Aphrodite, Ares, Hades, Hermes, Poseidon, Zeus x Reader

Tags: fluff, slight power dynamics, flirting, kissing, gift giving, protectiveness, letters, human!Reader

A/N: Seeing as I'm still in Greece as of writing this and EPIC the Musical made fall in love with the Gods I'm writing this.

Apollo serenades you at the start of every sunset. For him it's important that his belobed starts the day right and he more than happy to help. Somehow he never runs out of sappy verse to whisper in your ear as he leaves, giving you words to replay in your sleep.

Aphrodite visits you every free moment she has. She is affectionate in every way possible. In her words, whispering sweet nothings in your ear, in her touch with which she is able to make your whole body tingle and want more, in her actions with which she displays affection for you in grand guestures because you're her beloved human and all other Gods should know it.

Ares doesn't know much about gentle touch but he is willing to let you teach him. Eager to tell you of his many victories but also provide you with lessons so that no one can put you in danger, not that anyone would dare with him watching. Protectiveness is also part of his nature to the point of being perfectly willing to be cruel in order to protect you from others.

Hades showers you with many gifts over the time he spends trying to win your heart. Makes sure you're always thinking of him while you're apart and he wants have something of yours too, each of you would have one piece of each other with you. Sends his kisses from afar until you're in his home and he can kiss you for real.

Hermes runs everywhere all the time but he always makes time for you, it doesn't matter what message he needs to deliver. There's always something intersting for him to tell you when he comes back from his travels but he also likes using the excuse of sending a message to see you. Not unnusual for you to see a love letter randomly appear in your room, right next to your bed.

Poseidon takes you to many islands for a vecation with him, a romantic getaway if you will for you two to get to know each other better. He loves to go on a midnight swim with you under the stars and give you lots of gifts from the sea, things to decorate yourself and your home with.

Zeus brags a lot about himself when he's with you, he's a big showoff but he also wants to lift you up. If you want to be his lover you have to be worthy of him, the King of the Gods. He is very loving when you start returning his feelings, he wants to be a good lover, which also means he can hardly keep his hands to himself when you're alone.

Dividers by: @saradika-graphics

[tattypoo]

Did anyone order a tragic Athena backstory that ties in thematically with the rest of the show?

(in mythology, he swallows Metis before Athena was even born, but in my au she was about 7 when it happened)

Bonus Metis: