Anyone familiar with Greek mythology knows how important of a figure Zeus is. He’s the king of the gods and the ruler of Mount Olympus. He ends the Succession Myth, effectively ending a cycle of immortal battling over the throne and securing his place as the eternal rule of the cosmos!
He’s one of the most famous figures in Greek mythology, for better or worse. But he wasn’t the only one to emerge from the line of succession before him. He had several siblings who would become important figures in their own right.
The Birth of the Olympians
To understand who the brothers and sisters of Zeus are, you have to know about the birth of the Olympians. This generation of gods did not become the principal deities of the Greek Pantheon by fate. The events surrounding their birth were a crucial part of the Succession Myth.
Zeus’ father, Cronus, swallowed his children at birth because he feared that they would take over his spot on the throne one day. Cronus swallowed each of Zeus’ brothers and sisters. But upon the birth of Zeus, his mother, Rhea, hid him on the island of Crete. Meanwhile, she gave Cronus a stone wrapped in a swaddling blanket.
The surviving Olympian grew to maturity before challenging his father and forcing him to disgorge his brothers and sisters. Interestingly enough, Zeus is both the youngest and oldest of his siblings. He was the last born from Hera but the first to survive.
After releasing the Olympians, Zeus raged war on the Titans. The ten-year battle resulted in Zeus taking the throne on Mount Olympus and banishing Titans to Tartarus.
There are a total of Twelve Olympians. However, only five of them are direct siblings to Zeus.
Hestia
The firstborn Olympian is Hestia. He’s the goddess of the hearth, the family, the home, and the state. Her status as the firstborn entitles her to the first offering in every household sacrifice to the Greek gods. Later, Zeus granted her the honor of presiding over all gifts.
Hestia did not have any children. In fact, she swore to remain a virgin goddess shortly after Apollo and Poseidon became her suitors. Many artists depicted her as a matronly figure despite not being a mother. She represented domestic life and was often shown tending to a hearth.
Her shrines and temples often included an eternal flame to represent her connection to fire. Letting the fire die was a severe breach of duty. The responsibility of Hestia’s cults usually fell onto the women of the household.
Hestia is a major goddess, but she’s not as active as her brothers and sisters. While her siblings got caught up in the business of mortals and heroes, Hestia devoted her time to maintaining hearths and homes.
Demeter
The next sibling of Zeus is Demeter. Demeter is the Olympian goddess of harvest and agriculture. She was responsible for grains and the overall fertility of the soil. The goddess also presided over sacred law and the cycle of life and death. The latter responsibility earned her the epithet of Thesmorphos, or “bringer of divine law.”
Demeter wasn’t just Zeus’ sister. She was also a former consort. Out of their brief relationship came Persephone.
Persephone was kidnapped by Hades and taken to the Underworld. The event caused Demeter to mourn so much that she neglected her duties. Fearing the end of humanity, Zeus struck a deal with Hades. Persephone would stay in the Underworld for one-third of the year as his bride. But for the second third of the year, she would spend time with Demeter. The final third of the year went to whomever Persephone chose.
Persephone decides to spend two-thirds of the year with Demeter. During that time, plants thrive, and the soil is fertile. But during the winter, when she’s in the Underworld, the soil is barren and lifeless. The mythology says that’s how the growing seasons came to be.
Hera
Hera is the final sister of Zeus. She is the Olympian goddess of women, marriage, childbirth, and family.
Like Demeter, Hera wasn’t just Zeus’ sister. She was also his wife. As Zeus’ wife, she ruled Mount Olympus as Queen. In most depictions, she’s portrayed as a royal-looking deity surrounded by the animals she sees as sacred. Typically, she was surrounded by cows, peacocks, and lions.
With Zeus, Hera had several children. Some of the most famous include Ares, Eileithyia, Hephaestus, and Hebe. They are the god of war, the goddess of childbirth, the god of blacksmithing, and the goddess of eternal youth, respectively. She also gave birth to the Charities.
In Greek mythology, Hera’s jealousy is a frequent topic for writers. The goddess was forever faithful to her husband. Unfortunately, Zeus couldn’t return the favor. His infidelity knew no bounds. With other consorts, he fathered many children.
Hera frequently sought revenge on Zeus’ consorts. One of the most famous instances was Leto, who would give birth to the Olympian twin gods Apollo and Artemis.
Hades
Zeus’ oldest brother is Hades, the god of the Underworld. He was the last of the Olympians to get regurgitated by Cronus, so he’s both Zeus’ older and younger brother.
After the end of the Titanomachy was, Zeus and his brothers had to decide who presided over what realm. Zeus received the sky, Poseidon got the ocean, and Hades got the Underworld. Hades took to the role quite well, spending most of his time governing the lost souls that fell to his realm.
He was a widely feared figure in ancient Greece. People didn’t even want to say his name. Hades reveled in the fear, but he was a relatively just god. Most of the stories involving Hades had other figures trying to bend the rules of the Underworld to their favor. Hades did not appreciate the attempts to cheat death or quests to return to the land of the living.
Hades spends most of his days in his Underworld palace with his wife, Persephone. As we mentioned earlier, he kidnapped Persephone. Because she ate the seeds of the Pomegranate, she was forever bound to him.
Poseidon
Poseidon is the final child of Cronus and Rhea. He is the Olympian god of the sea, storms, and earthquakes. He also presided over horses. The chief deity of Pylos and Thebes, Poseidon, is one of the most respected of the Olympian gods. However, he was also known for his destructive tendencies.
Seafarers felt his wrath the most. He often shook the earth with his Triden and created monstrous storms that would capsize ships instantly.
One unique story involves Poseidon and Athena. Athena became the patron god of Athens after beating Poseidon in a competition. The sea god created a surrogate. The god tried to offer a gift to Athens by creating a spring with his trident, but they chose Athena’s olive tree instead. So, he sent a devastating flood to punish the Athenians for not choosing him as their patron god.
Like Zeus, Poseidon had a reputation for having multiple consorts. He fathered many famous figures. Some examples include Triton, Theseus, Orion, Pegasus, and more.
Chiron
The five deities we’ve already covered are children of both Cronus and Rhea. They all became Olympian gods. While not an Olympian, there’s one half-sibling worth mentioning.
Chiron is the son of Cronus, making him a half-brother to Zeus. His mother was an Oceanid nymph named Philyra.
Chiron is not a god. He’s a wise centaur who challenged the reputation of the entire centaur race. Most other centaurs were violent and aggressive, but Chiron was incredibly wise. That may have been a product of his upbringing.
While Chiron was born to Cronus, he was raised by Apollo. Apollo taught him medicine, archery, music, and more. A natural teacher, Chiron tutored many famous figures in Greek mythology.
He taught Achilles, Jason, Asclepius, and even Heracles. Chiron died due to an accidental piercing by Hercales’ poisoned arrows. But, he didn’t want to be immortal. He exchanged his immortality for the life of Prometheus, who he believed did the right thing by giving humans fire. After his death, Chiron was placed in the stars as the constellation Centaurus.
FAQs
Who are the brothers and sisters of Zeus? ›
Zeus had two brothers, Poseidon and Hades, who exercised supreme power withintheir own realms, and three sisters, his wife and queen Hera, and Demeter and Hestia. These other children of Kronos and Rhea will form the subject of the present chapter, along with the mythology of the Underworld and afterlife.
What is the order of Zeus siblings? ›| Zeus | |
|---|---|
| Parents | Cronus and Rhea |
| Siblings | Hestia, Hades, Hera, Poseidon and Demeter; Chiron (half) |
| Consort | Hera, various others |
His oldest brother was Hades who ruled the Underworld. His other brother was Poseidon, god of the sea. He had three sisters including Hestia, Demeter, and Hera (who he married). Zeus had a number of children.
Does Zeus have a fourth brother? ›That was because soon after the Creation of the world, Cronos –who was its ruler- swallowed Zeus' three sisters and two brothers at birth: Demeter, Hera, Hestia, Hades, and Poseidon, because he had learned that one of them would overthrow him.
Who is the 12 goddess? ›Hestia. Hestia is the Greek goddess of the hearth and home. She was a virgin goddess and never married.
Who is Zeus first child? ›In most myths, Athena is the eldest child of Zeus. Athena's mother, Metis, was a powerful Titaness whom Zeus either seduced or raped, depending on the version of the story.
Who was Zeus favorite child? ›Zeus's Favourite Child Was Possibly Athena, Goddess of War
Perhaps partly because of the strange circumstances of her birth, Athena is often cited as Zeus's favourite child. He also greatly admired her strength of character and fighting spirit.
Zagreus, in Orphic myth, a divine child who was the son of Zeus (as a snake) and his daughter Persephone. Zeus intended to make Zagreus his heir and bestow on him unlimited power, but Hera out of jealousy urged the Titans to attack the child while she beguiled him with toys.
Who is Zeus youngest sister? ›| Metis | |
|---|---|
| Parents | Oceanus and Tethys |
| Siblings | Oceanids, Potamoi |
| Consort | Zeus |
| Offspring | Athena, Poros |
Zeus was spirited away to Mt. Dikte on the island of Crete where he was raised by the primeval goddess Gaia (Earth), or in some versions by the Nymphs. Amongst these was the Nymph Amaltheia (in some versions of the myth she was a goat) who suckled the young god.
