The numerous epithets of Zeus (titles which are applied to his name) indicate the diversity of the god's functions and roles. A number of these epithets, called epicleses, were used in cult, while others appear only in literature.
Olympic Pantheon
Roman marble colossal head of Zeus, 2nd century AD (British Museum)[1]
Zeus played a dominant role, presiding over the Greek Olympian pantheon. He fathered many of the heroes and was featured in many of their local cults. Though the Homeric "cloud collector" was the god of the sky and thunder like his Near-Eastern counterparts, he was also the supreme cultural artifact; in some senses, he was the embodiment of Greek religious beliefs and the archetypal Greek deity. Homer in Iliad calls him “the father of gods and men” (πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε)[2][3]
Popular conceptions of Zeus differed widely from place to place. Local varieties of Zeus often have little in common with each other except the name. They exercised different areas of authority and were worshiped in different ways; for example, some local cults conceived of Zeus as a chthonic earth-god rather than a god of the sky. These local divinities were gradually consolidated, via conquest and religious syncretism, with the Homeric conception of Zeus. Local or idiosyncratic versions of Zeus were given epithets — surnames or titles which distinguish different conceptions of the god.[4]
Epithets
These epithets or titles applied to Zeus emphasized different aspects of his wide-ranging authority:
Zeus Aegiduchos (Αἰγιδούχος) or Aegiochos (Αἰγίοχος): Usually taken as Zeus as the bearer of the Aegis, the divine shield with the head of Medusa across it,[5] although others derive it from "goat" (αἴξ) and okhē (οχή) in reference to Zeus's nurse, the divine goat Amalthea.[6][7]
Zeus Agoraeus (Ἀγοραῖος): Zeus as patron of the marketplace (agora) and punisher of dishonest traders.
Zeus Areius (Αρειος): either "warlike" or "the atoning one".
Zeus Eleutherios (Ἐλευθέριος): "Zeus the freedom giver" a cult worshiped in Athens[8]
Zeus Horkios (Ὅρκιος): Zeus as keeper of oaths. Pausanias writes that at Olympia, in the Council Chamber (Bouleuterion), there was a statue of Zeus Horkios (Oath) which was the most fearsome to wrongdoers, holding thunderbolts in both hands. Athletes, along with their families and trainers, swore oaths on slices of boar’s flesh to compete fairly and adhere to training rules. Officials who judged the races also swore to be honest and keep all information confidential. A bronze plate inscribed with warning verses stood before the statue, intended to intimidate anyone who might break their oath.[9]
Acraeus (Ακραίος): his name at Smyrna. Acraea and Acraeus are also attributes given to various goddesses and gods whose temples were situated upon hills, such as Zeus, Hera, Aphrodite, Pallas, Artemis, and others
Adultus: from his being invoked by adults, on their marriage.
Aeneius (Αἰνήιος) or Aenesios ( Αἰνήσιος), was worshipped in Cephalonia, where he had a temple on Mount Ainos.[12][13]
Aethiops (Αἰθίοψ), meaning the glowing or the black. He was worshipped in Chios.[14]
Aetnaeus (Αἰτναῖος), due to the Mount Etna. There was a statue of Zeus and a festival was celebrated there.[15]
Agamemnon (Ἀγαμέμνων), was worshipped at Sparta. Eustathius believes that the epithet is because of the resemblance between Zeus and Agamemnon, while others believe that it signifying the Eternal, from ἀγὰν and μένων.[16]
Eleutherios (Ἐλευθέριος, "of freedom"). At Athens after the Battle of Plataea, Athenians built the Stoa of Zeus Eleutherios.[39] Some writers said that was called "of freedom" because free men built the portico near his shrine, while others because Athenians escaped subjection to the power of Persia and they were free.[40]
Herkeios (Ἑρκεῖος, "of the Household") or LatinizedHerceius[3]
Hetareios (Ἑταιρεῖος, "of fellowship"): According to the Suda, Zeus was called this among the Cretans.[43]
Hikesios (Ἱκεσιος; "of Suppliants") or LatinizedHicesius
Homagyrius (Ὁμαγύριος; "Assembler"), he had a sanctuary at Aegium. According to tradition, he was given this surname because Agamemnon assembled the most eminent men of Greece there to consult on how to wage the Trojan War.[44]
Hypatos (Ὑπατος, "Supreme, Most High"),[22] was an epithet and surname of Zeus. There was an altar dedicated to him in Athens, in front of the Erechtheium, where it was forbidden to sacrifice anything alive or pour libations, offerings were limited to cakes. He was also worshipped in Sparta and near Glisas in Boeotia.[45]
Ikmaios (Ικμαιος; "of Moisture") or LatinizedIcmaeus
Ithomatas (Ιθωμάτας), an annual festival celebrated at Ithome for Zeus Ithomatas.[22][48]
K
Zeus Kasios ("Zeus of Mount Kasios" the modern Jebel Aqra) or LatinizedCasius: a surname of Zeus, the name may have derived from either sources, one derived from Casion, near Pelusium in Egypt. Another derived from Mount Kasios (Casius), which is the modern Jebel Aqra, is worshipped at a site on the Syrian–Turkish border, a Hellenization of the Canaanite mountain and weather godBaal Zephon
Kataibates (Καταιβάτης, "descending") or LatinizedCataebates, because he was sending-down thunderbolts or because he was descending to earth due to his love of women.[49]
Zeus Labrandos (Λαβρανδευς; "Furious, Raging", "Zeus of Labraunda"): Worshiped at Caria, depicted with a double-edged axe (labrys), a Hellenization of the Hurrianweather godTeshub
Laphystius (Λαφύστιος; "of Laphystium"), Laphystium was a mountain in Boeotia on which there was a temple to Zeus.[52][53][54]
Laoetas or Laoitas (Λαοίτας; "of the People").[55]
Limenoskopos (Λιμενοσκοπος; "Watcher of Sea-Havens") or LatinizedLimenoscopus occurs as a surname of several deities, Zeus, Artemis, Aphrodite, Priapus and Pan
Lepsinos, there is a temple of Zeus Lepsinos at Euromus.[56]
Leukaios (Λευκαῖος Ζεύς; "Zeus of the white poplar")[57]
Lykaios or Lycean (Λύκαιος), there was a temple of Zeus Lykaios ("Wolf") on Mount Lykaion in Arcadia, where according to sources[58] a lycanthropic cult was performed, sometimes including human sacrifices.
M
Maimaktês (Μαιμάκτης; "Boisterous", "the Stormy") or LatinizedMaemactes, a surname of Zeus, from which the name of the Attic calendar month 'Maimakterion' (Μαιμακτηριών, Latinized Maemacterion) was derived and which that month the Maimakteria was celebrated at Athens.[59]
Zeus Meilichios/ Meilikhios (Μειλίχιος; "Zeus the Easily-Entreated")[22] There was a sanctuary south of the Ilissos river at Athens.[60]
Mêkhaneus (Μηχανευς; "Contriver") or LatinizedMechaneus[22]
Moiragetes (Μοιραγέτης; "Leader of the Fates", "Guide or Leade of Fate"): Pausanias wrote that this was a surname of Zeus and Apollo at Delphi, because Zeus knew the affairs of men, all that the Fates give them and all that is not destined for them.[61]
Ourios (Οὐριος, "of Favourable Wind"). Ancient writers wrote about a sanctuary at the opening of the Black Sea dedicated to the Zeus Ourios (ἱερὸν τοῦ Διὸς τοῦ Οὐρίου).[67] In addition, on the island of Delos a dedication to Zeus Ourios was found. The dedication was made by a citizen of Ascalon, named Damon son of Demetrius, who escaped from pirates.[68]
Osogoa (Ὀσογῶα), the Carian name of Zeus at Mylasa. There was a sanctuary of him in the city.[69][70][71]
Xenios (Ξενιος; "of Hospitality, Strangers") or LatinizedXenius[22]
Z
Zygius (Ζυγίος): As the presider over marriage. His wife Hera had also the epithet Zygia (Ζυγία). These epithets describing them as presiding over marriage.[81]
References
^The bust below the base of the neck is eighteenth century. The head, which is roughly worked at back and must have occupied a niche, was found at Hadrian's Villa, Tivoli and donated to the British Museum by John Thomas Barber Beaumont in 1836. BM 1516. (British Museum, A Catalogue of Sculpture in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, 1904).
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