Who raised Zeus as a baby? ›
But Rhea, his wife, saved the infant Zeus by substituting a stone wrapped in swaddling clothes for Cronus to swallow and hiding Zeus in a cave on Crete. There he was nursed by the nymph (or female goat) Amalthaea and guarded by the Curetes (young warriors), who clashed their weapons to disguise the baby's cries.
Why did Zeus marry his sister? ›Why is Zeus married to his sister? To hide her shame, Hera agreed to marry him. It was a violent marriage at best. Though Zeus had pursued his sister and sought to possess her by marriage, he never gave up his lusty ways.
Did Zeus and Hera have a child? ›Zeus and Hera play important roles in Greek mythology. Zeus is the Greek god of the skies, and Hera is the Greek goddess of marriage and birth. Hera is also known as Queen of the Gods because of her matriarchal role in Greek mythology. Together, Zeus and Hera had three children: Ares, Hebe, and Hephaestus.
Who is the demigod child of Zeus? ›Zeus has many children, Demigod and Godly. Some of his children are Apollo. Athena, Persephone, Ares, Hephaestus, Hermes, Henry, Hercules, Perceus and Hebe. Hebe and Hephaestus are the only children Zeus and Hera had, the rest are illegitimate.
Who is Zeus daughter? ›Athena, the daughter of Zeus, was produced without a mother and emerged full-grown from his forehead. An alternative story was that Zeus swallowed Metis, the goddess of counsel, while she was pregnant with Athena so that Athena finally emerged from Zeus.
Who is the 1st goddess? ›Ishtar Is the Earliest Deity in Written Evidence
Ishtar holds a special historical significance, as she is the earliest goddess in written evidence. Early Mesopotamians called her Inanna, as seen in the now extinct language of cuneiform writing, the primary form of communication in the Ancient Near East.
Athena is deemed the rightful heir of Zeus by many. She is depicted as the most powerful of supreme God Zeus' offspring and his favorite.
Who is the most powerful god? ›Indra also called Śakra, the supreme god, is the first of the 33, followed by Agni.
Who did Zeus love the most? ›Zeus finally became enamored of the goddess who was to become his permanent wife — Hera.
Who is Zeus's son in Thor? ›The Prince of Power has arrived! In the final post-credit scene of Thor: Love and Thunder, a humiliated Zeus (Russell Crowe) plots his revenge against Thor and the other superheroes who take the worship due to gods. He sends them a god in the form of a hero with his son, Hercules, played by Ted Lasso's Brett Goldstein.
Who is Zeus most powerful child? ›
Heracles – Son of Zeus and Alcmene
He possessed superhuman strength and courage. Because he was a reminder of Zeus's unfaithfulness, Hera made it her mission to make his life miserable. At one point, she drove him to madness and he killed his own children. To atone for his sins, he went through his famous “Labors”.
Hera. The most famous of Zeus' wives, Hera was also the sister of the father of the gods, and the goddess of women, marriage, family, and childbirth.
Who was Zeus first lover? ›Zeus and Metis
His first and favorite lover was Metis, a Titan goddess and mother of Athena.
Hades, Greek Aïdes (“the Unseen”), also called Pluto or Pluton (“the Wealthy One” or “the Giver of Wealth”), in ancient Greek religion, god of the underworld. Hades was a son of the Titans Cronus and Rhea, and brother of the deities Zeus, Poseidon, Demeter, Hera, and Hestia.
Who got Persephone pregnant? ›In the Orphic myths, the maiden goddess Persephone was seduced by Zeus in the guise of a serpent. She bore him a son, the godling Zagreus, who, when Zeus placed him upon the throne of heaven, was attacked and dismembered by the Titanes.
Did Hades ever cheat on Persephone? ›In Ovid's famous text Metamorphosis, Hades has an affair with a young Nymph named Minthe. Persephone, now in her later years, was so incensed with jealousy that she turned Minthe into a mint plant.
Did Persephone fell in love with Hades? ›Hades loved her, and according to some versions of the myth, she loved him back. In the end, with that sort of love so often taken for granted in Greek mythology, maybe Hades wasn't such a villain after all. His methods were heinous, and no one would blame Persephone for hating her circumstances.
Who was Zeus 1st wife? ›Metis, an Oceanid or sea-nymph, was Zeus's first wife. Wise and prudent, she was endowed with the gift of prophecy. In their early years together, she was Zeus's closest ally and aide, helping him win the battle against Cronus.
Is Aphrodite older than Zeus? ›Aphrodite was no directly connected to Zeus. She was probably a generation older than the other Olympian Gods. The myth says that she was born out of the foam of the sea either near Paphos Cyrpus or near Kythira island.
Who did Zeus have 9 daughters with? ›Mnemosyne spent nine nights with Zeus, and on each of these nights, he fathered a child. The nine children were born in the same birth and were known as the nine muses, the goddesses of artistic inspiration. The nine daughters of Mnemosyne and Zeus were: Calliope, muse of epic poetry.
How did Zeus get pregnant? ›
Flying over the scene in the guise of an eagle, Zeus fell in love with Semele and repeatedly visited her secretly. Zeus' wife, Hera, a goddess jealous of usurpers, discovered his affair with Semele when she later became pregnant.
Who is Zeus favorite child and why? ›Athena is the ancient Greek goddess of wisdom, craft, and strategic war. She is also the patron goddess of the city of Athens and the protector of all heroes. She is the daughter and first-born child of Zeus. Athena is also the favorite child of Zeus, being allowed to carry his Aegis, or armor, into battle.
Who was born out of Zeus? ›The other gods came to see what the problem was. Hermes realized what needed to be done and directed Hephaestus to take a wedge and split open Zeus's skull. Out of the skull sprang Athena, full grown and in a full set of armour.
Who is most powerful Greek god? ›Zeus is the strongest of the gods in the Ancient Greek religion because he has both power and intelligence. He is able to ensure that he is not replaced by another, more powerful deity. He is also able to ensure the allegiance of many other gods by giving them rights and privileges.
Who raised Zeus secretly? ›Zeus was secretly raised by the nymphs and fed honey and milk with the help of the broken horn of the mother goat Amaltheia. Soon the day came when Zeus was mature enough to usurp world domination and he began a battle against his father and the Titans. This battle is also known as the "Titanomachy".
Who is Zeus mother? ›Rhea gave birth to Zeus in a cavern on the island of Crete, and gave Cronus a stone wrapped in swaddling clothes, which he promptly swallowed; Rhea hid her infant son Zeus in a cave on Mount Ida.
Who is Zeus jealous wife? ›Hera was worshipped throughout the Greek world and played an important part in Greek literature, appearing most frequently as the jealous and rancorous wife of Zeus and pursuing with vindictive hatred the heroines who were beloved by him.
Which king married his own sister? ›Akhenaten first married Nefertiti, who was renowned for her great beauty, but had no sons so he then married his sister in an effort to have a son. Hawass said it would take several months to reveal more details about the identity of the Tutankhamun's mother.
Did Hades marry his niece? ›Hades became the ruler of the Underworld. Hades was married to his niece, Persephone, whom he abducted [See Demeter].
Who is Zeus's favorite child? ›Zeus's Favourite Child Was Possibly Athena, Goddess of War
Perhaps partly because of the strange circumstances of her birth, Athena is often cited as Zeus's favourite child. He also greatly admired her strength of character and fighting spirit.
Which Greek gods are brother and sister? ›
Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Hestia, and Hades are all brothers and sisters. All the other gods are Zeus's children and have different mothers.
Who did Zeus get pregnant? ›Impregnation by Zeus
Nonnus classifies Zeus's affair with Semele as one in a set of twelve, the other eleven women on whom he begot children being Io, Europa, Plouto, Danaë, Aigina, Antiope, Leda, Dia, Alcmene, Laodameia, the mother of Sarpedon, and Olympias.
Athena: Goddess of War (And the Most Famous Daughter of Zeus) Athena, Greek goddess of wisdom and war, is arguably Zeus's most famous daughter. She was born in extraordinary circumstances. Zeus swallowed his pregnant wife Metis, after being told that her child would try to overthrow him.
Who is Zeus's most powerful son? ›1. Apollo: Zeus' Best-Known Son. Of all the sons Zeus fathered, Apollo is perhaps the best known. Apollo was conceived during an illicit affair between Zeus and Leto (Zeus was married to Hera at the time), along with a twin sister named Artemis.
How many of his kids did Zeus eat? ›Zeus' Struggle for Power
To pre-empt any takeover he, therefore, swallowed all of his children: Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, and Poseidon. However, Rhea saved her youngest child Zeus by wrapping a stone in swaddling clothes and giving this to Cronus to swallow.
Pleiades, in Greek mythology, the seven daughters of the Titan Atlas and the Oceanid Pleione: Maia, Electra, Taygete, Celaeno, Alcyone, Sterope, and Merope. They all had children by gods (except Merope, who married Sisyphus).
Who is Zeus sister? ›Hḗrā; Ἥρη, Hḗrē in Ionic and Homeric Greek) is the goddess of marriage, women and family, and the protector of women during childbirth. In Greek mythology, she is queen of the twelve Olympians and Mount Olympus, sister and wife of Zeus, and daughter of the Titans Cronus and Rhea.
Who is Zeus half brother? ›While not an Olympian, there's one half-sibling worth mentioning. Chiron is the son of Cronus, making him a half-brother to Zeus. His mother was an Oceanid nymph named Philyra.